Forza 5 is gorgeous and smooth as butter, and its utterly enchanting handling makes it a joy to drive hard, but this game is more than just a rock solid technical titan for the Xbox One. It's an essential destination for the automobile obsessed.

Stunning visuals; Genre-leading sound; Drivatar; Terrific handling

Light on tracks

The more articulate car nuts among us need little reason to wax lyrical about their favorite vehicles, and no other series has so elegantly serviced our love affair with the automobile in recent years. If you were worried Forza 's Xbox One debut might skid off the track, rest easy.

+ Beautifully detailed and varied vehicles made real with faithful handling physics and killer sound effects, + Outstanding damage modeling; immersive car-specific cockpits; Drivatar A.I.

? Why can't any cars honk their horns

On paper, Forza Motorsport 5 is a massive disappointment. Its car roster has been halved, leaving a paltry 200-odd to Forza 4's 500-plus, and its showing of tracks is so limited that you'll likely have raced on a variant of each within the first hour of play.

Still one of the most fun; inviting racing sims; Subtle refinements to all areas of gameplay; Drivatar system could revolutionize solo racing

A paltry number of tracks; Less aggregate content than Forza fans may be used to

I'm new to the Forza series, and I've never really spent any time with a racing sim. I own a car, but it's a 2004 Hyundai Sonata. I love BBC's Top Gear , but I couldn't name most parts that make a car actually work.

I never really thought I would get the hang of driving a powerful car in a game like Forza; Racers like Mario Kart and Burnout taught me that Sir Isaac Newton didn't know what the hell he was talking about; My issue is that I don't want to play with too many assists on.

At first; I was happy that I only needed to learn a few tracks; but it is a bit disappointing after a while to hear the announcer reveal that you're heading back to Sebring International Raceway for the eight time.

Before I'd finished the first lap of the first race of Forza Motorsport 5's career mode, it was clear to me that I was playing a very good game. The quality of the visuals smack you in the face right out the gate. The interior of the cabin is detailed, almost photorealistic.

Forza Motorsport 5 is easily the best launch title for the Xbox One whether or not you happen to be a petrol head

Swoon-worthy presentation; Smooth controls; Drivatars

Micro-transactions; Less cars and tracks; Jeremy Clarkson

Turn 10's next-gen racer looks remarkable but doesn't handle as well as Forza 4

Remarkable visuals; Meticulously detailed; Ai system carries potential

Punishing car handling; Limited number of tracks; Microtransactions

Forza Motorsport 5 makes a car feel like a home. Even when you're sitting in a '70s banger that'd look more comfortable on your nan's drive than on the racetrack, it's rare that you feel inclined to switch to an external view.

Mount Panorama is a treacherous circuit, but at the crest of its dizzying 174-meter climb is a view of the Australian countryside so gorgeous that for a few fleeting moments all that exists is you and the howl of a roaring engine. Moments like this are what make Forza Motorsport 5 so special.

Open-wheel cars are a terrifying delight to drive; A generous and flexible career mode; Expanded Top Gear partnership adds humor and context; Visually staggering presentation

Far fewer tracks and cars than Forza 4; Drivatar AI can get overly aggressive

Forza Motorsport races back onto our screens, this time as an Xbox One launch title, looking to showcase the new Xbox's power. When were introduced to Forza 5 on the Xbox One, Dan Greenawalt, creative director at Turn 10 Studios, pointed out that usually a full racing sim wouldn't arrive until some...

Sumptuous looks; sounds great; plenty of cars; customisation

Might be too serious for some; loading times are still a little long; in-game purchases look like the only way to get to top cars