Catering for all preferences

Codemasters knows when to hit the throttle and when to apply the breaks: immersion is entirely scalable. Comfortable with the track? No problem, skip to qualification. Posted an excellent time? Fast forward to see if anyone's close. Got the stamina for the full race? Choose all 70 laps. Prefer to keep it short and sweet? Opt for 20 per cent, or 14 laps.

Coming up behind with a cockpit

There's also a range of difficulty levels catering for all preferences, and a wide variety of online modes, such as party time-trials, or the heavily customisable Grand Prix for up to 12 players.

F1 2010 is not perfect. A few minor flaws add to those inherent to Formula One. In-car instructions given by your pit boss have limited variation, and begin to grate after a while. There's also no live data from real-world F1 races – as in EA's sporting titles. And, perhaps most disappointingly, on easier settings, Career Mode places you in a competitive car, whereas earning one by working up through the teams would offer a more satisfying challenge.

F1 tracks, more bends than Uri Geller

Verdict

These minor failings should come as no surprise, given that F1 2010 is the first game in what will likely be a new franchise, with annual improvements expected as in the EA Sports titles. And it will come as no surprise that this first game is such a success, given Codemasters' pedigree in other racing formats.

It's unlikely that F1 2010 will win over the majority of racing buffs, given the format's idiosyncrasies. But for true F1 fans, and a few converts won over by this most assured of starts, the future looks equally as bright for Codemasters' latest driving franchise as it does for the actual sport itself. ®

More Games Reviews
Dead Rising 2	RUSE	Halo: Reach	Tom Clancy's Hawx 2