In a little over two weeks, Forza Horizon 2 is going to be hitting both the Xbox 360 and Xbox One. Although the games share the same name, the Xbox 360 version and the Xbox One version are being developed by two different developers and are expected to have some feature differences. While we can't speak to the Xbox 360 version, we recently spent an hour with the Xbox One version, and it's looking mighty impressive.

Running on a modified version of the Forza 5 engine, Forza Horizon 2 isn't short on graphical flair. Cars are easily recognizable, body damage appears based on where you impacted your vehicle, and photo mode is ready and waiting. The day-and-night cycle adds a sense of realism to the game, while also giving the developers a chance to show off the lighting engine. Taking a specific path during the day and then doing it again at night is noticeably different, especially if you are off-roading.

Dynamic weather promises to add more depth to the Forza franchise, as it is something that's not been done in any of the prior titles. Much like the cars and other physical surfaces in the game, the weather in Forza Horizon 2 is physically modeled. It isn't just there for show, so when the rain starts falling and the road gets wet, the effect it has on your car's handling is a realistic one.

Speaking of cars, Forza Horizon 2 is shipping with more than 200 playable cars in the base game. There is no official word on DLC yet, but it is in the works. Microsoft plans to announce more details on that topic next week.

Collecting cars can be done in the traditional manner, but you'll also have a chance to snag a new ride every time you level up. Forza Horizon 2 features a random slot machine-style bonus that pops after you level up. Possible prizes include everything from extra cash to a random car. It's a nice little bonus and will likely encourage players to push for extra experience.

Although you won't be winning cars in the "Bucket List" challenges, they give you a chance to try out a number of them. Each Bucket List challenge is designed for a specific car (available for the duration of the challenge), and they can be done solo or online with a friend. The challenges are hidden off the beaten path, so you'll need to explore. The Bucket List challenges are one way that Forza Horizon 2 encourages players to get off the main roads. Additional Bucket List challenges will be added to the game after launch.

Spread out over two countries (France and Italy), the total driveable area in Forza Horizon 2 is said to be more than three times larger than Forza Horizon. Add in more than 700 events, and Playground Studios estimates that most players will put in more than 100 hours before they've seen it all. Assuming the completion percentage in-game is accurate, the developers probably aren't far off. After playing for an hour, which included hitting up a few events and taking a random drive across the map just to sightsee the airport, our Forza Horizon 2 completion percentage was right at 1%.

Forza Horizon 2 will support online play in a variety of ways. The standard racing against friends is here, along with support for driving clubs. The car meet event was described as something of a social hub, where players could gather in-game, show off their cars and voice chat in real time before heading out in their cars. Players on your friends list will be highlighted in-game, making it easy to meet up in the world. If you decide to go solo, all of the AI players will be filled by Drivatars of other players.

As far as the actual driving is concerned, Forza Horizon 2 just feels good. Taking to iconic raceways in the mainline Forza series is fun, but there's a certain something to hitting the open road and driving. Forza Horizon 2 offers up a choice of three cars at the start: a BMW Z4 sDrive 35is, a Chevrolet Camaro SS Coupe and a Toyota Supra RZ. We grabbed the keys to the Z4 and started driving.

On the default settings, the traditional Forza guide arrow is present, and a number of assists are turned on. You can always disable the assists, but part of the fun lies in the fact that while the assists make driving easier, they are also subtle enough to be overlooked (unless you're going for full-on realism). It's still possible to plow into a tree or spin out in a turn with the assists turned on. They aren't "easy mode." Rather, the assists nudge you in the right direction, so good driving can become great driving.

In short, if you just want to get out there and have fun, Forza Horizon 2 is going to make it happen. If you would rather dig under the hood, review precise telemetry data and drive with realistic precision (rather than arcade-enhanced handling), Forza Horizon 2 can make that happen as well.

Our time with Forza Horizon 2 may have been limited, but the smooth handling, sharp visuals and wide-open world were enough to impress. If you want to give it a go, keep an eye out for the demo, which is scheduled to drop on Xbox Live on September 16.