F1 2021 Review: The best game yet?

The official release of the 2021 Formula 1 video game is nearly here, but how good is the game, and what should you expect if you do purchase it?

Coming out on 16 July to the general public, the game launches on the first day of the British Grand Prix weekend, and once again it’s been knocked out of the park.

The driver ratings have already been confirmed by EA Sports, with both Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton receiving a rating of 95, whilst home favourite Lando Norris has been rated 91. EA, the makers of the popular football game FIFA, acquired developer and publisher Codemasters last year, and this is their first F1 game for nearly 20 years.

They have come back with a bang, with new and improved game modes, as well as stunning graphics.

What to expect:

After the immense success of F1 2020, in part due to the coronavirus restrictions that forced the public inside, EA were keen to build upon this, and it’s fair to say they’ve done it.

Added circuits such as Zandvoort provide new entertainment, with the raised bank of the final corner at the track being perfectly created in the game, whilst favourites such as China and Belgium still remain as good as ever.

One thing that is noticeable is the tyres. The grip and speed available on each tyre certainly varies, and the game has done a good job of ensuring a wet track means less grip. It’s no doubt hard to perfect, but EA have managed to challenge the person behind the wheel, or controller, in wet conditions by ensuring corners are harder to navigate than on a dry track.

The menu is clean and slick, whilst commentary from David Croft and the official intro shown before an F1 race make you feel like you’re competing in the real thing.

My Team has returned after its praise in 2020, providing the ability to create and run your own F1 team that will be the 11th on the grid. Furthermore, in driver career you have the option of driving in the 2020 F2 season before being awarded a drive in F1 the following year, because not all of us are Max Verstappen or Daniil Kyvat and can miss out F2, or GP2 as it was formerly known.

The fact you pick a driver academy for that mode is an exciting addition; do you follow the path of Yuki Tsunoda and drive for Carlin and then AlphaTauri, or George Russell and move from ART to Williams?

Communication between race engineers and drivers is once again accurate, and the F1 race weekend is encapsulated well with practice sessions, qualifying, and of course the race. 

Want a sneak peak of new #F12021game?

Well, here you go…#F1 | #Formula1 | #FormulaOne pic.twitter.com/WHHHZSKh9E

— GPblog.com (@GPblog_com) July 12, 2021

Braking Point:

What can you expect from the brand new game mode? Based on ‘The Journey’ that EA introduced into FIFA, Braking Point is the ideal way to spice up the game. Controlling rookie Aiden Jackson, you negotiate through his first year in the premier class of motorsport, and the storyline is well written and fresh.

Just like ‘The Journey’, Braking Point engages with behind-the-scenes action of being an F1 driver and provides a storyline, rather than simply getting into the car and racing. 

Battling with rival Devon Butler and teammate Casper Akkerman, Jackson finds himself negotiating the highs and lows of F1 racing, and it’s your job to smooth things over as best possible with great on-track results. It adds personality to the game, and the drama that ensues perfectly mirrors the actual events that happen around the F1 paddock. Whilst the career modes are excellent, Braking Point makes the game even more realistic, and hence is exactly what it needed.

It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s certainly a bonus to what has previously been available in F1 games.

One slight frustration is the lack of a Drivers’ Championship standing in the mode; instead you simply complete objectives race to race, but on the whole, the mode is exciting and brings an added element that will keep fans entertained.

Conclusion:

EA have done an excellent job. The game runs smoothly with no delay, and the graphics are excellent. The on-track action is realistic, and the new game modes add personality to a sport that has been growing commercially for several years.