F1 2002 is the latest formula one game from EA, and looks set to keep up the standard. Right from the first F1 game that came out on the Playstation around 1996/1997 there was a unique quality and standard that EA managed to provide us gamers with, lets see if anything’s changed.

Gameplay:
The game is split up into a couple of different sections, first of all the single and multiplayer modes. The single player mode offers quite a lot, with the ability to take a quick race of 4 laps through your choice of driver and circuit. In the main single player mode you either have the option of playing a challenge mode, this is required at first because not only does it help you learn to be a formula one driver by teaching you driving basics, driving in weather, pit stops, racing situations and track experience too. This can sometimes get to a point where it is frustrating if you even slightly screw up the task and that’s it you have to restart, even if you just slightly go off the course, it can be annoying but it’s all designed to teach you to drive F1 style. It also unlocks the Grand Prix modes tracks and drivers (All off which are official real life drivers and tracks), in Grand Prix mode you can either have a single, custom or complete championship along with domination and team-mate challenges to help you become more like a proper F1 driver. The multiplayer mode also treats you to several different modes apart from a normal one on one race. Overall the amount of different modes and challenge there is within the game gives it a lot of gameplay and not to mention playing hours too, all of which are fairly easy to get into whether you’re a formula one fan or not.
The controls in the game are fairly well laid out on the control pad with a typical driving game layout, but when you are actually driving the car they don’t feel like the cars been calibrated properly so that steering it ludicrously bad, they can be changed in the car setup mode but it takes far too long and shouldn’t be like that, with the fact that all the cars seem to have the same handling something’s not right in my opinion. The computer intelligence is quite good, computer controlled cars have the ability to crash off through their own accord but when driving close to computer controlled cars they have no intelligence of their own they just follow the racing line, things like this should some as standard in an F1 game by now.
Overall the game has been put together very nicely and also plays quite well too and has an official feel to it for sure, asides from a couple of minor glitches such as controls it’s very good and enjoyable to recreate a Sunday afternoon of F1.

Graphics:
The graphics in F1 2002 are very crisp and clean and everything in the F1 environment looks very good; items such as trees, grass and even the gravel are visually good. Even effects from the sun and clouds look impressive too; the game also includes the rather nice effect of ‘heat blur’ making the game that little bit more realistic. Although the frame rate does have a tendency to drop and sadly this becomes quite frequent, occurring practically half the time especially in a Grand Prix race, which can be very annoying when trying to take corners or overtake. The cars look very realistic and have been superbly modelled with all the drivers logos and advertising logos included too, everything has been implemented here to make the cars look as good as they can. Generally the graphics look quite good and are off Xbox standard, but there could have been 1 or 2 improvements to them to give them a more polished look.

Sound:
Nothing outstanding has been included in the games sound, standard sounds such as engine revs, the crowds cheering and the sound of birds/the environment have all been nicely done. Whilst driving you are given hints from your pit crew, these are rarely repeated and are of good quality and are also quite useful whilst driving a long Grand Prix. Overall well put together, quite nice for an F1 game, but nothing outstanding really.

Longevity:
F1 2002 has got quite a challenge under it’s belt, as you can understand that the game includes a Grand Prix mode that takes you through custom or complete championships as well as team-mate and domination challenges to be undertaken as well. Asides from the main Grand Prix mode there is a challenge mode and quick race mode too so there’s plenty of longetivity for the single player. EA have also included a multiplayer mode too and it has more than a simple 1 on 1 race with a friend there’s also time challenge, tag team, advantage and last man standing modes as well so there’s also plenty of fun for the multiplayer mode too. Overall F1 2002 has a great offering of longetivity for the player, there are lots of modes to get through as well as changing the settings to be able to play a completely different type of F1 game, this game isn’t going to be completed in a hurry.

Round Up:
F1 2002 is a formula one fans best friend and yet the game is still accessible for the average gamer to play, but only just really. The game would be a lot better if it had been tweaked a little bit more, things such as the slowdown in the frame rate and the controls hold the game back. But definitely one for the F1 fans to buy; if you’re not a fan then a renting of the game would be advised, but still a very good effort has been made here.

Pros:

• This game will last you ages
  
• Anyone can have a good stab at it
  
• Very 'official' feel to it
  

  Cons:
  

  • Drop in frame rate half the time
    
  • Controls are hard to get used to