Formula 1 is going through a kind of revolution at the moment. Anyone who watches the sport is aware of the controversial end of last year and its apparent shift from pure sport to entertainment product. Much of this was driven by Netflix's Drive to Survive series, bringing a legion of young fans to F1, but also leading to a sense of fabricated drama and conflict to create a more compelling watch.
Combine that with a huge rule change, with cars moving to a ground effect concept, and you'd think this is a great opportunity for Codemasters to really step up and make some meaningful changes to this which has become a tired formula for their simulation games. That doesn't mean the latest F1 games have been bad, because they certainly aren't. Still, the series never really progressed or kicked off to truly justify itself to those looking for upgrades.
Although there are some significant changes in F1 2022, most of the additions seem superfluous. Despite everything that happened on the track in real sport, this new installment is a continuation of what fans of the series have come to expect. He's a terrific racer and a superb starting point for F1 rookies, but maybe not the kind of advancement long-time players want.
F1 2022 review: evolution rather than revolution
Perhaps the most significant changes to F1 2022 have been forced upon the developers. The very way F1 cars now generate downforce has been changed in hopes of creating tighter races and more exciting on-track battles. The cars are heavier and slower, but also have more grip, allowing them to follow the cars in front more easily.
This required gameplay updates, and Codemasters did a great job. You can really feel how the cars behave differently this year and it might take some time to adjust to some of the nuances. Luckily, the racing is as responsive as ever, giving you great control over how the vehicles perform as you launch them around the ever-growing number of tracks on the calendar.
There was also an adjustment to the challenges. Previously, you could participate in special events to get additional resources to spend in Career Mode. These have been swapped out for Pirelli Hot Laps, where you drive a wide variety of supercars instead of an F1 car. This allows for a greater variety of challenges, including drifting competitions. It's an interesting change of pace, and you can even participate in these challenges from the main menu.
The biggest addition to F1 2022, however, is something no one wanted. F1 Life is presented as a way to put yourself in the shoes of a real Formula driver. The only problem is that F1 Life doesn't add much to the overall experience. It basically changes the main menu to make it your own personal apartment and lets you spend virtual Pit Coins. This in-game currency, which can be purchased with real money, allows you to purchase cosmetic items to customize your avatar or change the look of your home.
This may well hint at the future of the F1 series now that it is owned by EA. Many fans speculated that microtransactions would be more influential in future games to earn extra money for the publisher. That doesn't seem to be the plan here, at least not yet anyway. F1 Life is such an insignificant part of the overall F1 2022 package. Still, this could be a test to see how receptive players are to this type of thing for the next entry.
Quality of life improvements
Where F1 2022 stands out is in the small but significant quality of life improvements. There are now more assist and difficulty options, making the game more accessible than ever and ensuring that players of all skill levels and ages can find a level that is both challenging and enjoyable. A new preference setting allows the game to adjust the difficulty based on the quality of your run.
The pilots themselves also saw a big upgrade. While still far from perfect, AI runners are more complex, feeling closer to real human players and forcing you to quickly switch between attack and defense. They can be aggressive and attempt moves that you would never have to worry about in previous F1 games. But they also make mistakes when in front, like locking up a wheel after a long period of pressure to give you a nice, easy overtake.
Career mode is much the same at its core level, but the way you interview the press and interact with your staff has changed, bringing some much-needed freshness. Workout routines, where you can earn extra R&D points for car upgrades, have also gotten a facelift. There are also a few extra routines, so you don't have to do the same tasks over and over every run.
A few players might lament the missing story mode, but it wasn't that great to begin with; it bothered me more than anything. What will please fans, however, is the addition of three more tracks, including Miami, and changes to the layout of circuits in places like Australia. Speaking of the tracks, they are absolutely stunning and are perfectly recreated. It really does get to a point where the game's visuals could be mistaken for reality.
F1 2022 review: the essentials
Benefits
- The cars really feel different to drive, mirroring their real-life counterparts.
- A series of gameplay and mechanical improvements make it a more satisfying experience.
- New tracks and supercars add more ways to play.
The inconvenients
- F1 Life is completely useless and brings nothing.
- There is no breakthrough addition to force players to buy it.
- It looks like a minor progression rather than a big evolution.
F1 2022 is a fantastic racing game and the best Formula 1 game to date. There are some really nice gameplay improvements, a handful of new tracks, and a realistic depiction of the changes the sport has seen over the past season. If you really want to get your hands on the new era of cars and feel how they drive, F1 2022 is a must.
First-timers will also be best served by opting into this installment, as it's the ultimate F1 experience. However, those who are still enjoying F1 2021 and aren't so concerned about tweaks won't miss too much.
[Note: EA provided the copy of F1 2022 used for this review.]
