F1 24 test by jeuxvideo.com

We often tend to complain when sports games, episode after episode, only benefit from modest improvements. Football, basketball, car racing… there are countless examples of sports titles that have attracted the public’s wrath due to simple updates sold at a high price. This is even more true when the disciplines in question are very popular. At the same time, and this is a reality, developers are sometimes torn between keeping what works and bringing new features that impact players’ habits. With F1 24, Codemasters has chosen to rush the codes and touch on the physics of the vehicles and their behavior. I might as well tell you right away, there is no question of changing everything, but you will have to relearn some notions of gameplay.

The Oversteer of Discord

For the past few days, a simple glance at the Internet has allowed us to take the temperature of the community regarding the gameplay of this F1 24. And let’s be clear, the changes made by Codemasters are far from unanimous . Just play F1 23 and try this new episode to measure the gap that exists between the two versions. If the movements of the cylinders are well rendered, the steering is overall too abrupt, as if the car were anchored in the asphalt. This feeling is also increased tenfold in turns requiring greater braking. We really have the feeling, at times, of being in a remote-controlled single-seater! For comparison, last year’s edition had a looser, more natural approach. So, certainly, we find ourselves in the presence of a game aimed at the general public, but it is obvious that this rigidity, even more pronounced on the controller, will not please everyone. As with everything, training and knowledge of the tracks allow you to adapt to this change in philosophy, but those who liked the feeling of F1 23 risk being disillusioned at first. Some people will get used to it, others will miss the gameplay of the previous part. The advantage of such a choice is that it opens the license to more people.

Where the difference is felt is in the reaction of the suspensions. The system has been completely revised and the sensations, controller or steering wheel in hand, are really good in that regard. Each of the suspensions is independent and this approach allows the player to feel each bump or vibration with more realism. The single-seaters have a better controlled weight/center of gravity distribution and the change is palpable in the race. It is in these moments, in particular, that we appreciate the reconstruction of several circuits: Silverstone (England), Spa-Francorchamps (Belgium), Lusail International (Qatar) and the Corniche circuit (Saudi Arabia) . For this 2024 edition, the Codemasters team has completely rescanned these traces for the sake of authenticity and the result is frankly pleasant. Max Verstappen’s advice was invaluable and if you like to get your hands dirty, you can always model the mechanics of your vehicle (and now the engine braking) before each race.

Towards the search for realism

Although it does not at any time upset the rules established for several years, F1 24 advocates great spectacle and does not hesitate to indulge in a multitude of cutscenes aimed at satisfying the search for realism. Even if it sounds a little false at times due to a withdrawn atmosphere or the absence of voice (of the driver we play), this edition has the merit of taking us behind the scenes of the paddocks and teams . And to take full advantage of it, there’s nothing like jumping into the brand new Career mode!

For the first time, you have the opportunity to start this one by taking control of a Formula 2 driver. Codemasters has made a real effort on the modeling, everything is more authentic and each objective gives the opportunity to sit his personality with the team and the stable with which you are negotiating. It’s not revolutionary in itself, but we no longer stupidly accumulate race weekends. The influence of the driver is real, to the point of impacting R&D (Research & Development) and the specialists who work on the vehicle. It will even happen that secret meetings are organized with other teams with, at the end of the day, the difficult choice of remaining loyal to one’s employer or looking elsewhere. Needless to say, performances, when good, contribute to group cohesion. Otherwise, the desire to go elsewhere and the risk of being unmasked can turn the season into a nightmare. And it must be admitted that all these elements contribute to immersion. We will just put a caveat on the fact that it only takes a few successful races for the competition to knock at your door. Everything is a little too sudden and requires decisions to be made quite early in the season.

From the general public arcade?

F1 24 is an extremely rich game, whether you attempt a career as a driver, as a team or with a partner (it is possible to cooperate in the same team or to compete). Without revolutionizing its progression, the game is doing quite well, whether you play local or online modes. On the other hand, there is sometimes a gap between the profusion of options and this feeling of having a game which leans more and more towards the arcade. Certainly, Max Verstappen contributed to the development, but there are truly decisions that will not pass muster with the community. While F1 23 had found, overall, a fair balance between arcade and simulation, this episode changes everything, or almost everything! Career mode is successful, but it will not replace Breaking Point mode inspired by the Drive to Survive documentary series on Netflix. F1 World, which brings together customizable Grand Prix, online modes and even challenges, is making its comeback. This goes back to what we said a little above, namely that developers are sometimes torn between the desire for change and the desire to maintain a formula that works.

The problem is that this new edition, with the few new features it brings, would have deserved a graphic gap. The EGO engine is starting to show signs of fatigue and the only improvements are in lighting and use of shadows. This does not prevent the game from being very pleasing to the eye, but we would like the years to pass while enjoying major visual advances. We nevertheless appreciate the arrival of real audio recordings of the drivers in the race as well as various new features, such as the possibility of modifying the ERS (energy recovery system) in real time in the races. The races are more realistic and it’s always quite fun the first time you hear the drivers getting angry, in real time, during accidents. Something that could happen regularly because artificial intelligence, still a little stereotypical, sometimes has a tendency to get into it.

Leaving the road?

In fact, F1 24 is a successful and complete racing game, but all the changes revealed in recent weeks are far from having the same impact as the dynamic behavior praised by EA. As it stands, we even wonder if the license should not find another rhythm, by releasing it every two years for example. There, we find ourselves with the same menus as last year, with a game which looks a lot like F1 23 and which suffers from changes, particularly in terms of gameplay, which will not be unanimously accepted. We will have to see, in the coming weeks, if the updates bring a little optimization. If this is your first Formula 1 game in a while, go for it, you won’t regret it. If you have wrung out F1 23, reflection is in order because the evolution remains timid. The fact remains that the sensations are good, the impression of speed is convincing and we have a good time with this edition. But for next year, it is high time to offer a new 3D engine while retaining the interesting ideas of this F1 24.

Conclusion