Formula One Championship Edition

If you're like me…you want the most realistic racing sims possible, based on
real tracks and real car data. Formula One Championship Edition delivers the
goods!

The negatives first (very few to find): Features that were 'dropped' from
the original game is race replay, an absolutely eye popping feature that I
will miss, as well as support for linking two systems for two player mode.
Two player mode is now a split screen feature that is kind of lacking…unless
you can get used to vertical split screen racing. Two player racing is just
head to head, no support for racing against the field. Pretty lame. There
are minor bugs in the game, some of which have been complained about way too
much in other reviews I have read. I am quite certain that these bugs…screen
pop up and blue lines, etc. are a result of this game pushing the
PlayStation to the edge. No other game out there attempts to do the level of
detail at the high frame rate F1CE does.

Now the ranting and raving: The most noticeable improvements on the game
are, number one, they just made the game better, rather then making us
players learn a whole new game. I like to use the digital Sony controller
because I'm faster then with an analogue on this particular game, and the
controls work the same. As long as I stiffen up the suspension, I'm just as
competitive as I was on the original game. I tried the NegCon on the
original game and had too much trouble with grip during cornering and under
braking, so I never have driven F1 with the analogue. A quick test on F1CE
with my trusty NegCon reveals that someone in development decided to make
controlling the car with this controller a lot more forgiving, so who knows,
I may have to start using the NegCon now. Number two, the graphics are a lot
better and tighter, if you can believe that. The cars are more detailed, as
are the tracks, right down to brown and green grass. The frame rate seems
faster too. I notice that my braking points come up a lot faster than on the
other game. Number three, the sound of the cars is much better. The whine of
the engine is softer and less annoying, especially to other people who are
in the same room as you.

In addition, you get the new tracks for the '97 season, all the cars and
drivers from the '97 season (except Villenueve, who is listed as Williams
Driver One?), and an insane arcade mode that makes the game feel like it
belongs down the street at the local arcade. There is also a much better
qualifying mode where you actually have to keep lapping or your time will
get beat. No more lapping once, grabbing pole and starting the race. The
commentary is more robust with an added announcer who points out technical
issues rather than just race position and collisions.

If you are a true F1 fan, this game is tailor made for you. You will love
it! If you are looking for a good racer, this is also a great game. Arcade
mode
F1CE should satisfy just about every racing video gamer, and sim mode is
waiting in the wings when you are ready to experience the beauty and
strategy of full blown F1 racing. You can even turn on 'flag' mode and can
potentially get DQ'd for bashing and driving like Alex Zanardi.
Bottom Line: Fantastic game, a must have for the PlayStation owner.
Two-player support is weak but there. Go get this game!

*******************************

Follow up after a few weeks of playing:

This game is getting a bad rap by some reviewers.  Without a doubt, it's in
my opinion, THE flag ship PlayStation game.  I have played this game again
and again, both single player and split screen two player, and have fallen
in love with this thing big time.  It's simply the coolest racing sim I have
ever played.  One thing though...I'm wayyyyyyyyy faster on this game with
the Digital Sony controller...I have turned a 1:36 and change with it on
Suzuka, and can't even break 1:40 with the NegCon (in Schumachers Ferrari on
gp/expert mode)  Not sure if it's just me or what...anyway, this game
absolutely rocks...the negative reviews out there are way off base in my
opinion.  My wife who hates video games as a rule, has even commented on how
incredible the game is.  I can't say enough about this CD!

- Stephen White