If anyone has a Playstation 3 they have a Formula One game based on last year's teams out. The graphics and gameplay are AMAZING to say the least. For a console racer the feel you have for these cars cannot be beat. I started a career mode and you have to test drive for teams to make a team - and you start out testing for the scrub teams. After nearly 2 hours I FINALLY passed the Super Aguri test and they offered me the main ride of the two car effort.
I kicked the game down to Easy while I get used to it but kept all of the driving aids off to make the feel realistic - it just slows the AI down. In my 3rd race I qualified on the pole, it was at Australia. Anyway, I spun the tires on start and let Schumacher get inside of me into turn one. Just as in real F1 you cannot play bumper cars as I had realistic damage on. I went wide and it also allowed Alonso, Montoya, and 2 other cars to drive by me. I heard the announcers going berzerk saying there was a crash in turn 2, behind me. Once I hit the straight I saw that one of the Williams cars actually messed up and overcooked the car getting sideways and he got pounded by one of the scrub cars and parts and pieces flew everywhere bringing out the local yellow. Was cool to see the AI actually mess up by themselves.
Anyway, even on Easy the Aguri is so woefully underpowered it's not funny on the straights. I ran a 12 lap race with modified fuel/tire use to make it more realistic. I was on a one stop strategy and pitted on lap 6. By then I was running in 4th right behind Montoya. I came out in 5th, behind Fisi. For the next 5 laps I drove as hard as humanly possible, sometimes even making a good pass on him for him only to overtake me again going back down the straightaway or right into the turn at the end of the straight. We swapped spots at least 3 times, and believe me it was intense. Finally, with 2 laps to go I got him in the middle of the circuit and then was able to drive away. I thought, 4th, not too bad. Then I saw Montoya about 2 seconds ahead. I drove the last lap as flat out as I could, right on the edge. I passed him on the big left hander right before the finish line and got a podium. I know this is a game but I swear I was sweating, heart beat racing, and I had the greatest sense of fulfillment by just finishing 3rd than I've ever had winning another racing game. Now, I'm anxious for my 4th race tonight at San Marino.
Since you have to test the cars on 2 lap runs at a time to "gather data" for the team you have to log alot of laps but it's worth it to get used to the tracks.
This game is great - I wish the Nascar series could be 1/2 this good with the sense of realism. Be warned though, anyone that gets this game - after playing for a couple of hours in cockpit mode I got an incredible headache from the sense of speed of the game - it's that good.
