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Review : Formula One Championship Edition
F1 debuts on the PS3 in strong fashion... maybe a little too strong.
by Robert Workman
When the PlayStation 3 launched last November, racing fans received Ridge Racer 7, a game that packs plenty of high octane
thrills, but lacked the technical features of the more option heavy Gran Turismo series. For simulation aficionados as well
as people who love eye candy, Sony created F1 Championship Edition. Despite backbreaking challenges, it performs admirably
and looks amazing.
The existing Formula One fan base will delight in the game's numerous options that allow them to tweak all aspects of
a race; toggling racing lines on and off, for example. (These rainbow-like markers indicate the car's position on the road)
Adjusting vehicle damage lets gamers adjust their car's vulnerability, making it indestructible or prone to damage. Would-be
drivers also meddle with other technical options, such as acceleration and braking assistance, traction control and a recovery
switch that makes it easier to come out of a spin.
All of these options enhance the racing action, which works on a very realistic level. The player must apply heavy concentration
to score first-place wins. Not only must they watch the competition, but also their car's performance. Despite this heavy-handed
approach, the game comes up short in the personality department. Very few differences separate each racer. Only the Pit Stop
segments, with their timed button press sequences, offer distinction between them.
This lack of personality hurts F1's Career Mode. Here, players work their way up from the bottom of the ladder to achieve
F1 racing stardom over a five-season span. This requires earning a position on a team, attracting sponsors, completing trial
runs in a limited amount of time and so on. As the player proceeds through Career Mode, the fun eventually fades due to the
high demand and few words of encouragement. Fearless driving fans may like this mode, but others may find it too difficult.
The World Championship Racing mode fares better. Instead of taking the role of a scrappy rookie driver, players pick from
already-existing drivers and events, hopping right into a race. The competition gets downright frenetic, but at least it permits
players to get where they want to be instead of forcing them through hoops. People also test their racing skills in Quick
Race, Time Trial and the moderately enjoyable Grand Prix Weekend, going through trials before a big racing event.
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