Great F1 Sim from CM
I'm fairly uneducated in the world of Formula 1 racing, but that didn't stop me from trying out Codemasters' newest F1 series title (plus I really like the EGO engine!). I typically play the more traditional racing games and I didn't really know what to expect from playing the game, but I do know that only 10 or so minutes in I was already hooked!
Unlike most racing games, and simulation titles for that matter, F1 2010 doesn't waste any time in getting you right into the fast-paced world of Formula 1. The game starts out as an interview (no seriously you get interviewed) where you can choose your profile name and team. From there, the game starts off the season by taking you around the main menu, which consists of your RV, trailer, and press area. Yep, after events you will be prompted to answer several questions to the press about the race/season, and this is cool because it actually affects other teams' perspective on you as a racer. While sort of unnecessary, it really makes the whole deal feel more authentic and real, which is all good in my book.
On to how the game looks... it's great. Much like Dirt 2, F1 looks clean and detailed throughout. The environments are tastefully done (although you wont have much time to stop and admire your surroundings) and the car models are very detailed. The game also gives you a first person perspective from inside the garage, where you can choose your options layout and change up your car setup. This is very easy to do and like previous games F1 allows you to Save/Load setups for later use. On top of that there are other elements that add to the realism. This includes having a limited number of engines per season, different sets of tires for the dynamic weather patterns, and of course damage modeling. Your engine/brake/tire temperature also plays an important role in each of the races, which we've seen before, but perhaps not portrayed this accurately. I would also like to add that the Flashback rewind tool also makes a comeback and functions the same way it did in GRID and DIRT 2.
At the end of the day (or race) F1 2010 is a great racing game that provides both novice and more experienced racers with plenty of high-stakes racing and, at the same time, offers a respectable challenge for the adept. All of the real-world F1 elements are there such as penalties, user-request pit stops, and driving physics. The game is complete with real-word tracks and cars as well, so if you're looking for a Formula 1 racer that has all the bells and whistles, there is no reason to skip this one. And, if you're like me who just loves to race, I would also recommend to give it a go because it's not your typical racing game, and sometimes that's a good thing.
