Reviewed on PS4
The year 2020 will be remembered for decades to come, and in the world of Formula One it is no different. The cancellation and delay of races saw professional F1 drivers such as Charles Leclerc, Lando Norris, Alex Albon and many more take to the esports side of racing and set up their own races.
Due to this, the release of F1 2020 has been hyped months before it was set to launch and it does not disappoint.
GAMEPLAY
F1 2020 is filled to the brim with exciting new modes and track selections, to satisfy the hardcore F1 enthusiast as well as the aspiring rookie.
The biggest addition to F1 2020 has to be “My Team” which differs from the previous games in the franchise. Players can now begin their career as a team owner as well, being the 11th team on the grid within the F1 championship. This brings a lot more options such as contracting drivers, choosing a team name and logo, signing sponsors and deriving a power unit. The immense number of options makes the player feel as if they’ve stepped into the shoes of Christian Horner or Toto Wolff.
This new game mode really is the selling point for F1 2020, and provides users with enough reason to upgrade from last year’s game.
Another noteworthy addition to the game is split screen, which seems to have slowly disappeared from racing games ever since online gaming has gained popularity. Once you’re done building your team in career mode and feel like taking a break, call a family member or friend to indulge in some real-time competition by choosing a car and driver you want and going head to head. This is a small but wildly fun mode to spend hours playing.
The new tracks, namely Hanoi and Zandvoort are also great updates.
In terms of gameplay, F1 2020 graciously accepts newcomers to the game by offering a casual driving setup, which takes care of things like brake bias and tire wear allowing you to focus on the racing itself. The ERS deployment as well as cornering has been improved in a bid to make the game easier and more enjoyable.
VISUALS
When talking about the praises of F1 2020, visuals is one department that does not come to mind. The game looks very much alike the previous years which is not necessarily bad but some titles from competitors have sharper graphics and more real time track accuracy.
The options in the main screen and menus are simple and easy to understand, and the graphical animations when choosing your car and driver are small but pleasing.
The game does take into account weather changes and this is beautifully noticeable when trying to balance your car on a rainy Monaco Championship race.
GAME AUDIO
Audio is as important as visuals, especially in a game like F1 2020 where players are expected to maintain constant communication with their race engineers. The dialogue is clear and makes the player feel like they’re part of an actual race, with the audio cues from the race engineers being extremely detailed.
The sounds of the engines, tyre squeals and gearbox changes are accurate and precise to the cars. Pay close attention and you can hear the delightful Red Bull RB16 downshift, the sound of the Renault engine roaring when pressing the overtake button, and the vibrational sounds when the tyres are hitting the kerbs.
VERDICT
F1 2020 is probably the most hyped and awaited game of the series, and it does not disappoint. The new game modes as well as its assists for newbies makes this the best Formula One licensed sim to date.
The graphics may be similar to previous years, but the host of new features makes this a must-buy if you’re a Formula One fan.
