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What, this is a great "game", Relax everyone!!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 17 / 18
Date: June 20, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Wow, A bunch of people have complained about how this game sucked. I bought it and I dig it. Here it is! Everyone seems to say stuff about how the game cheats, or it's not realistic... ITS A GAME!!. EA's not doing the Microsoft thing and advertising this as "As Real As It Gets".. You know why? because it's a game, and not a F1 simulation. I race carts, gone through racing courses, and am a huge fan of F1 (and live it Italy currently) I will tell you this game is obviously not as sense invigorating but you know what?

This is a pretty cool game. There is no such thing as an F1 Simulation for a game console just yet. Real fans of F1 such as myself recognize that we will always be able to say bad things about computer games. But they cannot be too realistic because driving requires feel, sensation, and view depth which cannot be trasmitted by a computer (yet). Get over it.

EA can't be blamed for not developing this game too much better, because F1 isn't a big sell in the United States and they are a business that needs to sell and profit. Sucks but that's life! Maybe Sony will do a better job (we hope) since they have a more international Market for thier products. But look at the game again; This is one of the best F1 Games ever made.. Without a doubt.

A quick attempt to get more money before F1 goes to Sony

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 12 / 13
Date: July 06, 2003
Author: Amazon User

EA has demonstrated the ability to master a sport when they put effort into it (NCAA Football, Madden, NASCAR Thunder, FIFA). So it's appalling (but probably financially successful) to see them slap out half-hearted efforts like F1 Career Challenge, Knockout Kings and the NHL and NBA series because they know they can cut costs and production because the hardcore fans will ensure a profit alone.
Similar to the NHL series, they add a few gimicky features to appeal to the console crowd but take away more specialized features like adjustable AI, car tuning, race length and individual stats. The graphics are slightly upgraded, but the framerate, draw distance and control are poor. The engine sounds actually cut out when you turn the wheel!
It's clear EA used old code and slapped together some poor cutscenes with bland presentation (which is an EA strength). It's like a bad expansion pack for F1 2002.
The worst new features include a "hot zone" where you score EA cards and points for driving fast through a designated portion of the track. The screen gradually turns red the faster you go (think of the "bluring effect" in the horrible movie "Driven"). And various EA cards pop up and distract you on screen when you overtake and take corners properly. Very distracting and childish. Console racers will never compete with PC sims, but at least give us the option to try.
The big career mode is a joke as you virtually have no customization options. Race length, damage, AI and even pit strategy are all set. You cannot even determine a tire compound!!
My recommendation is to get "Grand Prix Challenge." It is probably the best F1 racer ever to hit a console and it has terrific controls and graphics. Then wait and see what Sony does with the F1 license when Formula One 2003 comes out. I have a feeling they will take it very serious because of it's exclusivity and the uproar that would be caused in Europe if they screwed this up. The bottom line is EA would never treat the Madden franchise like this, so why should we tolerate it with the other sports.
Memo to EA...Loyalty is an important quality and one your customers exhibit enthusiastically to all your products. But if you cannot get better quality from all your development houses then at some point that loyalty will erode and more upstart companies will peck away at your bottom dollar. It may be 20 years from now, but this industry is fickle and your fan base is young, transitional and more acceptable to change.

Not bad, but it cheats!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 7 / 7
Date: January 03, 2004
Author: Amazon User

The career mode is interesting, and makes the experience more fun than the traditional F1 games. The game isn't hard to master after a little time, and you can find yourself scoring podium finishes consistently by the 2002 season. The main problem that I have with the game is this: numerous times while leading the race, I have pitted at the same time as the second place car. The pit graphics enable you to see down the pit road a portion of the time, and while I'm pitted, the second place car will simply drive through and take the lead. It is extremely frustrating, and they generally have a significant enough lead that it is generally impossible to retake P1. All-in-all good, but I wish that EA would have fixed that before release!

Not that evolved.

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 8 / 9
Date: September 08, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I came to this game after a long drought from F-1 on the Playstation, since I used to have a PS1 Formula 1 game in the late 90's, I believe by Psygnosis. I picked F1 Career Challenge for PS2 up at half price, and while it's fun, I feel rather disappointed. I'm a little surprised if this is an official F-1 game. It definitely doesn't feel as sophisticated as I'd expect, 5 or 6 years after the last F-1 game I owned.

Some observations after a couple days with it:

The primary draw of this F-1 game over others is its basis on a career. You start as a rookie, and hopefully work your way up to the top tier teams. It's something I haven't seen since an old Ayrton Senna game for Sega I had. Very fun.

That being said, however, the racing feel is a little lacking. First thing I noticed is that the cars seem way too prone to sliding and skidding. Regardless of technique, touching the brakes almost always results in squealing and smoke. In regards to handling, sure I would expect tyre adhesion to be a delicate issue at speed, but even running slow, with partial throttle, it would get squirelly. I even had it spin out on me under 60mph a couple times. With that much rubber, the cars should behave a little stickier. And a big annoyance... every time I steer, it seems to lift off on the throttle. Was that a function of Traction Control, I don't know, but if so, where's the option to turn off the TC.

Usually, as software develops, more features are woven in. This title seems like it's been abstracted instead. In a great racing game, for example, armchair drivers want to see lots of useful data. Speed and tach... all this game shows is in a small digital readout in the upper right. A string of lap times and intervals would be a reasonable expectation, so you can tell if you're improving on your times, or how you're spaced from the guys ahead and behind. The old PS1 F-1 '97 (I think it was '97) had great, Speed Channel style timing graphics. Career Challenge seems a bit short on the timing data.

As for tuning, the options seem really simplified. Same goes for the racing. The races seem to be preset lengths of about 8 laps, and the team picks your pit strategy for you, i.e. pit on lap 5. I'd much rather see the old '97 mode, where you can pick your race length, how much fuel you want to take, tyre choices, etc, so you can make your own plan, and if you tyres are holding out, you can just go for it. Damage modelling seems a little strange too. I see other cars losing wings, etc, and breaking down on the track, but I can smack a wall at over 100mph, and just keep going.

Qualifiying is a bit disappointing. They start you out in the middle of a hot lap, and stop you when you finish the lap, and you can do that 3 times. I much prefer to just let me go out and run sequential hot laps without interruption. (Much better way to get in the groove, I feel.) The only plus is that they actually do let you make tuning adjustments in the pits between runs.

And while I will say the graphics look great, some of the tracks seem a little flatter (less elevation difference) than I expect.

One last gripe... ready to start a race, cars lined up on the grid, crowd roaring, red lights coming on before the start... and you can't even rev the engine up. The engine won't throttle up until the race starts. For anyone who loves F-1 or has ever even seen a start, that just does not feel right at all.

That kind of sums it up. F1 Career Challenge satisfied my F-1 thirst a bit, especially since I paid half price, but overall, it fails to feel right when you're at the controls.

(I continue to wish that the Gran Turismo gang would get an FIA contract.)

A Little better than F1 2002

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 9 / 11
Date: July 10, 2003
Author: Amazon User

The only disappointment I have in this game is the only 'slight' improvement in the graphics over F1 2002 (hence 4 starts instead of 5). Having said that, they are still indeed superb. I have read reviews about choppy frame rates, but I have only experienced smooth graphics.

The only real draw of this over last year is the ability to create your own driver (i.e. you can race as yourself instead of taking on the role of, say, David Coulthard) and build a 'career' over four seasons. So now you can still race against your favorite driver since you're not taking his character. I also like how testing paves the way for better cars and setups. This motivates the player into performing well in testing rather than just blowing it off. Between seasons you may have the opportunity to jump to another team if you perform well enough. Imagine starting your career with Minardi and ending with Ferarri!

If you are an F1 Fan and follow the sport closely (as I do), you will appreciate the authenticity of the tracks and drivers for each year.

If you already own F1 2002, you probably do not need to get this game unless you can get it used. If you're curious, try to rent it first and make up your own mind. Myself, I have both and am pleased with my purchase.

Oh yeah, if you have the means try to use the Force Feedback wheel from Logitech when playing this game. You will enjoy it that much more!

If You're Used To Normal Mode, Look Out!

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 6 / 6
Date: July 03, 2003
Author: Amazon User

The reviews sounded good, but after playing this game for one evening I am a little disappointed with the latest rendition of Formula One racing from EA Sports.

For those of us who have played prior versions of F1 in "normal" mode, be prepared for a rude awakening. This game is simulation only - in any mode. Additionally, you can't decide on the weather and you can't decide on the level of damage (in career mode). This means that the learning curve is very steep, and EA still hasn't addressed the kamikaze AI drivers who try to overtake on impossible curves and run you off the track, or who stop abruptly in the middle of the track and cause you to crash - in "simulation" mode you are most likely to do a 180 degree spin and lose your hard-earned position.

Also, it would be nice in Career mode when you are doing the testing scenario to be given more information. For example, the Imola race has you test driving without any rear downforce: try even the slightest turn above 60 mph and you spin out. The instructions could have been more specific about what the expectations are, especially considering the airfoil doesn't fall off until after you've made your first turn.

I think I will learn to enjoy this game but I'll have to invest a lot more of my time than I expected, being a "normal mode" veteran of EA's F1 series.

Race through a career, awesome

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: February 15, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Way to go, I finally find a game like NFS that you can race on your own as your career. I played it and it was thrilling. The graphics, game, cars, handling and others are also perfect. Support F1, buy it or you will be sorry.

The WORST F1 game ever

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 5 / 7
Date: February 22, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I bought this game understanding the idea behind it. Boy do I wish I had spent my money on another game. Sure the graphics are great, but that doesn't make up for the sad game play. As most everyone else has noted, the other drivers seem to be on a mission to crash into you, or they manage to get through a pit stop much faster than you do. I don't know if anyone at EA is an F1 fan, but if they are, they sure didn't do the sport any justice by releasing this piece of junk. I'm four races from the end of the game, and once I'm done, this game is going in the trash where it belongs.

Can anyone out there make a great F1 game?

Description from EA sports

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 18
Date: June 02, 2003
Author: Amazon User

Experience the Excitement of Formula One™ from 1999 to 2002.

F1 Challenge '99-'02 is the only F1™ game to feature four complete seasons of racing action. That's 14 teams, 44 different vehicles, 34 drivers, and 17 of the world's most famous racing circuits configured as they were for each Formula One season from 1999-2002.



Unrivaled Authenticity - Cutting-edge technology brings you the most accurate representation of F1 to date. High-resolution car models include details right down to the very last shut line. Circuits include real-life structures, helicopters, airplanes, panoramic skies, animated grid girls, motion-captured pit crews, and even bumps in the track surface as they exist in reality.
Professional Driving Model - Advanced real-time vehicle modeling and force feedback recreate the feel of driving a Formula One car as never before. Feel every bump and experience the adrenaline of life in the cockpit of an F1 car.
Full car damage - Advanced physics modeling of brittle carbon fiber components, rigid bodies such as wings, and the open wheel characteristics of F1 bring you unique and spectacular damage effects.
Become an F1 legend - The glossy team-themed user interface puts you in the game and tracks your performance as a real-life driver competing against the likes of world champion drivers such as Damon Hill, Jacques Villeneuve, Mika Hakkinen, and Michael Schumacher.
Real race sounds - Unique engine sounds created from real life, live F1 recordings bring you the richest racing soundtrack ever.
Deep gameplay - Fully featured telemetry enables you to tweak your driving style and vehicle setup just as in real life.


I already preorder this game and I am sure I will enjoy it. HAve fun.

Bit of a letdown

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 4 / 6
Date: July 03, 2003
Author: Amazon User

With high hopes based on the reputation that EA has stablished with its line of F1 simulation over the years, I was looking forward to the F1 sim that actually put YOU in the driver's seat. You didn't have to be JPM, Schumi or DC, but you can finally be "John Smith" working on a career in F1...
Well, I must say that I am a bit dissappointed. The graphics engine has been somwhat updated and all the colors seem a little more brilliant, but other than that the new F1 "sim" seems to be a step back rather than a leap forward which it was promised to be. While the basic features of F1 2002 have carried over into the new game in the form of "quick race" (even though you don't have the fancy customisation anymore), the whole point of the game was the career mode and here are some ups and downs of that:

PROS:
- You play as yourself, building your career on your reputation and your performances.
- You need to pass a Super License exam before getting any ofers from any teams. That adds to realism.
- The 99-02 seasons are authentically representaed with additional details like Mika Salo replacing Schumi when the latter broke his foot in an accident

CONS:
- All races are defaulted to about 6 to 9 laps and nothing can be done about that
- The damage modelling is defaulted to a minimum. When I salmmed into the wall at the Casini hairpin in Montreal, the only damage I recieved was "a missing 2nd gear"... Now, c'mon...
- The AI is good but defaulted to a hard level, so in the beginning you are going to qualify outside the 107% mark.
- The setup includes three sliding bars to adjust downforce, understeer/oversteer, acceleration vs. top speed - so as you can see the setup is nowhere close to where it was in F1 2002

All in all, F1 career challenge is fun if a bit "arcadish". You should own this game in addition to F1 2002, because this game has what F1 2002 truly lacked - a personalised feel

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