In terms of handling, the control is intuitive and arcade-heavy, varying depending on the vehicle. The good news is that credits for new cars are easily collected, however, so you can avoid microtransactions, which is a breadth of fresh air, particularly for a racing game.

Like in the early days of Gran Turismo, this means that races that have already been completed have to be repeated in order to be well-prepared for future, more difficult events. It's all about getting the next tweak to improve your vehicle, and inevitably this makes the game into a grind.

Okay so here's some of the annoying stuff - compared to its predecessor, the focus in The Crew 2 is even more on vehicle upgrades.

Lotta Grind, Not a Lotta Microtransactions Some races require these switches and are a lot of fun, but there actually needs to be more of them. Cruising along in your Spitfire not doing it for you? Flick and transform into an F1 car then. Mid-race you don't switch driver, you can actually switch vehicle type. and ditched the police chases, this focuses more on street racing, with a neat trick or two up its sleeve that makes it different to the likes of Need for Speed: Payback. If you want, you can simply enjoy the gigantic game world in Free Mode.

At the same time, there are also tasks such as photographing Mount Rushmore (more fun than it sounds) or alligators in Miami. The latter are important for unlocking new events.

If you succeed, you get upgrades, credits and new followers. Your choice of vehicle? This time not just a sports car, but also a mega truck, plane or speed boat - in the 114 events you are battling either against the clock or against AI opponents. The Crew 2: A Huge Game WorldĮssentially, in this game you race through the USA from one event to the next, with a non-linear progress design, giving you a lot of freedom to focus on the type you are good at. Having moved on in some respects from its predecessor, its whole open-world map of America really impresses. Knowing what it plans to deliver, which is big, simple fun, The Crew 2 is simple and offers a lot for the eye. If you're more into arcade racers than simulation racers, more Mario Kart than Gran Turismo Sport, then you've come to the right place.

The crew 2 vs need for speed payback