Forza Vs GT - one thing is abundantly clear...

[kn]

99% of the so-called fans on either side that tout how Forza 2 is better or GT5:P is better have no clue and have not played both games extensively.  It's as simple as that.  (In my best Yoda voice:) Lying little shits, fanboys are.

I have raced GT5:P extensively.  I have come in first on almost every event in all three classes.  I have purchased almost every car.  I have changed "assist" settings extensively.  I have played it on my DLP projector at about 80 inches diagonal as well as on my 42" 1080P Sharp Aquos.

I have done as much with Forza 2.  I've finished first in many of the events at this point (though admittedly not all of them).  I've played it on both of my screens and modified the assists as well.  I've played MANY of the cars and used many of the tuning and upgrade features.  In short, I've played the game extensively.

In the end:

GT5:P has better on-track car models.  Forza's are damn good, though.  Forza has better environments around the tracks.  Yeah, GT5:P has really beautiful stills and CGI stuff but I don't give a damn about all that.  It's a racing game.  On track is what really counts and they are very close in action -- so much so that I'd call it an overall tie unless you are just dead set on the cockpit view.  I don't care for it, though.

Both racers do a very good job of conveying the different handling characteristics of the different cars, drivetrains, horsepower, front-rear weight ratio and such.  They also do a good job of representing the different sounds.  Admittedly, GT5:P doesn't have the ability to buy upgrades as Forza does, but if you buy a supercharger or add a new exhaust to your car, you can hear the new muffler and the whine of 'charger where none existed before.  Sounds in both games are great.

Forza's game is so full of customizations in terms of handling and physics that anyone that argues that GT5:P is a better physics simulator is blind and hasn't played Forza and experimented with the extensive changes that can be made to affect a car's on-track performance.  Telemetry data for the win.

I realize that GT5:P is just a prologue so it isn't fair to compare all the extra stuff in Forza 2 like purchasing performance parts, painting, auctions, online features, and so on so I'll just leave it at that.

Here's the bottom line:  If you are a 360 fanboy and haven't played forza 2 and like racing sims, get Forza 3 (and Forza 2 if you want something cheap!).  Assuming Forza 3 improves on 2, it's going to be an damn amazing game -- PERIOD.  Forget about bashing GT5:P.  It's a good game, just like Forza 2, but I highly doubt the Full GT5 is going to be a better overall game than Forza 3 by some significant measure.  Just leave it alone.

If you are a Sony fanboy and think that GT5:P somehow smokes Forza 2, move along.  Go to the bank, take out a loan, and buy a clue.  The Forza 2 demo is good.  The game is GREAT.  Better than GT5:P when all things are considered.  When the FULL GT5 comes out, there is no doubt it will be an amazing game.  But then so will Forza 3 so, again, just leave it alone.