Forza Motorsport 2

I’m no fan of cars — oh, I like being in them just fine, just not, y’know, driving them when people can crash into and kill me (a couple near-death experiences will do that to a chap). So I have a conflicted relationship with digital driving — I certainly love cruising around San Andreas with semi-automatic in hand and the wickedly explosive fast-motion pile-ups in the Burnout games amuse me to no end. But driving simulators, like the Forza Motorsport series, have always left me a little cold because they are so obviously targeting the gearhead demo, of which I am no member. I certainly appreciate Forza 2’s attention to detail, even though the details totally escape me, and how gorgeous its photorealistic graphics look (especially in now-gen high-def) but to truly appreciate such a racing simulator you need to treat it almost like a resource management game and be willing to put considerable time into getting your car prepped for a race with suspension settings, tire pressure, etc. That said, F2 does a better job than its predecessor in balancing my non-hardcore arcade-style requirements — I’d be lost without the helpful "racing line” showing the best track route to avoid smashing into the wall — with an auto aficionado’s need for vehicle tinkering and true-to-life handling. With 300 cars on offer, and countless customising possibilities, it’s quite possibly the best reality-based racing game out there. But if you just want to pick up and zoom off, well, F2 might drive you a little batty.