The end of the 2011 Formula 1 season is nigh, but here’s a way to keep the fever at full pitch for months to come: F1 2011 from Codemasters, which was recently released for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, and PC. (We played on PS3, both with a controller and a steering-wheel-and-pedal setup.) It’s the follow-up to last year’s F1 2010, and while that was a solid and enjoyable game—and the series is basically the only choice if you’re looking for virtual F1 action on home consoles—it was good, not great.
F1 2011 moves toward greatness, though, with improved physics, better graphics, a more cohesive and realistic feel to the action, and overhauled AI opponent behavior. None of its improvements are the single factor in F1 2011 being the superior game; instead, they combine to create a more well-rounded experience.
Given its title, the actual racing content of F1 2011 should come as no surprise. All 19 tracks, 12 teams, and 24 drivers from the 2011 Formula 1 World Championship calendar are available (with the exception of a few recent driver changes). That means, as in real life, the Buddh International Circuit in India makes its Formula 1 debut in the 2011 game, and the legendary Nürburgring circuit returns. And 2011 rule changes such as the re-adoption of KERS (Kinetic Energy Recover System) and adoption of DRS (Drag Reduction System) are reflected, too.
The On-Track Experience
Piloting an actual F1 car at speed is spectacularly difficult (we should know; read about our most-recent experience here), and the game does a good job of driving this point home. Minor on-track miscalculations can easily result in a tire puncture or lost wing, dramatically reducing your car’s stability. Damage also is now rendered even more realistically (and is complemented by spectacular slow-motion replays of your crashes). Stir in dynamic and difficult weather conditions that crop up from session to session, and the game delivers a very sophisticated simulation of F1 racing. The weather and damage modeling make F1 2011 not only more challenging than its predecessor, but also more fun. The accuracy and responsiveness of the cars, which gamers have come to expect through general-interest racers like the Gran Turismo and Forza titles, is excellent.
While racing, you’ve got a choice of five different views, including two third-person views at different heights, a front wing view, a driver’s-eye view, and the TV pod view (which you should be familiar with if you watch F1 coverage). You can also swivel any of the views at will, which helps for spotting other cars around you. Choosing a view really depends on preference, but the TV pod seems to provide the best balance between visibility and car “feel.” (If you want to get a pretty good sense for how little F1 drivers can see while strapped in, switch to the driver view. It’s not shocking that they run into each other occasionally.)
We were a bit surprised by how immersive and exciting the experience feels. The exhaust ferociously pops and snorts when you downshift, the Pirelli lettering on the tires spins into a blur as you reach deep into the triple digits, and there’s a real tenseness and sense of action as you pile on the throttle and rocket out of a corner, or when you brake hard going two-wide into the first chicane at Monza. There’s a point where games can amp up the adrenaline too far, and seem too arcade-like, but F1 2011 stays on the right side of realistic.
Going further, the behavior of the AI drivers you race against in single-player mode is way better. In F1 2010—as in many other games—the AI seemed to be an afterthought; too often, the computer-controlled drivers would roll around the track in a single-file procession, brake way too early, and ram you if you deigned to use the racing line. In contrast, F1 2011’s autopilots race each other—and you—pretty convincingly. Sometimes they’ll make room for you in a passing situation, other times they’ll shut the door. If you brake too early, don’t be surprised if they rear-end you. Dawdle on the straights and you’ll find yourself falling victim to KERS and DRS. And they actually drive smoothly.
Sound too hard? All is not lost for less-talented virtual pilotes. As in the previous game, adjusting for skill level is possible by enabling driving aids like traction control, ABS, braking assist (which automatically helps slow you further if you haven’t braked hard enough), an on-track driving line, and automatic gearchanges, all of which can be deactivated as you build talent and courage. Still, the learning curve is steep: We’d recommend keeping the safety nets turned on when you start out; it’s nice to have them in place while learning the cars and tracks, not to mention figuring out how to utilize KERS (an 80-hp bump for a maximum of 6.7 seconds per lap) and DRS (good for about an extra 6 mph in the straights).
We played F1 2011 with both a steering-wheel-and-pedal setup and a controller. Just like with F1 2010, it’s much easier to make the fine inputs and corrections necessary for the quickest lap times using the former, and it’s also a much more realistic experience. That’s not to say that you can’t have fun with the controller, though; Codemasters refined the way the cars behave and react based on which input device you’re using, which means the frustration of controller-based racing in last year’s game is gone. It’s a welcome improvement, because it’s not always feasible to play with a wheel-and-pedal rig.
Multiple Modes in Which to Crash at 200 mph
Your level of involvement is determined by which path you take through the game. One option is to battle your way through a Career mode, which entails starting with a backmarker team like HRT or Lotus and hammering out races and interviews in your journey (hopefully) to the top. (The basic career elements of F1 2011 are what you’d expect from a Codemasters motorsports title, including the pit lane–style career navigation and occasional voice guidance from your “manager,” both of which are incorporated into last year’s game and the company’s rally-focused Dirt 3.) With Grand Prix mode, you choose your races on a one-by-one basis, bypassing the tediousness of a career and immediately selecting your preferred team and track. A Proving Ground option also is available, in which you can complete time trials and time attacks, and see how you stack up on online leaderboards.
Multiplayer also offers a number of choices, including split-screen and online modes. You can jump into another gamer’s random race with the Quick Match mode, or define your own race settings—number of laps, number of cars, track, etc.—with Custom Grand Prix. Lastly, a new Co-op Championship mode has been added that allows you to join up with an online friend to compete side-by-side as teammates on a single F1 team; whether you apply team orders is up to you. The downside is that you need a friend who’s got the game and wants to play when you want to play.
Online gameplay can include up to 16 online players plus an additional eight AI drivers for a total of 24—or a full 2011 Formula 1 grid. Unfortunately, most of the online modes are a bit of a free-for-all. Connection latency is an issue; reacting to the constantly changing variables of an F1 race is hard enough without occasional lag. The biggest problem with heading online, though, is the human element: In our experience, there were far too many other players who got their jollies by repeatedly running into us. We know that isn’t the game’s fault, but we’d steer way clear of public online gameplay and stick to Custom Grand Prix events with friends or the Co-op Championship mode. (If you want competitive online racing with actual racing drivers and courteous, serious gamers, check out iRacing.)
Crossing the Finish Line
While F1 2011 clearly isn’t for folks who want a broader racing experience—depending on console, they should check out GT or Forza—it definitely delivers the goods for F1 fans. We know what we’ll be up to once the final checkered flag drops on the 2011 season in Brazil: Laying a smackdown on some virtual Schumacher.
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