F1 22: A Solid Engine, But a Lackluster Race for Innovation
The roar of engines, the thrill of overtaking, the tension of a close finish – these are the hallmarks of Formula One, and F1 22, released on July 1st for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S/X, aims to capture this excitement. While Codemasters, the developers behind the F1 franchise for over a decade, have delivered a core experience that feels refined, offering updated car physics and faithful track recreations, F1 22 unfortunately falls short in its surrounding package, leaving fans feeling a sense of déjà vu rather than a thrilling new lap.
The core racing experience in F1 22 remains strong. The new Formula One 2022 season cars are more responsive than their predecessors, making racing a rewarding challenge for veteran players, while still offering a learning curve for newcomers. However, the AI, particularly unforgiving in tight corners, can make even experienced players feel frustrated as they’re bumped off the track. Thankfully, F1 22 offers a plethora of driving assists and customization options, allowing players to tailor their racing experience. The trusted Flashback feature is back as well, letting you rewind and correct mistakes, ensuring that even the most frantic races have a chance for redemption.
On the Track and Off: A Mixed Bag
While the gameplay is solid, the overall presentation of F1 22 feels a bit stale. The visuals, powered by the aging Ego Engine 4.0, struggle to keep up with modern racing games like Dirt and Forza. While not shabby, the game lacks the visual flair that would truly immerse players in the world of Formula One. Even the car crashes, while visually similar to previous games, can appear comical at times with tires glitching through the car’s body.
The star of the show is My Team mode, where you build your own Formula One team from the ground up.
F1 22 introduces three entry points: Newcomer, Challenger, and Front Runner, offering varying levels of challenge and starting resources. The Front Runner option, allows you to instantly create a top team with star drivers and facilities, perfect for returning players who are seasoned veterans of the mode. However, the Newcomer and Challenger options, requiring more research and careful management to build a competitive team, still require a significant amount of grind.
Department Events add a new layer to My Team, allowing players to make decisions affecting drivers, marketing, development, and sponsors. These choices can have both short-term and long-term consequences, adding a new level of strategy and complexity to the mode.
F1 Life: A Pit Stop for Innovation
F1 22 introduces "F1 Life," a hub area designed to emulate the glamorous life of an F1 driver. While you can decorate your space with various items and unlock supercars for display, the experience feels shallow and ultimately uninspired. Unlocking these supercars is far too easy, with six out of the ten available within the first few hours, lacking the sense of achievement and reward that players should feel. These supercars don’t offer the same thrill and speed as the F1 cars, leaving many players wishing for the inclusion of classic F1 cars, a feature many fans have been requesting for years.
The Long and Winding Road Ahead
F1 22, while offering a solid racing experience, feels more like a pit stop rather than a podium finish.
The lack of innovation, especially in comparison to its predecessors, leaves a feeling of missed opportunity and missed potential. It seems like the developers are laying the groundwork for future titles, but the current iteration falls short of what fans expect from a yearly release.
While more casual players will have a steep learning curve as they acclimate to the challenging physics, dedicated racing fans will find much to enjoy in F1 22. However, the lack of fresh features and the return of uninspired additions like "F1 Life" make the game a difficult recommendation at full price.
This is especially true if you already own F1 2021, as there’s not enough new content to justify the upgrade.
It might be better to wait for a sale or consider the EA Play Pro subscription, which includes the game as part of its package.
Overall, F1 22 is a solid racing game that delivers on core gameplay and physics, but its lack of innovation leaves it feeling uninspired and ultimately underwhelming.
Pros:
- Immersive Simulation Racing
- Positive Updates to My Team Mode
- Improved Car and Track Physics
- Accessible to New Players
- Co-op and Split-Screen Modes Included
- Does Not Require High-End Hardware
Cons:
- F1 Life Feels Pointless
- Lack of Polish in Presentation
- Glitchy Car Collisions
- Shoehorned Microtransactions
- Supercars a Missed Opportunity
- No Continuation of Braking Point Story Mode
Rating (out of 10): 7
