Developed and published by Codemasters, the latest Formula 1 title has officially released on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC. With it being the 10th installment in the Formula 1 video game franchise, Codemasters has made a number of improvements to this year’s release of the game.
This year’s improvements include a simplified version of the progression system that focused on developing the engine, chassis and aerodynamics of the player’s car. While last year’s progression system was impressive, it began to lose its novelty and became more of a chore than an innovative feature. Thankfully, the developers listened to the community and scaled it down a fair amount in order to make it much easier for the player to use.
While looking to improve the overall experience, Codemasters included all of the updated teams to add to the overall authenticity of this title. In addition to this, F1 2018 also comes packed with 21 real-world circuits that have seen a number of visual upgrades since last year’s outing.
When looking at the visual improvements of this title, you will notice that the tracks, drivers, and weather effects have all been improved. While this was great to see, I do feel that more work could have gone into bringing to life the pit crew. In addition to this, the new addition of press interviews also could have done with a little bit more work; however, they are still a great addition to the game.
Speaking of interviews, they are a new addition to the F1 franchise and will see the player, after each race, being interviewed by media representative Claire. Claire will ask a string of questions, which often surround how you drove on the day, your teammate, the overall performance of your car, and how you feel about rival drivers. Once asked, you will be given multiple answers in order to relay your response. Answering a question one way may result in either increased or decreased team morale, which will ultimately affect your car and team’s performance.
In addition to this, other teams will also take note of your general attitude. For instance, are you calm and collected behind the wheel, or are you willing to call out another driver who may have wronged you on the track? As a result, some teams may applaud your conduct where others may not. This is something I quite liked as it always kept me on my toes when being interviewed after a race.
Sticking with new additions, I personally love how seriously Codemasters takes the Formula 1 franchise. This can be seen with the new addition of the Halo. That’s right, Codemasters has equipped each car with a Halo in order to add to the authenticity of the game. Now, for those that don’t know, the Halo is a titanium structure that sits above the car’s cockpit to protect the driver’s head from flying debris. It is also one of the main reasons why Charles Leclerc survived his crash with Fernando Alonso’s McLaren during the 2018 Belgium Grand Prix. This goes to show that Codemasters is forever evolving with the sport of Formula 1 in order to add in the finer details that may be missed by other developers.
When it comes to the overall game, F1 2018 feels fresh, vibrant and full of life. The visual improvements look fantastic, especially when playing in 4K HRD on the PlayStation 4 Pro. To add to this, the sound is on point once again and the AI drivers are as ruthless as ever.
Conclusion:
F1 2018 is hands-down Codemaster’s best Formula One title to-date. Not only is the gameplay superb, but the visuals are also something to write home about.
To add to the praise, F1 2018 has a solid and in-depth career mode that still has me hooked. Overall, F1 2018 is a great improvement over its predecessors, making it one of the best F1 titles on the market.
By Darryl Linington
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