F1 2009 Review - SuperHappyGameTime - Episode 07

[MrSnowrocks]

Im very good at racing games, how hard is the hard mode on this game?

[dan45show]

Thanks for the review. I think I may get this on the PSP now.

Cheers.

[SHFTTheatre3000]

Thanks for your comments both Mixxishunt and connellrocraymond. I appreciate the feedback as it makes me re-examine my method of game reviews to make sure I cover all of the bases. Now I have around 8-9 minutes to cover a vast topic here, so I'm going to have to skip over stuff. The topics described in these comments are ones found in RFactor or GTR2, not a F1 game for the Wii! Codemasters were catering to a certain audience you see. The game you two want will be F1 2010, out later this year.

[connellrocraymond]

So to conclude, the list of things right with this the F1 09 version......graphics.

The list of things wrong with this game is so long, i risk writers cramp!

However, I shall hold off on my verdict of Codemasters until the 2010 version is released, but if the 2009 version is anything the go by, I shall declare the head of Codemasters illegal in Ireland. Stay away!!

[connellrocraymond]

And finally to the season and championship options. Not only did codemasters copy almost to the letter the rubbish system Sony had (3 seasons whereby nobody changes teams at all, whats realistic about that), but they completely ignored gamers inputs in this area. How hard is it to listen to what consumers want....We want realism. Real F1 fans will account for over 80% of F1 09 sales and so Codemasters developed a game based around the 20% of those who want to cock about and have a laugh!

[connellrocraymond]

Now to the realistic nature of tyre wear. In F1, most cars can make their tyres last roughly the same length of time.....oh but no such luck in F1 09. Codemasters have allowed your opponents to 1 stop with no tyre wear problems whatsoever. However, it is impossible for us to do a 2 stop strategy without the tyres reaching the critical ORANGE colour...meaning total disaster. Your lap times will fall off a cliff. Its like they took out the V8 engine and replaced it with the engine out of a Lada!!!

[connellrocraymond]

Thus, you hit the car in front resulting in a 10 second stop and go penalty for wreckless driving?? Amazingly, though you hit the car in front at mach 2, crash damage is non-existent. Drive into a wall at 200mph and the worst that will happen is you bend the front wing.

However, if you are blessed with eyesight and two functioning hands, you will soon be 10 seconds a lap quicker than the rest in qualifying so you'll be on pole, and thus you'll never see another car...til you lap them on lap 3.

[connellrocraymond]

Now to my favourite...realism and AI.

The racing is about as realistic as Mario Kart. For starters, there are 3 levels:

hard(slow)

medium(hurrendously slow) and

easy (right, youre taking the piss slow).

Off the start line, AI cars are similarly paced but upon reaching turn 1, they brake so fast, its like they ran into a wall and its impossible to avoid the almost stopped traffic of F1 cars in front.

[connellrocraymond]

One word can perfectly sum up the handling...oversteer!!

You may as well be driving a rally car. F1 Championship edition had almost derived perfection in terms of steering sensitivity and grip levels. On F1 09, you can apply full throttle to corners that require extensive braking in real life.

My next point relates to the pit to car radio feature. Codemasters had all the feedback from gamers on how they would like to see it improved from sony's version, and all they did was copy it....badly!

[connellrocraymond]

Are you clinically insane. Why are you reviewing this game. Anybody who knows anything about F1 will tell you the game is rubbish. I have bought most if not all F1 games since the mid 1990's and this is by far the worst of the lot. You have failed to address KEY areas of the game that all potential consumers should be aware of, thus rendering your review worthless. Firstly, I shall comment on the handling, which amazingly, you failed to address.

[mixxishunt]

Again like most of the reviews, you have missed out some fundamental ommisions. The "dead" mirrors; no replay. Also the over enthusiastic and inconsistant steward. I was given a penalty for going on the grass on a long straight avoiding a slow moving car!

The most important thing on screen spart from the road ahead is the rev counter and gear indicator. So why on earth have they put it at the corner of the screen. The game shows what can be done but alas what can be overlooked.

[bigcomputer]

thanks for the review... i play geoff crammond grand prix 4!

[rman11126]

fun game