This year’s edition of the official F1 game is here, which can only mean one thing: it’s time to get behind the wheel and race on some of the world’s most famous circuits. From the French Riviera and the sparkling waters of Monaco to the scorching sun of Bahrain and the rainy Belgian town of Spa. Everything is very well done and, in addition to the sports stars, there is also some recognizable from last year. For fans who come back for more, it’s more of a small improvement. Something that clearly defines this year’s commitment to Formula 1, whose motto is to perfect the wheel and not so much to reinvent it. Most of what we expect is included with minor adjustments and, as in the past, there is still a lot of unfinished business.
So we should ask ourselves: are the changes enough and do they justify the investment in this year’s F1? After all, last year’s game gave us one of the best and most tangible updates in a long time, with Codemasters and EA apparently hearing much of the criticism of the previous games. The feel of the cars was perfect, offering the right balance between arcade and simulator, even for those who only played with a controller in hand rather than a steering wheel and pedals. It was more real, sleek and a big step in the right direction.
Likewise, fans finally got the chance to dive into the Breaking Point story mode, which was an endearing reunion with the self-absorbed diva we all love to hate, Devon Butler. Over-the-top and dramatic, very much in the spirit of what Drive to Survive has been producing in recent years, but also very entertaining. It certainly wasn’t perfect, but it brought a little more life and accessibility to an otherwise rigid sport where gatekeeping has long been the norm. So it’s a shame they decided not to include a new season of Breaking Point in this year’s version of F1. Instead, they’re giving us a new Career mode that, for the first time, allows you to play as one of the 20 existing drivers in a more narrative-driven way.
Of course, it is also possible to create your own character if you wish, or even start in the lower F2 division. Of course, your conditions will vary depending on the team or driver you play with during the campaign, but the ultimate goal is the same for everyone: achieve the greatest possible recognition as a driver and become the hero of your team, even if it may be at the cost of stepping on your partner. This gives you control over how the car is improved and developed throughout the year, thus allowing you to adapt it to your wishes and abilities. And if you want, you can also make your own car have priority for new parts or even secret parts to give you an advantage over your partner, because as they say, all is well in love and war. Because in Formula 1, more than in many other sports, it’s about winning or dying, and this dynamic is very well represented by this special system.
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It also creates some interesting gameplay moments, with competitions giving you specific challenges to increase your notoriety as a driver. However, I’d be lying if I said this new mode was more engaging or interesting than Breaking Point. Rather, it’s a good patch that gives those of us who don’t want to mess around online the chance to do something else. Also new this year is the so-called Challenge Career game mode, which makes the season a shorter and more intense experience, stretching across just six races. In this mode, conditions are random and drivers, teams and tracks vary from moment to moment. Additionally, the six races are divided into three episodes, where you have clear objectives to fight against, both short and long term. These can range from completing a certain number of overtakes during a race to regaining the title of champion around the world or winning your first race as one of the most inexperienced drivers.
It may not seem like anything spectacular or revolutionary, but I must say that the short season was fun. In short, another plus point and another of the many activities you can dedicate your time to, which is never a bad thing. An intelligent use of the resources already available in the game. And as if that were not enough, it is now also possible to play in cooperative mode with a friend in career mode. What was to be expected, so Chachi Piruli. But what most F1 fans are probably interested in is ultimately the driving feel, which has already been talked about (and how the new model used was developed hand in hand with the current and multiple world champion Max Verstappen). How much truth there is in these words and how close the collaboration was, I do not want to speculate. Personally, I was already very satisfied with the driving feel of the cars last year, even if it was not an extremely extensive simulation. It was good enough, but above all it had excellent balance, even using only a normal controller.
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So is the new driving experience as good as Codemasters and EA claim? The answer to this question is not easy, but it is clear that cars are now experienced differently thanks to the new dynamic model implemented by the developers. Whether it is better or worse compared to before will largely depend on what conditions you have and whether you are one of the lucky ones with a steering wheel and pedals. Yes, then it will probably feel like a step in the right direction. For the rest of us mere mortals who would perhaps settle for a controller, the experience is not as engaging and the cars feel a bit too playful and bouncy in my opinion. Likewise, it was not as easy to achieve smooth acceleration and I had to work harder (again with control) to maintain good grip, especially on corner exit. In short, I am still not convinced whether the new driving experience is a step in the right direction or not. Especially considering that F1 games are intended for a wide audience, not necessarily just simulator enthusiasts.
In terms of audiovisual presentation, not much has changed. Small adjustments have been made and F1 24 still runs on the now rather aged EGO engine, with very specific improvements to lighting, reflections and shadows. Last year’s game already looked great, at least on PC, at maximum settings, and F1 24 improves a little. The changes are small but not insignificant, providing a better overall impression and making the tracks feel a little more faithful to their real-life counterparts. In addition, four of the game’s tracks have been redesigned from scratch, including Qatar, Silverstone, Spa and Jeddah. A welcome overhaul, not least for the two European tracks, which are among the most popular on the F1 calendar. In addition, the Shanghai International Circuit has also returned, meaning F1 24 now offers a total of 25 tracks to tour, with more to come as DLC.
In addition to an exquisite presentation, the F1 still has incredible sound, with an engine noise that makes your hair stand on end, although of course it can’t be compared to the old V10s. If you use a good sound system or good headphones, it sounds as good as ever. And a curious novelty this year is that authentic audio clips of the various pilots from previous seasons are also included. A small and seemingly insignificant detail that, however, greatly improves the gameplay.
Having said all that, and coming back to the original question, is it worth upgrading to F1 24 if you already have last year’s game? Again, the answer is not entirely obvious and a lot depends on how closely you follow the sport and how much interest you have. If you’re a real F1 fan like me here, then go for it and get going. This year’s edition is an improvement in many ways, although the driving experience may be the biggest divide among players. There’s no shortage of content and despite the fairly high price tag of at least $60 (around $80 for the Champions Edition), it’s worth every penny. On the other hand, if you just want to play F1 and aren’t too keen on the latest updates, stick with last year’s title. It’s more than enough, especially if you’re playing on a console. On paper, F1 24 seems to offer an almost overwhelming number of improvements, but many of these are relatively marginal or simply pure “promotional”.
Finally, I’d also like to raise a warning finger. The PC version comes with Denuvo, EA’s most hated DRM system, unfortunately it seems to be a necessary evil but also something that negatively impacts your PC’s performance. This isn’t a huge surprise considering it was also used in last year’s title and in return you also end up getting by far the best version of the game. So not so bad. Ultimately, it’s fair to say that F1 24 builds on tradition and offers the most complete and robust representation of the sport you can find on console (or PC). There’s plenty to do both online and offline and the racing is just as exciting as before. It’s true, however, that the need for a new game every year is hard to see: every two years would have been enough, but it is what it is. The best thing is to accept it, take a deep breath and be happy. Do not worry, be Happy. Formula 1 is here to stay, and it is as good or better than ever before.