Formula One: Championship Edition
You use the controller like a wheel!
Tags: Formula One: Championship Edition Categories: PS3 Reviews, Reviews
Posted by Michael Hanning on Mar 3rd, 2007
| Title | Players | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Formula One: Championship Edition (title page) | 1 - 6 | ||
| Developer | Publisher | Genre | Online |
| Racing | No | ||
Although it never reaches the levels of cultural saturation of NASCAR in the United States, to the rest of the world Formula One is the pinnacle of racing. Representing the pinnacle of speed and precision engineering, it’s a demanding sport that only the most elite of drivers excel at. My theory is that it never caught on because the cars still look sort of like go-karts.
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Formula One: Championship Edition brings this action home to the PS3 with the most detailed driving simulation the young system has seen yet. The cars, drivers and teams of the 2006 season are all here under your control as you race the full season. Nothing has been overlooked – from surround sound racing noises, dust and scuff marks appearing as the race goes on and the intense competition, this is as close as you’re going to get to the real deal. Even minutiae typically overlooked in racing sims is here, down to pace cars and every flag known to man. It pushes the PS3 pretty hard, too. You can see the track reflected in the gleam of your car, insane amounts of track detail, and hear the full race in full 5.1 surround sound. The only real problem with the sound is that there’s no music while you drive to cover the fact that the average F1 racer has a really, really annoying engine noise. I personally compensated by simulating a normal car stereo system by alternating between fuzzy alternative stations and a mix CD that’s been in my glove box since high school.
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Where the game may stumble with casual gamers is the steep learning curve. When it offers everything there is in F1 racing, it means absolutely everything – people looking for a next-gen Burnout are going to be disappointed. You’re going to have to like the idea of running test laps to try out different tires or finding the ideal fuel for the next race. The game does help the rookie driver a bit – there are instructions to help acquaint you with the world of F1, and the (extremely in-depth) career mode tries its best to ease you into things. The extensively customizable options help, too – you can set everything from how much the game helps you with steering to race length (I typically only raced ten to twenty percent of a full race for time’s sake.) It helps keep the AI in check as well – they’re simulations of the best drivers in the world, meaning they can be absolutely punishing opponents.
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What the game will probably be best remembered for is the unique control scheme. The Sixaxis controller can be set to act as your steering wheel, finally justifying all those gamers who tilt the controller into hard turns. It takes a little bit more getting used to than the traditional schemes, but offers more sensitivity and a more intuitive experience. If you’re going in for such realism that you keep track of what fuel works best for every track, tilting the controller like a wheel brings you deeper into the experience. The sheer fun of this might save the game for gamers that are intimidated by the depth of the rest of it.
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There’s more to the game that can keep die-hard fans happy, but not too much. Online play against live opponents pits 11 cars in a race for the thrill of competition, but they’re not that different from racing real cars once you’re in the race. Online support is decent, at least – everything you’d expect with no negative surprises. You can also check out replays of your previous races from different angles, but let’s be honest – if your choice is between watching yourself race and actually racing, you’re going to want to just race again.
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F1: Championship Edition is a well-executed racing game, and I’d be hard pressed to find a more complete simulation. It has a steep learning curve, but at least it tries to meet you halfway with driving aids, customizable races and a fun control scheme. If you’re willing to put the effort into it you’ll find it to be a very rewarding racer with a lot of gameplay, but people who aren’t sure about how much effort they’re willing to put into racing might want to rent before they buy on this one.
| What Works | Score |
|---|---|
|
+ Unparalleled realism + Controller tilts like wheel! I cannot emphasize that enough. + Does a good job of trying to ease in new players... |
7.5 |
| What Doesn't | |
|
- ...but it's still very much made for people who know what they're doing. - The whining engine noise cuts to my very soul. |
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| Under the Shrink-wrap | |
| It's an astounding racer that offers a lot of depth and reward to dedicated players, but might scare away the novices. | |
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Tags: Formula One: Championship Edition
Posted by Michael Hanning on Mar 3rd, 2007 and is filed under PS3 Reviews, Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can post a comment, or trackback from your own site.
