Thanks to the folks at EA and the folks at Codemasters I have been spending a good amount of time with F1 22 on PC as well as on the Xbox Series X Console Release. As ever we’ve got our full video and extended written review, alongside the Pixel Bandits’ common-sense parent’s guide.
The Basics
Codemasters have had a hand in the F1 genre since the 1987 smash hit Grand Prix Simulator, and while they’ve recently handed over publishing to parent company EA it’s good to see the veterans at Codemasters have done what they can to keep the action on track as close to the real world experience as possible.
F1 22 joins a long line of Codemasters’ formula one titles, and as usual it brings some favourite returning features as well as tweaks and improvements and some stand-out new game mechanics. There are a whole host of returning modes here, providing a huge number of things to do in both single and multiplayer. This includes solo or co-op career seasons, grand prix events and the wonderful My Team modes. While some of these were in the title the last time we reviewed for F1, there’s also a few completely new areas too.
There’s also the F1 Life area, which the title pushes you towards fairly consistently. This mode lets players spend earned or purchased (with real-world cash) credits to customise a virtual living space which can be visited by other players. There are a fair few new features as well. Spring events are now available within the three official track weekends, but can also be used within other locations as well depending on the player’s preference. Mid-season Pirelli events now also include average time zones, drifts, autocross and duel game modes.
The best new features to me are the immersive pitstop, safety car and formation lap modes. These remove some of the automation within the events, requiring players to stop or turn in at the right time to provide more effective racing. Impressively, F1 22 brings virtual reality to the cockpit of your F1 car for the first time. While we provide a more holistic review here, F1 themselves have provided a decent rundown of new features in this trailer.
Parent’s Guide
Rating: Family Friendly
F1 22 is rated by PEGI at 3 and above, and by the ESRB at E for Everyone. The title lacks any typical worries such as violence, blood, or language and it is one which is suitable to play with or around your little ones at home. There are online features in the title, and a number of microtransaction options within F1 life, however good parental controls should keep young Damon Hills and Lella Lombardis playing safely. Overall for our parent’s guide review this is one which we’re rating as Family Friendly.
Accessibility
Rating: No Barrier
While there are a number of technical options to keep the title interesting for hardcore racing fanatics, F1 22 brings enough difficulty options and assists to make it playable by almost anybody. There are also a significant number of accessibility options in the title outside difficulty. In addition, with the week by week nature of the numerous campaign modes and the solo race options, F1 22 is a title which you don’t have to make time for, and which can work around you.
The Run Down
Visuals – Outstanding: I’ve been playing F1 22 for review on both Xbox Series and and on PC via Steam. Over on PC we’ve got the features set pretty high thanks to the auto detection, and you can see that looking over on the Xbox console things are looking pretty great as well. The title does lack a little here and there in NPC’s hair and similar areas, but when on the track the environments and the cars are beautiful. In addition, weather effects are executed perfectly and manage to provide just the right amount of challenge.
Audio – Good: I’ve had a few issues here and there with audio cutting out or stuttering, however overall things are pretty great. The engine sounds and soundtrack paired with the team radio chatter all draw things together to provide a racing experience which simply feels authentic,
Narrative – Outstanding: While not a narrative in the strictest sense, F1 22 allows you once again to create your own story. The career mode and options to begin your career in Formula 2 with a proper season make a welcome appearance. It’s also a nice touch that the My Team mode now lets you choose the stature of your team when you begin.
Replay – Outstanding: It’s hard to know where to begin with F1 22’s game modes. There are numerous one-shot events, grand prixs and career modes for single players. These are then bolstered by multiplier modes which again include on-off races, grand prixs and co-op career modes and even split-screen gameplay as well. Whatever is your racing poison, F1 22 just keeps on delivering.
The Verdict
Pixel Bandits Go Go Go Level for F1 22 is an Outstanding 4/4. This iteration of the franchise brings enough of the old while mixing in some lovely new features. While the return of F1 life seems wilted and mostly based around microtransactions, the new immersive on track modes and a wider variety of pirelli events are very welcome. Significant changes such as VR, tweaks in handling and pit stop errors by your team, updated practice programs and evolving AI drivers, new My Team management options and features… For our review I can’t find any reason to tell you not to go out and buy it immediately.