Great game, almost brilliant..... (F 1 World Grand Prix (N64))

Member Name: jv1997uk

Product:	F 1 World Grand Prix (N64)
Date:	02/07/01 (44 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It's official, good looking and sounding, good features and game modes

Disadvantages: It's pretty old now, car handling

From the outside it looks very good, an official licence means it is far more realistic over other games. It doesnt include Jacques Villeneuve, which to me is a letdown considering he's my favorite driver, other than that there are all the other drivers and circuits of the 1997 season. That's 4 years ago, so it is getting on a bit.

There are all the usual modes of play as well as a challenge mode where you have the chance to change what happened in 1997. There are offencive, defencive and problem challenges, each different and each getting harder the further you progress. The season is rewarding, earning you secrets as well as the champion celebration screen.

The cars handle a little unrealisticly at times, especcially when cornering, as it seems to be hard to corner the car in a realistic manor, as the car tends to pivot rather than steer. Play with an onboard camera and you don't notice this. It seems that the only real way of assing the cars is to pass them in the middle of straights rather then out-breaking them into corners, with is a little unrealistic. This suggests that the AI of the other cars could be inproved, and has been in WGP2.

There is a replay mode for the last lap, which is a nice touch, this feature has become more common now in F1 sims partly due to the success of it on this game. The results are almost always very realistic, with the better drivers finishing better. The other cars tend to spin when under the pressure of you if you stay close to them for long enough, although it isn't the kind of game where the racing order changes drematicly on the last lap.

I would recommend that you always chosse to have more steering than is reccomended for each track. To make sure you don't run wide with under-steer and so you dont miss any chicanes or hit nyone because you cant get out the way quick enough. As i said before, your overtaking 90% of the time comes from passing cars on the st
raights so run a lower wing angle for a higher top speed, your extra steering should also cope for the lower downforce needed for this higher top speed.

Overall it's good. I bought it because i like F1 a lot, if i didnt like F1 i don't know if i would have got it, but i probably would have. It has been as good as i hoped from almost start to finish. There are cheats to ear bonus circuits and cars to add a new dimension. WGP2 is better, but not by very much, still an excelent game all the same.

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