Race In For New Formula One
Illawarra Mercury
Monday June 11, 2001
Car racing is a topic to which more games have been devoted than I've had cooked breakfasts.
The latest car racing game for the PlayStation Formula One 2001 has been released on the PlayStation2 (PS2) and PlayStation (PS1) so I have had the unique opportunity of testing them ``head to head".
The first thing I noticed, apart from the differences in the game options, is the resolution of the cars and tracks on the screen.
The PS1 version of the game is no ugly duckling, the graphics are quite realistic and you have no trouble at all making out cars, track and landmarks from the 17 real world tracks provided in the game, including Melbourne's Albert Park course.
The PS2 version of the game, however, is an order of magnitude clearer due to the extra processing power available in the PS2 hardware.
What you lack in graphic quality in the PS1 game you make up for in game play with an extra ``arcade" mode as well as the F1 modes.
In arcade mode you start with a single car and a pool of points, you can spend the points on buying and upgrading your car in order to win races and earn more points.
Despite being developed by two separate companies, there are still a number of similarities that are common to both versions of the game.
* Both titles are officially licensed Formula One products of Formula One Management Ltd.
* Both titles feature 2001 season cars, drivers, tracks and liveries and are the first to launch with this new season.
* Both titles feature two-player racing.
* Both titles are the only Formula One games to feature the official UK TV commentators, Murray Walker and Martin Brundle.
* Both titles support new Speedster 2 steering wheel.
* Both titles feature instant TV-style replay with a multitude of different camera angles.
* Both titles feature realistic car damage, with tyre blowouts and punctures.
* Both titles feature different engine sounds for each team.
* Both versions feature four levels of difficulty, making it easy for first-time players and simulation standard for regular Formula One gamers.
* Both versions feature customisable grid set-up in Quick Race. Select where on the grid you wish to start and select where on the grid other drivers start.
* Both titles feature the challenge mode, your chance to set a lap time on Spa, enter that time to www.au.scee.com/f1 and you could win a place in your National PlayStation F1 Championship.
On that last point, anyone who buys either of the F1 2001 games can race in a time trial to set their fastest lap time on the Spa track in Belgium.
Once you have raced your best lap you will be given a time code by the game to enter at the web site. You have until July 27 to race your lap and set your time and then the best five lap times from around the country will be contacted and invited to Sydney to compete in the national championships.
The overall Australian winner will then be invited to attend the PlayStation Formula One World Championship in Indianapolis, US, to compete for the world crown.
There are of course differences between the two titles, due to the differing hardware configurations between the PS1 and PS2.
The most notable of these however is the extra DVD video disc shipped with the PS2 game featuring two hours of 2000 season Formula One action.
The DVD is interactive so you can choose from different footage and cameras, seeing the racing at each circuit throughout the season as well as the pre race festivities.
As always if you have anything to say to ChipChat you can drop me a line at chipchat@illawarramercury.com
© 2001 Illawarra Mercury