It’s been a few months now since the
release of the official Formula 1 game by Codemasters. This time has given us
ample opportunity to put the 2023 edition through its paces and find out if
it’s worth spending your money on.
It would be remiss to not mention
that Codemasters has been purchased by EA and so too the F1 titles will now
fall under their umbrella. The good news is that most of the Codemasters F1
team has been retained. The bad news is that it’s EA and they’re unlikely to
let up on the in-game micro transactions which they have become notorious for.
To date, it hasn’t infiltrated the F1 game.
The game modes in F123 remained
unchanged, with career mode still boasting an extensive gameplay option that
includes embarking on the journey of building a team from the ground up. Here,
you’re in charge of every single aspect of the team. Design and research,
sponsorship, facilities, signing a second driver, and driving the car as well!
It’s a proper deep dive into running an F1 team with the bonus of pounding
around the circuits of the world. And if you’re more creatively inclined,
you’ll be happy to know that there exists an extensive customization menu that
lets you fiddle with the car livery, race overalls, and helmets to your heart’s
content.
It should be noted that F123 doesn’t
have much in the way of new gameplay. Codemasters/EA did add an F1 World
that has some scenarios that allow you to race in mini -championships and put
some Aston Martin, Ferrari, and Mercedes sports cars through their paces. But
this aspect of the game falls rather flat. After all, F1 games in the last few
years have been about building up your team and taking it all the way to
championship glory. The rest is just window dressing which most players would
likely ignore after the first week of installing this game. Nevertheless, kudos
to Codemasters/EA for trying to offer something different. There are many game
publishers who wouldn’t have bothered.
The narrative aspect that was
present in F1 2021 also returns along with Aiden Jackson, Casper Ackerman, and
the smarmy Devon Butler. It also introduces a new character in the form of
Callie Mayer, who is eager to make the step up into F1. She has an interesting
story and the story-mode of F123, thankfully well extended, is more than worth
playing to completion.
Now to the parts that actually
matter – the driving. Here is where F123 really comes alive. The drivability of
the game is next level and a genuine pleasure, even on the tricky streets of
Monte Carlo. It simply feels, all around, more enjoyable to drive, which is
what every gamer will rejoice in. No longer are the sudden snaps of understeer
impossible to catch and the AI drivers, though still stout in defense, no
longer transform into unbeatable superhumans when the rain comes down.
As always, there are various
customization options to match your level of prowess. For the more involved
player F123 delivers a semi-realistic experience that makes acing a lap even
more satisfying. This year’s edition is by far the most enjoyable to drive
which makes F123 most definitely worth the price of admission.
