Good sports simulation games can successfully put you in the shoes of professionals and immerse you to such an extent that you get to experience the high stakes firsthand. F1 23 is a great example of such a game, exemplifying a level of finesse that will make it difficult for you to put the controller down once you start your first lap. As someone who is a beginner to this game series, in this review, I won’t be sharing with you how the game has improved from last year but rather how well it treats newcomers and what modes it has on offer. F1’s popularity has risen significantly in the last few years, especially in the subcontinent. So if you are planning on buying your first game in the series, I’m here to tell you what you can expect. So, sit back, put your proverbial seatbelt on, and enjoy the ride.
Gameplay
In any racing game, one of the most crucial aspects of the gameplay is handling. In racing simulators, beginners can find it extremely hard to cope with drifting at corners and despite trying to brake at the precise point, the players end up losing control entirely. This can be a pain point for many and players are often steered away from racing simulation games for the same reason. This is one of the primary reasons why arcade racing games from the Need for Speed and Forza Horizon series tend to do well in terms of sales, as they are extremely forgiving in this aspect. With F1 2023, I found the car handling to be realistic but not to a point where I found it impossible to recover from slightly wrong manoeuvres. This was extremely important as I knew that I could recover even if I fell behind on a curve. The learning curve in this game is carefully drafted to ensure that the experienced gamers will be rewarded for their refined reflexes but new players like me won’t feel frustrated right away.
As you would expect from a simulation, everything from car sounds to penalties are just like in real-life F1 races. For example, if you try to cut corners, you are initially given three warnings and then penalised 2 to 5 seconds depending on the severity. So, you must drive cleanly to overtake other racers and time your brakes and acceleration properly to stand a chance for a podium finish. With every new race, you learn new things and eventually, you will feel confident enough to compete online as well.
Moving to the game modes, F1 World, which is a new addition to the game, is probably the best of the lot and lets players start off with a generic car that can be upgraded over time. With a robust progression system, which comes with a Podium Pass that allows you access to in-game rewards, the game has plenty of content to keep players engaged. However, the microtransactions in this game mode can frustrate a few.
In the League Racing mode, you can compete with other online players for points over multiple rounds. This mode depends on player availability entirely and if there are enough players that match your schedule, level of experience, and preferred playstyle, you can even race every day. The game introduces ‘EA Racenet’, which can be accessed by your phone, tablet, or PC, to find out the best leagues for you. You can even choose to create your own league if you want, which can then be found by other players to participate in. Leagues are further broken down into tiers, with each tier having its own championship of up to 20 competitors.
The standard career mode offers two options, single-player career and two-player career. In the latter, you can play with a friend on your side and compete cooperatively. You further get the option to play as either a driver or manage an entire team. As you choose your entry point between ‘Newcomer’, ‘Midfield Challenger’, and ‘Championship Contender’, you are provided with starting resources, depending on your choice.
If you are a fan of local multiplayer racing, which has become extremely rare in modern racing games, you would be delighted to know that F1 2023 offers both split-screen and LAN game options. If you frequently watch F1 races with your friends and want to play with them right after, this game is just perfect for you.
Braking Point 2.0
Braking Point is the primary story mode in the F1 gaming series from Codemasters and in F1 2023, you get to play the second iteration of this storyline that started back in F1 2021. As I mentioned above, I am a beginner to this series, so I hadn’t played the first part of Braking Point when F1 2021 was released. Thankfully, the game presented me with a quick recap of the storyline, and it was clear right away that a lot of drama was on offer here. As F1 teams typically have anywhere from 500 to 1500 members, the scope of enticing storytelling elements such as comradery, betrayal, and loyalty between racers, team owners, and crew members is humongous, and the game doesn’t miss out on the opportunity either. The storyline is gripping and with incredible voice acting and facial animations that are simply unmatched in other sports simulation games (except maybe NBA 2K series). Needless to say, I was hooked.
In Braking Point 2.0, the story revolves around the fictional F1 team called Konnersport. The twists and turns in the storyline are interesting and can catch you by surprise at times. However, do keep in mind that you won’t be able to impact the story much with your actions, unlike some other sports games.
The ending is largely predictable but as a single-player mode, Braking Point 2.0 definitely works. This is not to say that there is a lack of variety in other single-player modes, as I mentioned earlier. But driving as characters with backstory gives you a sense of meaningful progress in the game, which can elevate the experience, especially for non-veteran gamers.
Graphics and racing tracks
F1 2023 is a visual treat and on the current-generation consoles (PlayStation 5 and Xbox One X), it runs like a dream. I played the game on a PlayStation 5 and experienced no issues in terms of performance. I faced no stutters and the game managed to run at 60fps easily throughout the duration of my review. In terms of graphics options, you can adjust Gamma, Motion Blur, Steering animation, HDR, and Graphics Priority between Quality and Performance. Despite Keeping the last setting at Quality, as I mentioned earlier, the game managed to offer a consistent 60fps frame rate during my review.
Everything from car models to surrounding environments looks sharp and this plays a great role in providing you with an immersive experience. The F1 2023 racing tracks are faithful replicas of the actual circuits that will be used this season, with the notable addition of the Las Vegas track, which will make its debut later in the season in November. With the Vegas skyscrapers in the background, gamers will find it enjoyable to experience the track even before their favourite professional racers do.
Verdict
F1 2023 from Codemasters is a game that offers a complete package as far as Formula One racing simulation goes. As there is no direct competition for this game, one really has to hope that the publisher gets the game right with every annual entry. Thankfully, this year’s iteration is extremely engaging, fun to play, filled with modes that will excite both casual and experienced gamers, and easy to jump into. With great facial animations and impressive voice acting, the follow-up to the Braking Point also delivers and makes sure that gamers are kept on the edge of their seats. Overall, if you are a fan of real-life F1 racing, F1 2023 will be a great starting point for you to get into this gaming series and if you are an experienced gamer, you would find the improvements from last year’s entry extremely welcoming. If and when you eventually get hold of this game, I encourage you to try racing on the Las Vegas track as it is really a sight to withhold.
Rating: 4 / 5
Pros:
- Brilliant car handling
- Authentic sound design
- Diverse game modes
Cons:
- Microtransactions in F1 World
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