Review: Formula One Championship Edition (PS3)

It would be a fair assumption to say that Gamestyle was not filled with anticipation when first inserting the Formula One Championship Edition disk into our PlayStation 3, far from it in fact. This series has slipped to the back of the pack in so many aspects, as the sport itself has struggled to find a new footing, so have the equivalent video game editions. However this is easily the most enjoyable F1 release we've experienced since the heady days of 1996 and Bizarre Creations Psone effort that combined arcade thrills with a challenging backdrop. In saying this however, there is still a long way to go before the series becomes a worthwhile contender.

The initial disappointment is that this release does not feature the 2007 teams or drivers, which is currently in full swing. So those looking to replicate the exciting start to the season that Lewis Hamilton is enjoying with McLaren, will have to wait until the next release. For those unfamiliar with the sport this will not be an issue, but for the enthusiasts who linger on every corner, or rule change, there will be an element of dissatisfaction. Such diehards will take some respite from the level of detail Liverpool Studio have brought to this PlayStation 3 debut, as the F1 cars themselves sound and look incredible and each of the tracks are amazingly realistic.

Race weekends feature all the practice sessions, which allow you to test new set ups, make changes and take advice from your team, before starting the knockout qualifying session. You can sit back and watch as each section of the starting positions are decided; advance time or just leave the garage to enhance your best track time. It is all too tempting to just jump ahead to the main race itself, but the work you do before the first lap is the key to success. Not only does it familiarise you with the racing line, and characteristics of the track, but also you will notice small changes can have a dramatic impact on your performance.

This whole experience is available in either the specific Grand Prix Weekend mode or the attempted racing career simulation that is Career mode. Your career is limited to only a few years but from this you can try and win a place with one of the lesser teams (through a time trial) and using this as a springboard to advance to the more famous teams such as Williams, McLaren or Ferrari - if they are interested. What sounds promising on paper has been poorly implemented as away from the track you rely on emails and the odd text news bulletin. If the F1 license had been in the hands of Electronic Arts then the mode would have included more options and enhanced integration with the whole F1 experience. Instead what we have is a soulless journey that lacks the drama, excitement and glamour that we associate with formula one. Your own pad (that features trophies and famous cars) is a hollow shell, and really only the foundations of what could have been a fun distraction from the track.

This lack of atmosphere is also not resolved by the practically picture-perfect visuals. The tracks and surrounding environments are easily the most impressive we've seen to date in the F1 genre (and Gamestyle has been around several of these tracks a few times over the years). Even though Formula One Championship Edition only supports 720p, the sense of speed, detail and weather effects are impressive. Especially the weather, with some dazzling lighting effects and rain, that had Gamestyle almost wiping the screen to provide a clearer view. Crowd noise only seems to appear on the main straight, as environments become a static backdrop, with nothing moving or occurring beyond the tarmac. The commentary only enhances the void as both correspondents sound uninterested and sound bites only occur now and again. Playing through the career mode you will soon come to know their comments word for word (and those on your pit crew radio) as the blu-ray ability for storage has not been taken advantage of.

The development team have succeeded in creating an experience that can accommodate drivers of varying skill levels. F1 releases can be extremely unforgiving affairs, only rivalled by Sega's Ferrari F315 release. You can tailor races to meet your own skill level through a series of driving aids that can range from braking help to identifying the best racing line on the rack. These can be included in all the major modes, and are also available online if you so require them. Rookie drivers would be best advised to start off with most of these turned on, then through experience start to diminish their influence before going solo. Even with most of the aids turned on, this does not remove human error or the potential for another driver to career into you

Formula One Championship Edition features several nice touches and additions that push it above average. The influence of pressing buttons during pit stops (to enhance your time) is enjoyable, and almost a mini-game in itself as you attempt to improve on your previous best time. F1 TV is a take on the Project Gotham equivalent and features some of the best drivers through replays that you can use to pick up tips. The online mode is surprisingly enjoyable, before embarking Gamestyle had visions of mass pile-ups at the first bend, and unwary drivers being used as a braking cushion. Thankfully there cannot be any collisions as you simply pass through an opponent. A popular take-up amongst players ensures a variety of races across the F1 tracks. The online experience is solid enough with the only lag appearing when opponents spin-off the track, which causes an occasional interruption in the flow of data. A LAN option is also supported for those without a broadband connection and represents the only way to take on a friend, offline.

Ultimately this is a positive debut for the Formula One series on PlayStation 3. Players who put in the time and effort will receive a stimulating and demanding experience. Gamestyle hopes that the next release in the series will build upon the good work here and bridge those obvious flaws so evident off the track.

Rating: 6 / 10

Words by Jason Julier