F1 2011

Since I spent hours reading countless reviews, and deliberating on whether to buy this game, I thought I would add my own two cents worth, just in case anyone out there is in the same position. I'm only a casual fan of Formula One, but I do like sports simulation of any kind. I have F1 2011 on the PS3, and like so many others have said before me, the Vita version doesn't stand up to the PS3 version, but it's still worth buying in my opinion.

I think the biggest concern of mine came when viewing the video trailers of this game. It all looked very low-res, and dull, lacking any detail. I have to say I was quite pleasantly surprised when I played the game myself. Colours are a lot more vibrant than they appear in the trailers. Detail in the landscape appears better too. It's not HD quality, but you find yourself concentrating on the race so much, that you don't really notice. But the overall visual representation is good.

I haven't played long enough to comment in depth on the gameplay, but what I have experienced so far has been good, as good as the PS3 version. A lot of people have said that it's too easy, and too forgiving. Well, I just cranked the difficulty level up a notch and I get a nice balanced game, although I'm no expert I have to say.

Another nice little touch that I haven't seen on the PS3 version is that you can take a break from driving for a few minutes, and just watch the session from the sidelines. I like little touches like that, although I know most people just want to get stuck into the racing themselves.

To sum up, as a casual gamer, I'm glad I decided to buy it in the end. If you can't decide, then I wouldn't let the bad reviews put you off.

I loved F1 2011 last year when it launched, it was easily on my top games of the year, so when I heard it was coming to Vita I was worried at first, but once you get your hands on the portable take on F1 2011 you quickly realise that the experience hasn't lost much in its travels to the handheld. including 3 full seasons of F1 action, from Practice to race day, its truly is F1. The changing weather mid race still throws a spanner in the works and can through a strategy out the window.

One gameplay feature added to the Vita is challenge modes. These can task you with over taking in a set amount of laps and slaloms. A lot of these can be great fast paced action, good to drop in. The completion of a series of challenges will lead to a bonus event. One of these that stands out and has been talked about is a challenge that tasks you with keeping your position on a wet track. The kicker however is you are on dry tyres while the rest of the field is chasing you down on wets. These events a great and really do fit well on a handheld, the style of pick up and play challenges works.

The thing that clearly makes or breaks any racing game is how it drives. F1 2011 on consoles was an amazing game in this department. F1 2011 on Vita is still great, though it feels a lot more forgiving. I don't think this is a bad thing. After all its a launch title for a handheld, so you may not want such a realistic experience on the go, but that's not to say its not fun. After all F1 2011 is a game, and fun is the name of the game. The game will still punish you for hitting a corner to hard, or using your fellow drivers as breaks.

Online is in present in F1 2011 on Vita, with both Online and Ad Hoc. But only 4 player races are present in both of these modes. Its a shame when the online on Ps3 was so great, but with a new platform comes testing its limits. Here's hoping with a 2012 iteration of the series we can see features like online improved.

Graphically the game does a job of presenting the cars and track well. The overall look of the game is great for a handheld, its certainly not the worst Vita game but its not the best either. It could be forgiven because its a launch title, as with Online we can hope to see a huge improvement in the next game. Much like we did with F1 2010 and F1 2011.

The tracks look great and look the same as on the console version, but like with the cars is in the detail that F1 2011 Vita loses some of its gloss. The graphics function well, but their is a part of me that feels it was a PSP game brought over to Vita.

F1 2011 Vita is a great game for a launch title, it certainly a good sign of what can be done as far as racing games on Vita, here's hoping F1 2012 can make a big impact if it comes to Vita in the near future. Its a game let down by its graphics, but saved by its gameplay. For a launch title, F1 2011 is a perfect fit for F1 fans.

My son loves this game and he recommends it by asking me to give it 5 stars ,having not played it myself this is his opinion only