Forza Motorsport (Xbox)

Herald rating: * * * *

Racing simulators aren't new to Xbox. The slick Project Gotham Racing was one of the titles that helped to launch the platform and its sequel was a mighty improvement. But Xbox has been lacking the pulling power of a Gran Turismo 4, which was released earlier this year and is only available on the PlayStation 2. Forza Motorsport is Microsoft's answer to GT4. Is it better? Technically, yes, but it doesn't have the originality of a cult franchise behind it or, frankly, the pure racing experience of the Gran Turismo series.

Everything you would expect is there in spades - hundreds of models of cars, from street sedans to souped-up track racers and retro classics. Tune your car, cover it in decals, and analyse race statistics as you progress through a career mode.

There are many lush-looking tracks to race on, from the streets of New York (again) to Silverstone raceway.

But driving the cars is harder than in Gran Turismo. They seem heavier and you will spend more time on the grass or spinning in circles. It's just downright harder to achieve that thrill of racing full-tilt down a mountain highway in Forza than in GT4.

Forza, however, has major advantages over GT4. It allows online racing where you can play against up to seven other racers on Xbox Live and its artificial intelligence seems to be better. Your rivals in Forza will literally go to more trouble to avoid crashes and to out-manoeuvre you.

In Forza your car will also sustain damage. Clip a wall or collide with another car and your panels will crumple, your suspension and steering will suffer. Then you will have to compete with a car that wants to veer you off the track, as well as half a dozen other high-powered racers.

Xbox is well and truly in the racing simulator camp and don't expect Forza to be a one-off. It will be back, bigger and better, on Xbox 360. An impressive debut.

* $100