A winning formula. (Formula One 2001 (PS))

Member Name: dopey copey

Product:	Formula One 2001 (PS)
Date:	27/06/01 (74 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: good graphics, best version so far, the challenge

Disadvantages: extra tracks are only mirror versions, nothing new for winning

It's, It's Formula One 2001, It's hit the shelves. There must of been contact there. As Murray Walker might say.

First of all I will list the features as listed on the cover.
1) Full 2001 season, drivers and teams.
2) New arcade mode featuring 34 tracks.
3) 2 player racing against full grid.
4) Enhanced car damage, realistic collision, punctures and blow outs.
5) Instant replay with rewind and slow motion.
6) Official commentary from Murray Walker and Martin Brundle.
7) Other basic features include analogue and vibration compatible, Steering wheel compatible and 2 blocks on memory card.

In this version of Formula 1 you have 2 main racing modes Grand Prix and Arcade. I'll start with Grand Prix.
Grand Prix mode has three categories. Championship, Single Race and Challenge Mode. In one or two player options.
The championship mode is the main reason to play this game, You race all 17 tracks in the 2001 season as the driver of you choice. All the options and set ups are here, You can adjust Weather, Skill, Grid assist, Pit assist, Fuel, Laps 5-10-20-half or full, Rules flags only-full rules or none, Damage, Failures, You can race a full weekend with practice, Qualifying and race or just race using the grid assist.
Your car can be set up with wings, tyres, fuel, pit stops, brake balance, ABS, Traction control, Steering and brake assist.
Single race offers all the same features but you just race the track of your choice.
Challenge mode is something new to this series. You only have one car and track available to race. Jensen Button at Spa Francenchamps. You only have three laps to set your quickest lap, You can't adjust anything on the car, and you can't cheat by short cutting. Your fastest time is converted into a 9 letter code. If your lucky enough to be on the Internet, you can enter this code at the web site listed in the cover. It will put your time in a league table for Britain
and International Formula 1 world Championship Challenge..

Arcade mode is set out differently, You have 6 leagues. Ivory, Cobalt, Emerald, Bronze, Gold and Anthracite. You start in Ivory with the cheapest car, A Prost. And only enough money to up grade your brakes, Speed, Grip and Acceleration. You race 3 laps of six tracks in each league, some tracks are mirror versions, To earn money by finishing in the top six. Eventually you can afford better cars and work your way to the top.

How the Game looks, sounds and plays..............
Championship, Single race and Challenge mode are the best looking so far in the formula 1 series. The graphics are much better and clearer. The accurate looking cars reflect light and shadow well, The tracks are smoother and less blocky. The backgrounds are more detailed with better sky, trees and crowds, You have camera flash's and waving flags. The rain behind the car does not look like square blocks this time it looks finer.
The sound is just as good with authentic engine revs, Screeching tyres, Crash, bangs and wallops, Helicopters flying over head and a great commentary from Murray and Martin.
The handling is responsive and realistic, Too much brake and you spin off. Touch the grass and you go for a spin. These can be improved with the ABS and traction control.
2 player mode. This suffers on the graphic side a lot, You lose vital visual information like the white lines and corner markers which make it harder to race. Half a screen is just to small. The good thing is you can race the full grid as rivals or the same team.

Arcade mode, This is as good as above but the graphics are slightly different. This looks as if you are racing in the evening at sunset, It has an orange glow to the darker clouds and the tracks. The handling seems a bit more jittery and harder to control. There is no skill setting and unfortunately it was too easy as I finished it in one sitting.

Loading times a
re quick, About 10 seconds overall. You get a quick question on Formula 1 to test your knowledge and the score adds up as you progress through the game. But there is no point to it, Nothing for a high score.

Any Problems?......... YES.
There seems to be a problem with answering some questions as your answer wont register.
The 34 tracks sound good, but its 17 normal tracks and 17 mirror tracks. They still look the same.
There are reports on Ceefax and the Internet that some features don't work. Mainly Tyre ware, blowouts and pit stops by the other cars. To be honest I have not played enough to have noticed yet.
My biggest moan is, You don't get much for finishing first in this game. IF YOU DON'T WANT TO KNOW, DON'T READ NEXT LINES. All you get is a picture of a trophy and a short congratulations commentary. No new tracks and no new cars.

What I would like to see..........
A podium finish should have a podium with the drivers celebrating and the flags etc.
When you go off in to the gravel you should get stuck in it.
Drive the parade lap and take your grid position.
On finishing the game, A new and strange track you would not normally race on, A roller coaster or the deck of a ship maybe. Just to make it worth while.

Return facter........... When finished the only reason to return to the game would be to beat your times or finishing position. The challenge mode keeps me coming back. I am slowly moving up the league, I started 112th and now I'm 68th. God knows how number 1 got his time. He must be good or a cheat.

Overall this is a good game for the old Playstation. Pushes the graphics to the limits. One of the best. Well worth the money.

Summary: