F1 2009 Review for Nintendo Wii

System: Wii, PSP	Review Rating Legend
Dev: Sumo Digital	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: Codemasters	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: Nov. 17, 2009	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1-2	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Everyone	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

Unfortunately, the sound in the game is also of poor quality. The menu music is grating on the ears and, sadly, that is the only music in the game. When you are in a race, there is no background music, which means all you hear is the roar of the engine. That wouldn't be so bad if the engine sounds weren't squeaky and repetitive. The sound scheme in F1 2009 can best be described as minimal, which doesn't work at all in this case.

F1 2009 screenshot

Still, if you can manage the control and don't mind the poor graphics and sound, then there is actually quite a lot to do in F1 2009. The main career mode is very deep, allowing you to participate in different races, fine tune your car with speed runs, and attract sponsors by performing in exhibition modes. The game manages your career through an e-mail message system, and you'll be able to respond to sponsors and accept challenges through this interface. Once you attract sponsors and get a handle on your car, you'll be able to participate in races that feature personalities from the world of F1 Racing, including Lewis Hamilton, the current Formula 1 champion.

If you don't want to wait for the career mode to pick up and just want to jump into a race, you can try a mini-competition known as grand prix weekend. This mini-tournament mode allows you to experience the thrill of racing in an F1 tournament, but without all the micro-management that the career mode entails. In addition to the grand prix weekend, there are also challenge modes that you can participate in. These challenge modes include checkpoint, burning lap, elimination, and time trial challenges. These modes give the game plenty of variation, and in between frustrating moments with the controller, there was plenty of fun to be had with all of these different challenges. F1 2009 is definitely the most feature-packed racer I have seen on the Wii.

It really is a shame that F1 2009 did not have the technical specs to back up its ambitious premise. The deep career mode, car customization, and play modes all could have been great, but the poor control and visuals prevent this title from realizing its potential. Perhaps, if there is an F1 2010, they will fix these few issues and give the Wii the proper simulation title that it deserves.

By Amanda L. Kondolojy
CCC Staff Contributor

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

1.3

Graphics
The game looks horrible. Framerate inconsistencies, flickering, and bland tracks make this one title you'll hate looking at.

2.7

Control
There are plenty of different control schemes, but none really work all that well. Classic Controller is the best on the Beginner difficulty setting, but beyond that the game's control doesn't offer the precision it needs.

1.5

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Menu music is annoying, car sound effects are repetitive, and there is no music during races.

3.2

Play Value
There are plenty of modes, and the career mode certainly provides plenty of flexibility, but this title just can't match the experience offered by other racing simulators.

2.9

Overall Rating - Average
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

F1 2009 delivers an authentic and accessible recreation of the 2009 Formula One season, including, for the first time in a Formula One title, the stunning Singapore night race.

The first Formula One release on Wii, F1 2009 will offer a variety of race modes, including a full racing season and individual arcade-style challenges.

Customizable driver aids will be offered to individual players, so both novice and expert drivers will be able to keep their car on track.

In the game's multiplayer mode, driver aids will enable friends and families of different abilities to play together in wheel-to-wheel split screen co-operative and competitive multiplayer races. F1 2009 marks Lewis Hamilton's debut in a videogame and will enable players to take to the wheel of his McLaren MP4-24 Formula One car and battle to retain his FIA Formula One World Championship crown.

The 2009 FIA Formula One World Championship promises to be one of the most exciting and closely fought, thanks to new regulations on aerodynamics, slick tires and the introduction of the KERS boost system, which is designed to aid overtaking.