EA Sports: F1 2001 (PS2)

• Platform:    PlayStation2, No Operating System
• Media: Video Game

F1 2001 comes into its own in several areas. Graphically it's the most impressive Formula One title to date and with a hint of motion blur on the onscreen visuals there's an almost tangible sense of speed. Weather effects are truly spectacular; rain in particular is horrific, restricting visibility to a frightening distance. Other truly great additions to the mix are interactive pit stops which allow the player to fully control vital tyre changes, and the addition of Gran Turismo-style driving challenges which help to develop a variety of racing skills. This testing section really helps when making the transition from quick race to full-on Grand Prix mode, even though it can be quite tricky to master.

Thankfully, EA have ditched full TV race commentary in favour of radio messages from the pit controller which not only add to the flavour of the game but don't have the infuriating repetitiveness of Murray Walker's ramblings in Sony's Formula One 2001 offering. Perhaps the most impressive inclusion in the game though is proper driver AI. Don't expect to see perfect driving from your opponents because it won't happen--and there's nothing like seeing Jenson Button pirouette past on a tight right-hander and disappear in a cloud of dust--marvellous stuff! --Chris Russell

Product Description
F1 2001 takes you into a living, breathing Formula One world. Feel the anticipation during the buildup to the race as team personnel and engineers buzz around the grid. Race against opponents who want to win as badly as you do. Every driver on the track will fight, battle, and react to maintain his current position while constantly looking for the next opportunity to overtake you, creating a high-pressure racing experience. Weather conditions heighten the experience. Watch the rain clouds swell in the sky above you, see the umbrellas go up, listen to your pit crew's weather updates on the radio, and then, as the heavens open, catch sight of your opponents spinning off the track, crashing into barriers or rushing towards the pits to switch tires and change strategy. You will hear intelligent pit communication from your race engineer, with weather and pit-stop predictions, plus advice on how these things will affect the race. If pit skills are honed, valuable seconds can be saved; if they are not, seconds will be lost. You can turn on the simulation mode and feel the car's handling change to a simulation style, pushing your ability to the limit. Or you can jump into the cockpit for the driver's-eye view and see the wheel wrestling around corners, the gears changing, and the driver gesturing out of frustration, anger, and elation.

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• PC & Video Games > Games > Racing