F1 2011

I was at first not able to get the game on my preferred gaming system of choice (PS3) so I decided to go for the PC version.

My computer specs are slightly below the minimum specs required but I have since found out that they are fine. I get 30+ FPS on medium settings with a i5-480, 315M 1GB Graphics card and 4GB RAM.
I have read the other reviews that seem either 5* or 1* and I wanted to add my take on the game.

Having owned every F1 game to come out since F1 2000 I had become accustomed to being let down by the intervening games. And although Codemasters last attempt wasn't what I had hoped it was going to be it still was a solid bases from which this game has grown.

The graphics have improved out of sight compared to F1 2010 and the game play has improved as well! While some aspects are not perfect, (a patch due out this week 18th November) the game is as intense and fun to play as other have pointed out.

At first I struggled to get to grips with all the new features.. KERS, DRS etc. But once I had a few laps under my belt the game became a whole lot more enjoyable. The AI this year are vastly better than the previous game and I do struggle to match them in some races!

I think the best thing about F1 2011 is the longer races (75% and over). This is where the game really shines. I know a larger percentage of players may not play this length but I would ask each and everyone of them to play a 100% race around any track and not come away enthralled, excited and (if the result doesn't go your way)disappointed.

I tried a 100% around Melbourne and came away tired sweaty and mentally strained. I started 8th and finished 5th even though not an amazing result the sheer satisfaction of slowly reeling someone in, and then battling to get past is one of sheer joy when you do get past!

Managing all the different aspects of F1 2011 is another of the best aspects I could find. Every lap you have to think about:
-Fuel
-Tires
-KERS
-DRS
-Pit Strategy
-Opposition gaining or losing time behind or in front
-Safety Car

This is all before worrying about hitting the apex just right, entry and exit of the corners... etc.

So overall a vast improvement over F1 2010.

I have been a big fan of Codemasters motor-racing games ever since I climbed into the driving seat with Colin McRae 2 back in the day. I have enjoyed many incarnations since then through the Race-Driver series and Grid. I have to say though that having quickly become totally hooked on F1-2011 I think this is simply the best work they have done! They have managed to achieve that magic blend of fun game-play and challenging realism. Well done Codemasters, great job!

I am new to the whole F1 simulators, however my knowledge of racing sims is quite high. I was just expecting an okay racing sim here. But what you actually get is a really close fine tuned simulator that is gonna give you hours of fun. I know many people moan about how sims are boring, I was the same, but this game is completely different. You can have the realism as high as you like. With all driver aids off and all HUD mods off, and of course a decent steering wheel and pedals setup, it's like you're racing the real thing! I'm only on the third weekend of the season after a week of playing it since I'm trying to learn the track. I love how you start low with say Force India, ending up with a contract deal with Red Bull or who ever. To all those GRID fans out there, no you can't go round a corner a million miles an hour whilst drifting. You make one tiny mistake and BAM, you're either the wrong way or into a wall. The damage is awesome too, really makes you try and set each corner up, as you don't wanna end up in a wall on your last lap of 20.

The only downside (if you can call it that) is that you have to really learn the track before you race it. Obviously coming from say F1 2010 or if you're used to the track layout it's gonna be easier, but for me it's impossible to put a good time down in quals. So I end up using all of the practice time to finally grow accustomed to the track. It's all part of the fun personally, but I guess some would grow rather tired of this.

In terms of graphics, they are pretty good. Nothing amazing, i think if anything it's a downgrade from 2010 but it's not the most important part of the game. You tend to forget about graphics when you're concentrating so much on the track layout. At least they have better graphics than the console equivelents :3

In all a fantastic game that every racing fan should at least try, even if you've gotta play it on a console ;D