Formula One Championship Edition (Studio Liverpool, PS3, 2006)
Don't worry, we're not saying the Speccy game was the best F1 game ever made. That honour has to go to the PS3 game. Some reviews may have been scathing, as this offers very little over the PS2 F1 '06 apart from the graphical overhaul, but from a Formula One fan's perspective, it's got everything you could want. The tactical aspect of racing is given a lot of importance - do you choose a one-stop strategy to try to leapfrog other cars as they take a second stop, or do you use a light fuel load at the start to get ahead, pit early and then hope your tyres will hold till the end of the race?
It looks superb, with some of the best anti-aliasing on PS3 making for smooth, lush visuals. The rain effect is commendable too, although it makes seeing where you're going very difficult indeed. We like the way the other cars suffer from engine failure (as will you if you over-rev in manual transmission), but the AI vehicles don't seem to skid on the patches of oil left on the racing line. And seeing your front right wheel and wing ripped off after an oil patch puts you into the wall on the last lap is soul-destroying. Especially when you've gone through all practise, all three qualifying sessions and then used your parade lap to warm your tires properly. Bummer.
Still, it's the best (only!) F1 game available on the current crop of machines. We really hope Studio Liverpool is making 'Lewis Hamilton Grand Prix 08' right now. Or maybe 'Kimi GP'. Whatever, we just want more.
Anyway - here's to a great season!
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