Developer:/Publisher: Codemasters
Genre: Racing
Price: $39.99
Availability: PSN Download, Retail UMD
Genre: Racing
Acquired: Publisher Provided Review Copy
Verdict: fun if you’re into formula 1 racing
Pros: solid gameplay
Cons: some things not well documented
Who doesn’t like racing games? I know I do. I’m less of a fan of racing in real life, and so I know very little about formula one racing. I was a little out of my element when it came to some portions of F1 2009 for the PSP. You don’t have to be a major fan of formula one racing to enjoy the game, but it wouldn’t hurt. The game strives to be as realistic a simulation as possible. While this is more difficult on the portable platform, the game for the most part succeeds. However, I spent a lot of time figuring out parts of the game that were poorly documented and it got pretty frustrating.
The game centers around the F1 2009 racing season. In championship mode, you start in Melbourne and proceed to travel around the world in over 17 racing circuits. The championship is decided by tallying points after the final race. The higher you finish in each race, the more points you earn.
F1 2009 also allows you to play as all the top drivers from the F1 circuit. This is great if you have a favorite! You have the option to spend time in either the Practice or qualifying modes if you feel the need to bone up before starting your full run at the championship. The real benefit to running through the qualifying rounds is that it can allow you to improve your starting position for the championship, if you choose not to qualify you will start at the back of the pack.
My biggest complaint with the game is that it does very little to help newcomers to the sport. For example, if you follow the sport, you are probably familiar with KERS. However, I had no idea and the manual wasn’t much help in explaining this phenomenon. It turns out after some internet research that the Kinetic Energy Recovery System (KERS) essentially makes the formula one race car into a hybrid. It is used to store energy from braking, and can be used at a boost for 6.6 seconds. It’s a great feature and one that is entirely necessary for success in the game. Again, this is one more feature that is poorly documented in the manual.
There are a number of racing assists built into the game. You can choose to take or leave these assists as they are designed to make the game easier for beginners. I found them to be very helpful, so I left them on most of the time.
One such assist is designed to help with something that is important in racing, whether real life or in game: “taking the line”. In case you’re unfamiliar with the term, the racing line is the route the vehicle must take in order to minimize the time taken to complete the course. Smooth cornering is key to maintaining speed and control; the game can, and will, help you with that. It does so by showing you where the line is by actually laying one down for you. Of course, whether you can hold it is another matter entirely. Unfortunately, none of the driving aids are documented well in the manual, other than to say that they exist and can be configured. Racing games on the PSP can be difficult to control, and the assists definitely help with that.
Another very cool option in the game is the ability to toggle weather features. Just like real life, you can allow the game to do things like start raining, which adds a great level of randomness. This can keep the game interesting for a long time, and add some additional difficulty if you need it. This is just one of the available settings that lets you modify elements of game play. Component failure is another feature that could have far greater consequences to you racing career. Component failure introduces the possibility of things like engine blow-outs, tire punctures, and other things that could not only end your game but also your shot at the championship.
The game include several other game play modes including: overtake (overtake as many other cars as possible), eliminator (Don’t come in last), and time trial (Try to beat the best time). In slipstream mode you get points for drafting the other drivers, which is a lot harder than it sounds. Scenario mode drops you into the middle of a race and you have to finish as high in the rankings as possible. Career mode starts you at as a rookie, and you have to earn your way onto a team, and then prove your skills over three seasons. There are a couple options in multi-player mode, which I didn’t get to test, but seem like they would be a lot of fun. You can play head to head, or run through a full championship season with your friends.
Overall the title is solid, but has nothing with a big wow factor. The graphics are good, but not great. The tracks are faithful to their real world counterparts. Codemasters should be commended for taking over the title, and doing reasonably well with it. If you’re a fan of formula 1 racing, then I think you’ll have a lot of fun with this game. Otherwise if you’re looking for a solid racing title, then you could do worse than F1 2009.
Popularity: unranked [?]
