..F1 2012..

HANDS-ON PREVIEW | ? Comments |

Codemasters has found its perfect niche, and that niche is racing. F1 2010 and F1 2011 were some of the greatest racing-sims to date. Even if you don't love F1, you could get into Codemasters' F1 racing series with fair enjoyment (that is, if you were willing to practice and learn the game). The only problem was that the past F1 games could be a bit complicated. The menu screens and sheer amount of options available could be fairly intense for gamers who just wanted to race. The obtuse UI and learning curve turned a lot of potential fans off before they even realized the joys of the games. That is all changing with F1 2012.

F1 2012 is much more a game about getting into the car and racing than it is about complete and total immersion. That doesn't mean Codemasters have sacrificed what made the past installments of the series so good though. Don't worry faithful fans, they haven't taken our beloved F1 series and turned it into Cruisin' USA. What we have with F1 2012 is a game that throws us into the action faster, and best of all, it gives us a far better handling experience than F1 2011. It won't take quite the same endurance and skill and practice F1 2011 required (hard core F1 fans might not like that), but it will open the game up to more casual fans and bring in driving-sim fans from other series. Still, you're going to have to think and strategize every turn. You'll be able to adjust your brake bias, and KER and DRS are still available. All of these can be used in conjunction with the optional racing line, which aids you in seeing and preparing for the variables of the track and its turns.  

F1 2012 also looks far better than 2011. Whereas the track in 2011 looked good at high speeds, as soon as you slowed down, you realized how lifeless everything was. F1 2012 adds much more life to the world outside of the track, including a more detailed audience and general greenery. While it doesn't affect the racing much, it's a nice improvement to see. 

Though Codemasters' F1 games are the only F1 sims on the market, they are handling them with both care and passion. F1 2012 is an improvement over the past games in the series, and it will hopefully open the door for new gamers to give the series a shot. It is my personal hope that this will introduce newcomers into the world of F1 racing, so they can see why F1 fans like myself enjoy the sport so much. 

Look for F1 2012 sometime in September.

Rando Evans   Followtinydinosaurs Three things describe Rando: Good beer, good food, and video games. On occasion, Rando flies a zeppelin through time seeking power crystals.

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