Formula One Championship Edition Review

F1 debuts on the PS3 in strong fashion... maybe a little too strong.

Posted by Robert Workman on Monday, February 26, 2007

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.

Players will probably find lots of replay value in F1 Championship Edition's online community. Here, up to eleven players race against each other and computer controlled drivers. A scoring system gives them points after each victory, working in lieu with an online leaderboard. This kind of competition gives F1 a much-needed push in the personality department, as racers see just what -- or who -- lurks on the course.

As for the presentation, it definitely gets the adrenaline flowing. The sound holds up nicely, consisting of finely tuned engine humming and other effects. Some of the game's visual effects burst with outstanding quality, including smoke that pours from a high-revving tire. In addition, some of the crashes look sweet. Gamers select from twenty different courses, but most of them look similar, with only slight differences. Regardless, the game emulates the appearance of the sport, for the most part.

One last thing to note -- F1 Championship Edition supports a number of third-party PS2 steering peripherals, most notably from Logitech. The game feels much more comfortable behind the wheel of a Driving Force Pro than Sony's SIXAXIS. Don't bother looking for rumble support, however -- the game doesn't have it.

F1 Championship Edition will only disappoint those expecting a quick and easy ride. The game was built to challenge throughout each lap, with a demanding Career Mode and its uphill learning curve. On the other hand, those who want something more out of their racing games should find it a valuable investment. Kudos to Sony for giving technical driving fans their fix. As for the arcade lovers, be patient -- MotorStorm arrives next week.

Final Score: 7 (out of 10)



Final Score: 7/10