POSTED 23/9/11


F1 2011

Codemasters
PS3 (also on Xbox 360, PC)

Round round baby round round, spinning out on me...

Well, until we discovered the joy of assists. But we’re being aheady-jumpy.

Bombshell time, F1 2011 is the successor to F1 2010. BAM! Much as FIFA et al are enhanced incrementally as the calendar shrugs another annus’ shackles, this delivers renovation rather than revelation.

Differences? 2011’s 19 tracks feature – so there’s the new Indian one and Germany’s circuit that yearns to be a metal band, the umlaut-infused Nürburgring (cue craving for circular snack food). All 24 drivers have answered roll call, as have the 12 current teams – cosmetic so far. New dictums involving the acronym ‘KERS’ and initialism ‘DRS’ also feature, the former a boosty boost, the latter spoilerific speed-thwomp skulduggery. Meanwhile, multiplayers’ll lurve local split-screen and 16-peep online.

More significant enhancements are less noticeable – under hood stuff like handling, AI and teensy graphical tweaks that don’t scream ‘notice moi!’, but make F1 2011 more agreeable to hang with. Things look more videogamey than expected though – DiRT3, using the same game engine (not car engine, duh!), is significantly prettier. Still, we spotted the office building we’re chained within three days per week in the Melbourne track, which was infinitely info freakoey.

Oh yes, assists. Their beauty is that any bumblefuck capable of wrenching an analogue stick left and right can play, as they’ll keep you stable for days... Forget Jenson Button, even Benjamin could chequered flag it. Dial them back though and you’ll speedily separate skill from dill. To conquer career mode you’ll need to race essentially unassisted, usually resulting in mucho you spin me right round baby right round, like a record baby right round round round.

The picture you see is a portrait of F1 that’s the realisticest yet game-wise. Get your kicks for [insert going price here]...

CLICK THIS!



CLICK THIS!