The Era of Dominance

The 21st Century has witnessed an unprecedented era of team domination in Formula 1, with drivers from just two teams clinching victory over the last 14 years. This level of predictability, year after year, is a testament to the engineering prowess in the sport. While there has been a glimmer of hope this year with four different winners in just eight Grands Prix, the overall predictability of F1 is becoming somewhat stale.

Formula 1 Video Game Experience

Reflecting this pattern of predictability is Codemasters’ F1 series with the latest addition, F1 24. Despite its well-executed new career mode and impressive handling model, the game falls into the trap of offering a rather familiar experience to players.

In F1 24, players can immerse themselves in the new Driver Career mode, where they have the opportunity to embody one of F1’s superstar drivers and engage in a complete, multi-season career experience. This new mode, known as Driver Career, complements the existing My Team mode from F1 2020 and allows players to choose from a variety of drivers, including current F1 stars, F2 drivers, custom creations, past F1 legends, or even infamous racers like Pastor Maldonado.

Driver Career mode sets itself apart by focusing solely on the driver’s experience, omitting elements such as team finances and sponsorships. This streamlined approach allows players to concentrate on building their driver’s reputation within the sport and engaging in key rivalries, making for a compelling gameplay experience.

The battle to build your driver’s reputation within the sport and emerge ahead in key rivalries against peers is a compelling one.

Furthermore, the new Driver Career features are accessible in the two-player career mode, offering a fresh gameplay dynamic. While My Team was engaging initially, the repetitive nature of the mode over the years led to a more focused approach in Driver Career. The journey to enhance your driver’s skills and accomplishments provides a rewarding and immersive experience.

Enhanced Gameplay Features

However, not all aspects of F1 24 hit the mark perfectly. The introduction of mid-race objectives, intended to add excitement to races, often feels arbitrary and disconnected from the actual gameplay. These objectives lack situational awareness and can appear random, failing to enhance the overall racing experience.

Similarly, the handling of secret meetings in the game feels awkward and confusing, detracting from the authenticity of surprise driver moves. While F1 24 introduces some intriguing elements like real driver voice clips and improved AI speed customization, certain aspects like commentary segments and F1 World mode may not resonate with all players.

The Codemasters and EA F1 Series

Since acquiring Codemasters in 2021, EA is once again in the business of publishing F1 games. Here are all the F1 games EA and Codemasters have brought us over the years.

In conclusion, F1 24 offers visually stunning graphics and refined gameplay mechanics, particularly in terms of handling and AI customization. Whether these enhancements justify an upgrade from previous versions of the game is a subjective decision for players to make. With additional features like Challenge Career mode and updated circuits, F1 24 strives to deliver an immersive virtual racing experience.