An excellent driving game but one sullied by cheapskate microtransactions. a lack of tracks, and the dubious worth of the Drivatar technology.

Superb graphics and attention to detail, with plenty of cars and a clear love for motorsport; Excellent handling model and by far the best use of the Xbox One controller so far

Drivatar is all very clever but it needs some serious curating or filtering if it is not to ruin the single-player; Not enough tracks, too many dropped features, and some particularly divisive microtransactions

Ignore the nonsense, though, and it can still be electrifying. Take an Audi R18 e-tron away from the messy drone of the career and set about beating a Rivals hot lap time around Spa and it's sublime: the diesel engine roars stealthily, the sun streaming through the Ardennes' thick forest.

For decades the weakest part of the racing game experience has been the AI. Artificial intelligence in racing games poses a grand challenge for developers, because if an AI racer drives perfectly it doesn't look real - and if they mess up too often their mistakes can look scripted (or, as was the...

Forza 5 completes the transformation from racing simulator to a celebration of cars. Like its Top Gear influence, Forza 5 will appeal to the casual racer just as much as the motoring enthusiasts thanks to its deep assists and the evolving brilliance of the Drivatar system.

+ Stunning visuals; + Drivatar system; + New physics; + Top Gear content

- Only 14 tracks; and less cars than Forza 4

This review is coming from someone who loved Forza 2-4, and purchased all the dlc for the 3 and 4. Forza 4 is probably my favorite console game of it's generation. Forza 5 looks pretty good and sounds great, it is a lot of fun while it lasts. The problem is, it lacking in content and replayablility.

Forza 5 suffers from a reduced track list and unimaginative structure, but there's no getting past the fact that the action on the track is better than ever, with magnificent graphics, superlative handling and a new edge thanks to the Drivatar AI.

Awesome 1080p graphics; Incredible handling; Unpredictable Drivatar AI

Thoughtless structure; Not enough tracks; Drivatar AI has its downsides

Racing games often begin with a montage of quick-cut scenes and thumping techno music designed to get you in the mood for speed. Look at those cars, check out that horsepower, and listen to that beat! From the start, Forza Motorsport 5 tries to separate itself from the rest of the pack.

Forza strikes the right balance between simulation and arcade racer; Both multiplayer and single-player options are plentiful; An absolutely gorgeous Forzavista mode is the ultimate launch showcase for Xbox One

Fewer cars than in previous Forza games is a disappointment; Top Gear could have been used to greater effect; though it's nice to hear Captain Slow make the odd introduction; Microtransactions may change the way multiplayer races are balanced

Forza Motorsport 5 combines superior visuals, futureworld technology, and the series-standard love for cars and car culture into a flagship launch title for the Xbox One.

Stunningly gorgeous graphics; Creepy Drivatar AI profiles of your friends enhances investment in offline racing; Superior car handling and use of controller rumble

Trimmed down lineup of cars and tracks is disappointing; A challenging game for the mainstream audience that a launch title will bring in; Microtransactions may be unnecessary; but it's yucky to see them

team is synonymous with stunning racing experiences that really push Microsoft's hardware to its limits.

I've considered myself a very die hard gamer for the vast majority of my life and there's only ever been two styles of games I've never really been good at – racing games and fighting games. I always enjoyed playing games like

+ Stunning graphics; + Unbelievable attention to detail; + Forzavista; + Drivatar AI; + Accessibility for newer players

- Lack of tracks/cars at launch; - Lack of environmental effects