Has anyone tried the recently released F1 Grand Prix for the Sony PSP? I'd like to get a user review before buying it.
F1 Grand Prix for Sony PSP
Started by
themark
, Sep 06 2005 00:28
6 replies to this topic
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#2
njharrison
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- 4 posts
- Joined: February 05
New Member
Posted 06 September 2005 - 10:17
Yeah, I bought it last week. Having played F1-05 on PS2 I was really looking forward to it, although I wasn't sure how the PSP controls would compare, especially with no analogue accelerator or brake. As it turns out, the PSP game was created by an entirely different studio - one that has no previous experience of writing racing games - and unfortunately it shows.
The game's physics model is actually pretty reasonable, although hardly the most realistic experience as you'd expect. Despite some online reviews stating that there was really no point in trying to find a fast line, I found that my laptimes improved considerably as I re-learnt the tracks and found better braking points and apices.
The track models in the game seem to be its strongest point - they are all excellent, and there are some really nice touches that are surprising to see; an example would be the yellow and black 'speed bumps' in the first chicane at Monza. I suspect that the models have been taken from the PS2 game and only slightly modified to suit the PSP.
The game's biggest issue by far is the AI, and the way it controls the cars. In all respects it is, frankly, appalling. The most obvious example is seen at the end of a race - as you cross the line the perspective switches to a third-person view, and you see the AI swerve your car violently back onto what it considers to be the correct racing line. Although I haven't yet progressed to the 'Hard' difficulty setting, I'd say that during a race there are very similar issues with the other 19 cars on the grid. They take very strange lines, and during overtaking they seem to switch from one path to another unrealistically quickly.
Strategy in the game is non-existent. On the 'medium' setting (I'm yet to unlock 'Hard') you are forced to make one stop during a five lap race. On 'Easy' no stops are required at all. It is claimed that some form of tyre wear is modelled, although I'm yet to see that manifest itself during a race. You'll also be disappointed if you want realistic parameters to use to set up your car - you get three pre-defined options; apart from that you're stuck with what you're given.
There are a few other problems that I find slightly annoying, and seem to indicate that the game has been rushed, or that its designers were not F1 fans. For example, when driving the McLaren you don't ever get into 7th gear - perhaps the developers only saw specifications for a Renault... Also, after a race you see the trophy presentation on the podium, but often it appears that all three drivers are wearing the same overalls. I'd quite like to have seen the F1 licence used more effectively, with realistic overlays and on-screen graphics.
Overally I'd say that the game is entertaining enough, but has a feeling of being unfinished and is quite disappointing. I couldn't help feeling that it has a lot of potential but doesn't really live up to it. Maybe 6 or 7 out of ten.
The game's physics model is actually pretty reasonable, although hardly the most realistic experience as you'd expect. Despite some online reviews stating that there was really no point in trying to find a fast line, I found that my laptimes improved considerably as I re-learnt the tracks and found better braking points and apices.
The track models in the game seem to be its strongest point - they are all excellent, and there are some really nice touches that are surprising to see; an example would be the yellow and black 'speed bumps' in the first chicane at Monza. I suspect that the models have been taken from the PS2 game and only slightly modified to suit the PSP.
The game's biggest issue by far is the AI, and the way it controls the cars. In all respects it is, frankly, appalling. The most obvious example is seen at the end of a race - as you cross the line the perspective switches to a third-person view, and you see the AI swerve your car violently back onto what it considers to be the correct racing line. Although I haven't yet progressed to the 'Hard' difficulty setting, I'd say that during a race there are very similar issues with the other 19 cars on the grid. They take very strange lines, and during overtaking they seem to switch from one path to another unrealistically quickly.
Strategy in the game is non-existent. On the 'medium' setting (I'm yet to unlock 'Hard') you are forced to make one stop during a five lap race. On 'Easy' no stops are required at all. It is claimed that some form of tyre wear is modelled, although I'm yet to see that manifest itself during a race. You'll also be disappointed if you want realistic parameters to use to set up your car - you get three pre-defined options; apart from that you're stuck with what you're given.
There are a few other problems that I find slightly annoying, and seem to indicate that the game has been rushed, or that its designers were not F1 fans. For example, when driving the McLaren you don't ever get into 7th gear - perhaps the developers only saw specifications for a Renault... Also, after a race you see the trophy presentation on the podium, but often it appears that all three drivers are wearing the same overalls. I'd quite like to have seen the F1 licence used more effectively, with realistic overlays and on-screen graphics.
Overally I'd say that the game is entertaining enough, but has a feeling of being unfinished and is quite disappointing. I couldn't help feeling that it has a lot of potential but doesn't really live up to it. Maybe 6 or 7 out of ten.
#3
fuz
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- 106 posts
- Joined: May 04
Member
Posted 06 September 2005 - 21:47
I bought it a few days ago and i've been pretty impressed by the graphics, car detail and tracks, however, as said above the AI is pretty useless and its impossible to follow a car or take a line through a corner without being hit from behind or smacking the car in front - complete with a pretty poor crash sound effect.
However, just setting laptimes against the ghost car is great fun, and the tracks are there in all their glory, it catches the atmosphere of Spa and Monza well and its great to pick up for 20 minutes or so and set a few laps.
However, just setting laptimes against the ghost car is great fun, and the tracks are there in all their glory, it catches the atmosphere of Spa and Monza well and its great to pick up for 20 minutes or so and set a few laps.
#4
themark
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- 442 posts
- Joined: September 03
Member
Posted 07 September 2005 - 13:21
Thanks for the reviews! Have either of you tried the cooperative feature? That's what I'm most interested in. Thanks!
#5
fuz
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- 106 posts
- Joined: May 04
Member
Posted 11 September 2005 - 19:57
No, I dont know anyone else with the game so I havent tried it, I can imagine its fun though. I've unlocked a few bonus cars and they aren't bad, waiting to get the Lotus 25 now.
#6
Pilla
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- 2,373 posts
- Joined: February 03
Member
Posted 26 September 2005 - 04:09
When you first start playing it seems hard, the controls are very twitchy, but after you get the hang of it then it becomes a race to see how far up the field you can lap. I have also won a championship in a Minardi and once (whilst playing as Montoya) Karthikayen stayed in third in the championship untill Spa, he still scored more points than Alonso and Raikonen. But it is a very fun and addictive game, I just wish the AI was a bit harder, I quite often stop an extra time just to put more pressure on my self.
Saying that: its a whole lot of fun and if you can live with a F1 game in which you can not change gears then go for it.
Saying that: its a whole lot of fun and if you can live with a F1 game in which you can not change gears then go for it.
#7
themark
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- 442 posts
- Joined: September 03
Member
Posted 20 October 2005 - 07:32
I fianlly got a chance to play this game, butu only in the coop mode. We had 4 PSP's at Suzuka, and we played the race using the bluetooth network. I agree with your assesment that it's twitchy at first, but you get used to it quickly. Coop is very fun, and there is literally no lag between players. A real hoot if you have 4+ people to go up against. This is definitely an arcade experience though, not a simulator. Unlocking the cars is fun though. I really want to drive the JPS
