playstation homepage   Coming Soon > PlayStation Game Cheats > PlayStation Reviews > Staff Review
PlayStation Game and Hardware Reviews

. . .
. . .
.
F1 World GP
"There are now more developers making Formula 1 racing games than constructors designing the real thing"
. . .
. Click Here for game SCREENSHOTS
.
.
. . .
Developer  Lankhor Game Type  Racer
Distributor  Eidos Review Date  Apr 00
. . .
. . .
. . .
. .
Related Items   ScreenShots | Similar Games | Cheats and Tips | Buy Games
. .
. . .
Playability:
 
      I suppose while I'm here I best give you a few facts and figures. All of the constructor teams and drivers that took part in last seasons (1999) Grand Prix Racing Championship are available for selection. This means that Irvine remains at Ferrari and Damon Hill with Jordan.

In race terms the player is offered a quick race, single race, practice, championship and scenario. Parameters may be adjusted with 3 difficulty levels, simulation or arcade mode, weather variables, fuel/tyre usage and a gauge on the realism. Driving aids available include auto/manual gearbox, brake assist, steering assist, gear help, damage and an automatic repositioning system for when you leave the track... and boy, you will.

Race day options include a helicopter preview of the circuit, free practice, qualifying, warm up and race. Furthermore, before a race begins you may choose to visit the garage to set up the race strategy, check out the circuit, weather forecast, check the vehicle performance, adjust brakes, tyres, wings, suspensions, gear box and fuel. As I said, almost every aspect of racing can be tweaked and tuned.

Enough of all these boring technicalities. What you really want to know is if F1 World GP is any good to play, right?

After unsuccessfully trying to gain pole position in the opening race of the season I settled for 22nd, and last, on the grid. This surprised me as I have taken in all of the Grand Prix game circuits many, many times before and felt extremely knowledgeable about each corner, breaking distance etc. The physics seemed completely wrong as each turn in direction swung the car into an uncontrollable skid... straight ahead into the wall. I visited the pits at least a dozen times and tried adjusting downforce, suspension and brakes, but to no avail.

I foolishly hoped that these control annoyances from practice would go away once the real race began. Oh, how insane. Surely fighting for a higher position on the grid should gain some benefit at the start of a race. Well, not so here. All the other cars seem to get a boost start at the off, while your chosen vehicle appears to have been saddled with a trailer full of gold bullion, or simply tied to a post. The acceleration is dire!

Once underway catching the pack is fairly easy, until you are faced with the next major flaw.. corners. Put it this way, I had a mini competition with a mate on who could successfully negotiate the first bend of Interlagos (Grande Premio Do Brasil) without going off into an uncontrollable spin. It took 7 attempts each before I ashamedly tried stopping the car and inching around the corner very, very slowly. Haha.. the winner! (I went off at the next bend and damaged my nose cone. Doh!).

I tried and tried to gain some sort of control over the cars that would allow me to race. I couldn't! I'd failed! I retired!

Apparently the engineers from McLaren, one of the world's leading F1 teams, have acted as a technical resource throughout the development period. No chance for their team this year then!
 
Game Options:
 
      This is a 1 disk game for 1 Player. It is compatible with the standard (digital) joypad and the analog stick controls of the dual shock joypad. Games can be saved via memory card (1 block per save).
. . .
. .
Related Items   How we score our reviews | Send us YOUR review of this game
. .
. . .
. . .
. .
Staff Opinions
Martin  "I'm sorry but I just don't want to talk about this gaming nightmare anymore. If you want to know what's up with F1 World GP then read the review above. Personally, I wouldn't even waste my time doing that."
Graphics  15/20
Playability  5/50
Sound  7/10
Lastability  2/20
. . .
. 29% .
. . .
. .
. . .
. . .
. .
Related Items   How we score our reviews | Send us YOUR review of this game
. .
. . .


 
please note that this article should not be reproduced in any form without the permission of Absolute Playstation