After giving you our first thoughts on the game last week, we spent some more time with the latest Formula 1 offering from Codemasters to bring you a more in-depth look at the game and get right into the nitty gritty of what has to be the best instalment from Codies to date. So, let's dive into what this new game has to offer.
Career Mode
For countless years F1 games have often followed the same ‘storyline’ of creating your own character and then you’re thrown into the world of F1. But for the 2019 edition there has been a significant – and optional – shift.
After many years of crying out for such an addition, the FIA Formula 2 Championship joins the gaming action for the very first time. You can now opt to begin your career in the junior series where you’ll need to complete a trio of challenges. You'll then go through the process of personalising your character and should you decide to take the route in F2, the option will appear to choose a team and even which driver academy you wish to join. Mercedes, Ferrari, Red Bull and even McLaren are amongst the options.
Once you're set, you'll get launched into the season with all of the drivers from the 2018 F2 year bar two as you'll be joined by a pair of fictional characters, one of which will be your team-mate in the form of a German in Lukas Weber (pronounced Vay-ber) and a British antagonist by the name of Devon Butler, who are both complete polar opposites of one another.
Both drivers have even been included in the commentary sections by F2 commentator Alex Jacques and regular co-commentator Davide Valsecchi, as well as Sky F1's David Croft and Anthony Davidson, so as to give you a more realistic experience.
Weber is your team-mate in F2 and tries to be sporting in the way he goes about driving and supports you as you chase down the championship, while Butler is a one-man show. He is out for himself and only himself. You will get to experience cut scenes with the duo and the circumstances of those scenes will depend on how you perform in the challenges set out before you.
Once you get the chance to make it into F1, you'll also be joined by the F2 duo and continue to do battle with them in the top flight as they take over a spot in respective teams you’ll be racing against.
The ability to simulate the practice sessions has been brought in so you can earn those coveted development points in order to continue bringing updates to the car over the season – should you feel you don't have the time to go through all of the programs in each of the practice sessions.
Previous F1 games have not felt this immersive, largely because until now the licence for the game did not allow any modifications via F1's owners. Now, Liberty Media has permitted for these small tweaks, it's made for a much more inclusive experience for the player.
Another added extra addition to career mode has been the introduction of regulation changes and even driver transfers. You could see Lewis Hamilton swap a Mercedes for a Williams and Robert Kubica head off to Ferrari or Red Bull. It's all up for grabs!
Formula 2
With the F2 series now part of the game, it's certainly worth giving it some much needed attention.
Tackling the junior series is a whole new venture in itself when it comes to getting behind the wheel. You'll have to remember you won't be carrying the power, the aerodynamic performance nor the cornering speeds of an F1 car, so be sure to drive accordingly as it will catch out even the most experienced of players.
Currently, only the teams and drivers from the 2018 F2 championship season are playable, but an update soon after the launch of the game will bring you the current 2019 season.
In single race mode you'll also be able to take the Dallara F2-18 around any of the 21 circuits on the F1 calendar, so tackling Montreal, Singapore or Suzuka is possible… and from a personal stand point? It's certainly worth it.
Graphics
While still using the same engine, Codemasters has continued to develop their designs within the game, using laser scanned tracks and very much improved lighting upgrades for the night races. Whilst racing around the likes of Bahrain, Singapore and Abu Dhabi you can certainly see the effort which has been made behind the scenes to bring a more authentic experience as you race your heart out underneath the artificial lights.
The liveries amongst the teams also stand out very in both the night and day, especially the customisable liveries which the game has also introduced. A specific set of unofficial paint and sponsor designs are now available to use whilst racing online and you can tune the colours to your liking.
The wet weather effects are where the game has made some real strides. As the precipitation falls ever harder; your view becomes ever more restricted, almost to the point where it's nigh impossible to see in monsoon-like conditions.
Even the damage effects have improved. Brushing against a wall, tagging an opponent will likely see you lose a front-wing end plate which will come off in clear-cut fashion, so be sure you're keeping your nose clean while fending off your fellow drivers. This leads us on to the next topic…
Gameplay
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The experience of being able to take a racing car around the track is something we would all love to take part in some day, playing these games can only give us the smallest window into what that is like.
As mentioned with the visual effects of damage, the translation of that into the feeling behind the wheel is also very visceral experience as you'll feel the car not responding in the same and swift fashion.
Whilst also taking the time to improve on the gameplay from their previous efforts in a much smaller timeframe, Codemasters have also taken on Formula 2 and done so impeccably. It's a rewarding experience to nail the best lap you can in the final throes of Q3 but painful when you make a mistake by missing an apex or running wide and losing valuable grid slots from even the most minuscule of errors.
As we've seen with the current generation of car (Since 2017), getting it into a slide and rescuing it is nigh-impossible, so ensuring you maintain control of those wild stallions trying to bust out of those ferocious power units is paramount, especially in the rain.
Also, as previously mentioned with regards to the refreshing new graphical look to the inclement weather – the ability to control the cars on the slippery track has also taken a trickier turn, especially if you're brave enough to take off the assists the game likes to provide. Codemasters has worked hard to try and bring the most authentic feeling to the player, regardless of whether they use a controller or a steering wheel.
On another note, the Legends of the game also sees two cars added to the 'classics' roster as the game bills a 'Senna Vs Prost' theme. You'll get the chance to race with as Ayrton Senna in his 1990 McLaren MP4/5B or Alain Prost in the Ferrari F1-90 in some scenario races. Both cars handle in very different ways, you'll certainly have a preference as to which one you'd like to drive.
Also getting their limelight in the classics arena is the Williams FW25 from 2003 once driven by Ralf Schumacher and Juan Pablo Montoya, as well as the 2010 Ferrari F10 and McLaren MP4-25. All of the previous cars once available to drive are still there too.
Online Multiplayer
Very little has changed in this part of the game, there is now a specified league section for those budding racers who like to get together and do battle.
There is also the choice of racing in your own colours with the standard car model, or hitting the track in a Mercedes or Ferrari in the unranked section. Should you choose to hit the ranked arena, you'll likely be familiar with the progression system and how it works with regards to the rankings. Those who don't play by the rules will get poor rankings and vice versa. Depending on your own rating, you'll be paired accordingly.
One trick Codemasters have often missed pertains to those players who enjoy playing up is punishing them more heavily. Gran Turismo Sport implemented a system by where players who are to be lapped automatically become ghosted so as to not wait around and crash into other opponents on purpose.
Things to improve
On the whole, I wouldn't change very much. But there are niggling issues we would like to see tweaked. One would be the post-race cutscenes whereby you've just been on the podium, but when addressing the media after, you're seeing the drivers getting weighed, despite the fact you were just on the podium, bit of a continuity issue there.
Aside from the very small issues which we've noticed thus far, Codemasters must be commended for delivering this game earlier than usual and take steps to improve on the product.
Final Score
After mixed results in their efforts over recent years in attempting to bring motorsports highest class of racing to the gaming community, Codemasters has to be commended on their latest effort which delivers the most authentic experience to the most hardcore of sim racing fans as well as the casual gamer who wants to play as their favourite driver in their favourite team.
If playing racing games is for you and you enjoy Formula 1 – you won't be disappointed by this game.
