F1 2012 Playable Demo PS3 review

[jim g]

The demo of the latest instalment of F1 from Codemasters is up on the PS3 Store, I guess EU will get it today.

Weighing in at 1.9gb the demo takes you through some driver training before your allowed to complete a 5 lap race in Monza. The training is useful and no doubt serves as the method to get into better teams in full game. Once completed you choose a rival to compete against in the race proper.

For me handling, graphics and the overall feel of the game seem way better than last years effort. I have only completed one race so far, but it felt really good. In Auto Transmission you can now manually override and change up and down gears whist still in Auto mode, which is quite useful. I really enjoyed my race and the corner cutting penalties seemed less harsh than last years effort. I am off back to have another go.

I recommend downloading the demo and trying it out to any F1 fans. I might just buy this now!

[Harry]

I am pretty unhappy with the demo, the handling feels rubbish with my Logitech Driving Force Pro. It is so easy to run wide in a corner even when you aren't carrying a huge amount of speed & that's the least of my issues with it.

• The framerate is still nowhere near as good as F1 2010.
• The anti-aliasing is still nowhere near as good as F1 2010.
• The graphics - colours/textures are still far worse to the 360 version.
• For some reason, in 'season challenge' the car handles completely different in the 1-lap quali session to the actual race.
• I have spent about an hour trying to get a decent wheel configuration compared to F1 2010 where the default settings were already perfect.

It really agrrivates the hell out of me, and this comes from a regular player of F1 2010. I own 2011 and find that to be an abomination. It's certainly an improvement over that game but still! All I want is decent Force Feedback and a decent framerate.

[jim g]

I don't have a wheel but thought handling was better than 2011. but hey maybe my memory is fading (well I am 54!). I only played 2011 for a couple of hours as I didn't like it

[Roddie]

Now up on the EU PSN.

[Brad]

and F1 2010 wasn't as good as F1 CE. Sad times.

[analog dog]

I quite like this given that I didn't enjoy 2011 at all.

They've done well with the AI, seems to be quite racey always looking to take advantage of a mistake. Had a ding dong with Button and Hamilton at Monza, it was a great race. I'm going to buy it (which I had no intention of doing before the demo).

FSW is right though F1-CE is still the best.

[Harry]

and F1 2010 wasn't as good as F1 CE. Sad times.

I've still got F1: CE and have played it quite a bit this year because of this league I set up:

http://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=250033

It's a great game but there are some things 2010 did better; such as multiplayer and graphics. The multiplayer on CE doesn't even work anymore.

[JU!]

Enjoy waching F1 so was lookin fwd to trying this. Played it and enjoying the Demo and Young Driver training. How do i get past Free Run? Do i get to race after around Monza. Can't believe they did not put a proper full race option in though from the start. Unless I am missing some thing. Just the season challenge thing, which while good to try a new mode and the rival thing, with The Williams car, I wanted to try a proper race though or is that the proper race? As Button's car seemed to be a ghost car.

[MisterBubbles]

Tried the demo and loved it, but theres so much out or coming out in the next few weeks, will pick it up at some point.

[Harry]

Has anyone been playing the full game? It's utter dross in my opinion and handles like a bag of arse with my steering wheel (Logitech Driving Force Pro), the force feedback is the weakest I've ever experience in a racing game, you can't use the full turning circle (i.e. full lock) or you run wide, massive understeer if you full-lock the wheel as well. It's laughable. I had more fun playing Formula One for Playstation last month I got at a boot sale for ?1 than this. It's atrocious.

I read somewhere that Codemasters Birmingham had a lot of staff leaving after F1 2010, and if that's true it makes perfect sense. Both F1 2011 & F1 2012 for the PS3 are awful in my opinion.

I'm stupid for buying it on release I know, but the thing is I REALLY wanted to like this game. I was hoping/preying even that it would stand up to the quality of the first game from Codemasters but am bitterly disappointed, if there was a contender for worst annually released game the Codemasters F1 series would take the cake.

I am going to sell it, losing ?9 for the privelledge of experiencing something horrid. But atleast I will be done with it.

I don't see why a developer (Studio Liverpool) can get my main complaints of this game perfect back in the year of 2007. Uh.

[Wools]

You’re going against the grain with your thoughts of the game, I’ve heard nothing but praise at the moment and loved the demo, but I have been on a 360 Controller.

What did F1 Championship Edition do above and beyond F1 2012?

[Harry]

You’re going against the grain with your thoughts of the game, I’ve heard nothing but praise at the moment

You've obviously not had a look at the official forums.

http://community.codemasters.com/t5/F1-2012-General-Discussion/bd-p/F12012GeneralDiscussion

There are lots of things F1: CE did better, to name a few:

• It's 60 FPS, compared to CM's games which are 30 FPS
• Smooth frame rate (even F1 2010 had this)
• The default force feedback and steering wheel setup is perfect from the get go
• Fair & logical penalty system

[englishbob]

Talking purely from the 360 version, the graphics,framerate and sound are top notch, a real step up from the previous years, its so smooth and silky. The handling is perfect for a pad now, its a real joy and I can see how people haven't taken too kindly to the new, more realistic way. Some of turning cirles in previous games where just not possible, especially at speed. Now its a real, more realistic version of the handling that would compare with the best of them.

The interface is better, more streamlined, the trailer park thing has gone, and everything is pretty much in its right place and easy to navigate. The new modes are a great distraction too. The Champions mode is rock hard on anything above Medium, so a challenge awaits you all. Season Challenge is a more cut down version of Career for those with a short attention span and can allow you to drive other teams car's fairly quickly.

The AI is better and the AI cars handle more realistically in front of you, some of those wild skitting around moments of the previous games appear to be gone.

Racenet - could be a blessing or a curse. So far its the latter for me, it so far doesn't include damage for the cars, and has an event in which worldwide players can currently post times over 20 seconds faster than can be achieved in real life. This needs to change or be tidyed up, otherwise its useless going forward. It has the functionailty to extend the game with new challenges, so this sort of thing needs to be ironed out.

Time Attack is good, allows you to attempt to get medals for various pre-set times, but why only for 6 or so tracks?

Time Trial allows you to get the best laps against all of the tracks for leaderboard status, but like Racenet it does not have damage switched on, hence some OTT leaderboard times. This needs ironing out too, as like Racenet, is a mode that continue to provide a draw back to playing it.

Career appears to have changed a bit, but it so far appears to be set to 5 years. I am hoping that you have the ability to continue after the 5 years is up, as in prior games its been impossible to progress up to the Ferrari's and Mclarens, especially on higher difficulties. So far my playthrough has been encouraging, I've already switched teams and started to race for them instantly, so no more waiting for the end of the season. I like this, keeps the interest level high.

Career mode has so far overdone it on the weather front though, I think about 7 out of the 10 races I have completed have been blighted by rain. This is where the decision to extend the race length by a minimum of 25% is a wrong one, its punishing on a pad to go 18 laps in Silverstone in the wet. Might be alright and great on a wheel, but not much fun otherwise. I've also noticed a lack of the drying racing line (that was brilliant in 2011) in these 25% races, hopefully this is being looked into?

Talking of things taken out, I think the Custom GP season mode removal was a mistake, Quick race does not make up for this. It seems odd as well as the OFFICIAL game to omit the practice sessions. Personally its not that much of an issue, but can understand why its upset a few.

I've really enjoyed my first week at playing this. I think there are various improvements in this revision that work really well, and some others that baffle. Time will tell if patching it sorts it out longterm, just DONT TOUCH THE HANDLING PLEASE!

[Wools]

You've obviously not had a look at the official forums.

http://community.codemasters.com/t5/F1-2012-General-Discussion/bd-p/F12012GeneralDiscussion

There are lots of things F1: CE did better, to name a few:

• It's 60 FPS, compared to CM's games which are 30 FPS
• Smooth frame rate (even F1 2010 had this)
• The default force feedback and steering wheel setup is perfect from the get go
• Fair & logical penalty system

I try not to take what?s being said on official boards (And in some ways all forums or comments) seriously at all. The slight delay of Jet Set Radio being put up on Xbox Live Arcade by a matter of hours was called disgraceful by some people on Neo Gaf, Rllmuk always moans about everything and the Codemasters boards are full of ungrateful cretins who moan about every little change Codemasters Birmingham make to the F1 Series. I?m not saying what the community give feedback on is not important or not correct, but I take some criticism with a pinch of salt, it?ll sap anyone?s enthusiasm!

All I meant, was the general feedback from friends, work mates and from what I?ve read online over F1 2012 was positive. Also the demo I?ve played on 360 was brilliant and the game is winging itself to me now!

As for the points you mention, they?re all fair comments as I?ve not played any of the Codemasters F1 Games on a wheel set up for the PlayStation 3, since the original game. I thought that played well but it was hit by the notorious bugs that plagued the first release, but I never encountered any issues with the 2011 version and I?ve yet to play 2012.

It?s a shame you?re getting those issues though, it?ll be interesting to hear peoples impressions if they?ve got a Fanatec Wheel set up on the Xbox 360 to see if they?re encountering the same issues.

[englishbob]

I loved F1:CE on the PS3 too, but 60fps it aint!