F1 2010 is the first HD replication of the sport since 2007, and as such it has an awful lot to prove. Can Codemasters tease additional performance out of its much-hyped EGO game engine, or does this latest game end up looking about as attractive as Robert Kubica after 78 laps around Monaco? Read on to find out in this section of our F1 2010 review.
Read the rest of our F1 2010 review
F1 2010 review
F1 2010 review: Career mode
F1 2010 review: Hitting the track
Like a tanned and impossibly attractive Formula One pit girl, F1 2010 is unquestionably something of a looker. Codemasters’ proprietary EGO engine looks better than ever, bringing to life a detailed and eye-catching world.
Car models in F1 2010 are astonishingly accurate, showcasing all of the features present in their real-world counterparts. The McLaren MP4-25 even has the notorious F-Duct on its nose, such is the attention to detail.
At first glance though, F1 2010 doesn’t seem to have the same visual hook as was witnessed in its siblings DIRT 2 and Race Driver: GRID. This is down to two factors. Firstly, the number of cars on track is considerably more – three times more, in the case of GRID. Secondly, although the circuits look sparse in places, they’re much, much larger in terms of size. When you take these points into account, it’s incredible that F1 2010 looks as good as it does. There are moments when the game engine struggles – for example, diving into the pit lane results in a noticeable drop in frame rate – but on the whole you’re unlikely to grumble too much.
In fact, as soon as you experience your first wet-weather race in F1 2010 all reservations regarding its aesthetics vanish quicker than Virgin Racing’s chances of scoring a podium finish this season. With the rain lashing down and spray erupting from puddles on the track, the game is elevated to an entirely new standard of graphical brilliance. The mist thrown up by rival cars makes banzai laps impossible, and instead you’ll find yourself relying either on your memory of the track or the blinking red warning lights stuck on the rear of rival cars. It’s a truly astonishing facsimile of what it must be like to race in such abysmal conditions.
F1 2010 offers up five different driving viewpoints, so there’s something for everyone here. Speed freaks will appreciate the ‘on the bumper’ viewpoint, which puts you right on the front of the nose of the car, but makes anticipating upcoming corners tricky. The next perspective is the most authentic, offering a driver’s eye view, and even shows your arms moving the steering wheel. Thirdly, we have the on-board camera, which is positioned above the driver’s helmet and is ideal for scoping out incoming turns. Lastly, the fourth and fifth perspectives are both taken from behind the car, and while they lack that all-important element of realism, they allow you to see what’s going on 360 degrees around your vehicle, allowing you to avoid fatal collisions with fellow racers.
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While the on-track graphics in F1 2010 are almost beyond rebuke, things in the paddock are less convincing. Human character models are notoriously difficult to render in comparison to cars, and although Codemasters has done a great job, your pit crew – as well as the reporters who interview you post-race – look a little unconvincing. On a positive note, famous F1 drivers are uncannily realistic, bearing a very close resemblance to their real-world equivalents.
Despite a few frame-rate hiccups and some rather rubber-looking human character models, F1 2010 can’t fail to impress in terms of presentation. The weather effects are the best we’ve ever seen in a racer, and even when the track is dry you can’t help but appreciate the talent of Codemasters’ graphic artists.
Read the rest of our F1 2010 review
F1 2010 review
F1 2010 review: Career mode
F1 2010 review: Hitting the track
