If you are a fan of racing games, you might be familiar with the F1 series, based on the real-life Formula 1 racing competition. However, the series is lesser known in the mainstream audience that only knows of the big names like Need for Speed or Dirt. Hopefully, this will change in the future because otherwise, they’re missing out on a great series that continues to improve on itself with each new iteration.
F1 2018 is the official video game representation of the 2018 FIA Formula One World Championship. Due to the sheer level of acclaim that F1 2017 received of its fanbase, Codemasters has had their work cut out for them. You would be forgiven for taking the stance that F1 2018 is merely an improved version of F1 2017, which it basically is, but that’s not a bad thing. ‘If it ain’t broken don’t fix it’ can certainly be applied to the F1 series, yet it still manages to find things to further improve. There’s every chance that if you enjoyed F1 2017, you’re going to love Codemasters’ latest entry in the series. You see, while it’s indeed hard to compare the two on paper, in practice, it’s the opposite. Subtle yet noticeable changes have been made to put F1 2018 in a league of its own. It’s more responsive, it’s more fluid and it’s ultimately more satisfying. ‘Career’ is no doubt where all the action is at. Here, you’ll select your team, meet your agent and then work your way up to the top of the chain. Sounds pretty standard, but one interesting twist is that the action within the career is not solely isolated to the track. There are now choices that will directly affect your career when you’re not even sitting behind the wheel.
This comes in the form of the interview system that takes place between races. Here, you’ll be put on the spot as the press quiz you about your performance. The kicker here is that the answers that you give will affect how you’re perceived by the F1 world, as well as how your own department sees you. This is achieved through dialogue choices and certain chances you taking during gameplay. Shout your mouth off and you may find yourselves in a touchy spot with your own team. It’s an interesting dynamic to say the least, and something I hope is maintained moving forward.
Being the official video game counterpart, F1 2018 comes with all of the official teams, the drivers and all twenty-one circuits of the 2018 season. This includes the introduction of Circuit Paul Ricard and the return of the Hockenheimring. Furthermore, F1 2018 also includes twenty classic F1 cars, the most in the franchise’s history. Now, enough of what the game to offer in content, how does the driving mechanics handle? Remarkably well. The game comes with all the options and tools that you could hope for to tweak the assists and the fields of play as you see fit. Regardless as to how you race (and what options you race with), F1 2018 is the pinnacle of its kind. Each motor handles magnificently and this is where you’ll notice the most change between F1 2018 and F1 2017, being that you actually feel in full control. The refinements that have been made, although small, have come a long way. Codemasters’ use of real-world F1 data is clearly pushing the series in the right direction.
That sense of unparalleled speed, grouped with the responsiveness of each motor and track, as well as the loud thunderous roars of combined engines, elevates F1 2018 far above its peers. It’s as authentic as it gets, and that’s the biggest compliment I can possibly extend. It can be tricky if this is your first F1 experience, but the game does a good job at helping you get familiar with the basics of the gameplay through practice sessions. It helps, of course, that F1 2018 looks and sounds outstanding. Each track, motor, weather system and anything in between is nothing short of breathtaking.
Just in case, I have to make clear that this is a simulation game. Even if you’re a casual player that’s dipping their toes into the formula for the first time, you’ll still need to be mindful of all the mechanics and functionalities of the real world counterpart; setup, rules, tire lifespan, fuel depletion and so forth. Though, even with that in mind, F1 2018 is certainly going to please players thanks to its realism, its authenticity, and its accessibility. All of the additional modes are present too, such as Grand Prix, Time Trials, Championship, Multiplayer and so on; each bringing the expected content along for the ride.
One thing that I do want to point out is that on two occasions, the game’s framerate began to spin out of control when a lot of action was present on-screen at once. I tried to replicate this after the first occurrence but couldn’t nail down the same results. However, after it happened again in another run, I summarize that perhaps a patch is due to remedy the issue. It was a very fleeting occurrence and did little to hinder the experience, but it’s something I wanted to make a note of all the same. With this to the side, there’s very little to complain about.
Conclusion
Despite some very minor issues, F1 2018 is the best entry of the series. The high-level visuals and audio detail, grouped with the care and attention to authenticity, collectively makes for an experience that’s robust, faithful and deep. Codemasters’ subtle yet noticeable changes over F1 2017 takes an already distinguished racer and makes it bigger and better than ever.
