Many would agree that Codemasters are the market leaders in the racing genre and they most certainly didn’t fail to impress again in this entailing recreation of motorsports greatest event. Formula 1 has recently been rejuvenated over the past few years after certain British racers have topped the championship and it has changed the way we think of the sport. For many of us it has changed our Sunday schedules and is now something to look forward to week in week out.
The game begins with a breathtaking intro that really delivers the reality of both watching and taking part in the racing and by the time you’re done watching in excitement your led to the main menu where you can choose to race in one of several different game modes including career mode, Grand Prix, Multiplayer and the Proving Grounds game mode.
In career mode, you first start the game as a newcomer to the F1 scene and you are greeted by the press that ask you a few basic questions, an intelligent way for you to set your game settings and difficulty. After the interview you are greeted by your new team manager and shown around the pit stop, garage, and crew room where you can view you calendar for the current season, your laptop (where you can check emails, driver offers and the latest press releases) and finally change your helmets look. As the name suggests, this mode revolves around you competing in the driver’s championship starting as a newcomer with a low graded team and working your way through the ranks. What is so unique about this mode is its real authenticity and how much Codemasters has taken into account the latest rule changes in F1 (for those that don’t know the DRS and KERS, ways to make your car improve speed and handling). It’s this in depth look into the minor details of the motorsport that makes the game so enjoyable to play and admire.
After selecting the current race weekend on your calendar you can choose to either compete in a long or short race weekend. Regardless of which you are able to participate in the practice session, qualifying and of course the race. Before each track session you are sat in the cock pit of your car and have the option to chat to your race engineer to tune your vehicle to match the race conditions, as well as change your current set of tires.
In grand prix mode you can create your own race weekend and play in split screen with a friend. There is the option to play a complete 19 race season (if you’re willing to sit there for hours on end) or simply a one off championship title. It’s a great way to practice or even perfect your racing skills as well as learn every turn in every race. Perhaps after perfecting your driving skills you can try the Proving grounds game mode. This is a personal leader board type mode where you can try and beat lap and race records anywhere at any time. It’s a unique way to justify just how good you are.
However, the ultimate way to prove your on pole position is by competing online in the multiplayer mode. You have the opportunity to race against 16 other competitors for online XP and bragging rights against your friends. There are several ways to race online, quick match, custom search or private match.
Overall, F1 2011 fully delivers in all aspects of gaming. Its combination of realism and breath taking graphics make for an enjoyable play. The attention to the finer details and the improvements to lasts years edition of the game have really met its target niche.
Disclaimer:All scores given within our reviews are based on the artist’s personal opinion; this should in no way impede your decision to purchase the game.
