I didnt know the first thing about Foruma One when I got this game, I just fancied a decent racing game (which at the time were few and far between for the PS3). I'm also something of a snob when it comes to game editions (I like big shiny 2009 numbers on the box, and this is really just a port of F1 2006), but for the sake of this game I decided to get over it.

To strat with, this game is tough, dont be expecting an easy time with it. No other game can really prepare you for the number of hours you need to put into this in order for it to be a rewarding experience. I actually think its a reasonable representation of what actual competitive driving would be like, something which Need for Speed, Forza, and even the Gran Turismo series has never achieved.

Most of your time will probably be spent playing the 'Career Mode'. You start as a rookie driver with no team and nothing but a couple of trials from some of the rubbish teams to do. If you are successful in any of the trials then you will get to join them, probably as a test driver. You then need to do the best part of a season doing time trials and other challenges as the test driver, and if you are good enough you might get promoted to second driver, then eventually first. Once you are a main driver you have 2-3 practice sessions (each lasting an hour) for each Grand Prix, followed by the 3 phase qualifying (if you are lucky to get to all 3 phases), then finally the race itself. You will find that doing a single Grand Prix will take you somewhere in the region of 4-5 hours to complete, and save points are a little scarce.

Dont expect to gain pole position or get a win after your hours of work though, as if you have not yet been headhunted by one of the top teams then you basically have no chance of winning (which is realistic). To give an indication of how realistically tough this game is, during qualifying, the amount of time difference between pole position, and last place (22nd) can often be as little as one second. The miniscule benefits of the Ferraris and Mclarens really help even on this tiny level.

The game gets very rewarding, and is very addictive once you get used to the tracks, and then start to see hundredths of a second been shaved off each lap as you slowly improve, then eventually go on to win your first race.

This is without a doubt the most realistic (and therefore time consuming and often frustrating) race sim I've ever played, and now years after release I still set time aside to play it).