World Racing 2

World Racing 2's gameplay is fairly typical of arcade driving sims and is in many ways similar to the first game, Mercedes-Benz World Racing, as well as games such as Need for Speed: Porsche Unleashed.

The player has to complete 'championships' - stages with a certain number of tracks, which the game is divided into, and unlock previously inaccessible tracks and cars. There are more than a hundred racing tracks in the game. Countries of interest include Italy, Egypt and the USA (Miami and Hawaii).

The game features over forty car models, including Alfa Romeo, Volkswagen, Skoda, AC Cars, Mercedes-Benz, Rinspeed and Wiesmann. The car, depending on the platform, is controlled via a keyboard or a gamepad. It is possible to play with a steering wheel.

World Racing 2 uses a game engine called the 3D Landscape Engine, developed in-house by Synetic. One of the distinguishing characteristics of this technology is that it works well with large open spaces. The technology also supports weather effects, dynamic shadows that change depending on lighting, shader water with waves and light refraction, and reflections on vehicles. A particle system is responsible for rendering water spray and road dust.

Later and improved versions of the engine have been used in all subsequent developments by Synetic.

Initially, the game was planned to focus on Volkswagen vehicles, similar to the first instalment, Mercedes-Benz World Racing, which focused on Mercedes-Benz cars.[1][2] More details later emerged: it was revealed that World Racing 2 would also feature cars from Volkswagen subsidiaries Audi, Bentley, Lamborghini, Škoda and Seat.[3] However, some brands were cut from the final game due to licensing issues.

The first screenshots of the game appeared in early October 2004. These depicted Volkswagen car races against a backdrop of three-dimensional natural scenery. The news article on TeamXbox website, dated 6 October 2004, aside from gameplay footage, mentioned that World Racing 2 would use an upgraded game engine from the prequel, with better shadows and lighting, as well as new mud and dust effects; and mentioned that the cars would be more elaborate, with more customisation options (i.e. the player changing the car's appearance).[4]

The 11 November 2004 news article reported that the game would also feature the legendary English car AC Cobra produced by AC Cars from 1961 to 1967. A spokesman for the car company is also quoted as saying that the concern's employees were happy with the technological part of the game and the way the car has been recreated in virtual space.

Before the end of the year, it was reported that the game would include the possibility of applying vinyls to cars in the game, thus altering their appearance (notably, this aspect of the game was developed in conjunction with the company CFC CarFilm Components, whose speciality is vinyl production). It would also include a well-developed car damage system and feature the beauty contest winner Isabell from FHM magazine.

In late December 2004, the first World Racing 2 trailer showing off gameplay was unveiled.

At the end of February 2005, information about the game's racing locations appeared, where Egypt, Hawaii, Italy and Miami are mentioned. In April, a second video showing more gameplay appeared, and later in June, new screenshots appeared.

The game was released on 29 September 2005, and subsequently, several patches and demos were released.

The game was given mixed to negative reviews according to Metacritic.