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 | F1 2005 PS2 Studio Liverpool/SCEE  Writing about Formula 1 simulators is always an interesting and difficult task. For one thing, the genre has developed very slowly since 1997, making it very difficult to compare the subtlety of difference between generations. Personally I think 'Formula One '97' might be the greatest game ever made in the F1 sim family because it includes the sadly forgotten and lamented Adelaide street circuit. Having gotten that bit of parochialism out of the system, the big question is: has 'F1 2005' set an impressive new standard in driving sim? The answer is a big, but conditional, yes. The mechanics of this game are superb and stack up nicely against anything in the realistic PC driving sim stable. They have even tinkered with the accelerator function so that if you jam your finger hard on the X button before you exit a corner your acceleration will be diminished. The downside is that the average gamer will never be able to fully appreciate this truly fantastic achievement because trying to be competitive in an F1 machine in an ultra-realistic environment is damn near impossible. Thankfully the driving aids are very user friendly and for the novice I would recommend switching all or most aids on until you are more familiar with both the tracks and the handling of the car. Just because you're driving on easy mode doesn't mean that your engine won't overheat so it's still challenging and there are unlockables at all levels of the game to reward gamers from newbie to die-hard petrol head. One regular criticism of the series has been a lack of tutorials. To combat this 'F1 2005' has a new section helping with techniques and information. Unfortunately this section is an abysmal failure: if I wanted to read a book I would buy a book. It would be far better to include a hands-on tutorial system like that used to great effect in the 'Gran Turismo' series. One plus is the new Career mode where you can start out as a new driver and try out for one of the smaller teams (like Minardi, Red Bull or Jordan). Along the way you will be given chances to earn sponsorship and move to better teams until you eventually hold the Driver's Championship aloft. If you use your own name in the Career mode there is no commentary, so you'll have to play as a current driver in a conventional season if you want to hear the lovely commentary of James Allen and Martin Brundle. Overall this is an exceptional product. Due to the official license from the F1 Association the access to car logos, driving kits and tracks help make the animation truly amazing. Muse fans will also be pleased to hear the group's evocative Butterflies & Hurricanes in the opening CG sequence. The multiplayer component has been improved so that you can compete online in competition, but even if the online action doesn't tickle your fancy, the normal gameplay is more than enough for any driving sim addict.  | |
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