We finally got our hands on preview F1 2020. There is great trepidation for the release of the new simulator which also supports a more managerial game mode oriented towards the foundation of a team for which it is also possible to race as a driver / owner. Codemasters with this title he has done an excellent job and in no uncertain terms, which goes to say the least confirms the excellent performances we have been used to, especially in the last two years. The COVID-19 emergency meant that the official F1 world championship was postponed, so almost paradoxically we find ourselves playing with our favorite drivers after having seen them actually take to the track only in the Australian Grand Prix. The Official videogame of the world championship, Complete with licenses and sponsors, is therefore found to be in the spotlight in a totally new way. Will the “Codies” manage to get on the top step of the podium again this year?
Between news and certainties
As anticipated in the previous lines, "My Team”Was the biggest news, thanks to which it is possible to create, for the first time in the history of the title, our own customized team. F1 2020 offers the possibility to choose the logo, the livery, the teammate, the development of the power unit and the research facilities and also your own appearance. In the initial phase the budget will be low and it will be practically impossible to hire a driver of the caliber of Leclerc, Vettel, Hamilton or Verstappen. Having tried this mode we can say that the menus and the game itself does not present particular problems in terms of complexity of the structure, but in any case a certain practice is needed to enter the play philosophy and make friends with the graphical interfaces. It will not be possible to play the title as a manager without racing, like most managerial games, but it will be required to drive the car and to hit objectives during the test phase, which will earn you credits for the development of the car. .
For the more accustomed to car racing it will not be difficult to take home most of the credits while for newbies there may be a few more difficulties. The introduction of a managerial alongside a simulator, in our opinion, could lead to some confusion at the game level. Returning to the career mode traditional, the latter has been the scene of the introduction of several noteworthy changes in recent iterations. First of all is the management of the research and development department, which is based on completely new mechanics, thanks to which it is possible to facilitate the production of a particular component with some risk related to the reliability of the vehicle. Another big news of F1 2020 is the pilots market where it will be possible to negotiate any transfers to other teams or perhaps negotiate a better deal with our team. In the traditional way we were particularly convinced by the interview modality (in which it is possible to choose the answers that we consider most appropriate to the questions of Will Buxton, official reporter of Liberty Media), even if all those criticalities and / or minorities that were already present in F1 2019 have not been resolved. Split Screen, where you can play with friends in split screen. A touch of class for the most nostalgic.
On the spot, after having tried it in all possible difficulty modes, we answer yes. The development of F1 2020 driving aids is nothing short of excellent, to the point that even those not accustomed to racing will be able to try their hand at simulation. The controller in the mode with all driving aids active just goes on and on; however, the matter changes when we deactivate them. At this juncture we would like to advise you to play the title with a steering wheel and a pedals that are up to standard, like the one we used during the test: Logitec G29 Driving Force. Without this type of peripheral it will be almost impossible to be able to accelerate effectively when exiting the tightest corners using a low gear. Going to the wall with the pad is very easy and the likelihood of doing it without traction and stability controls will turn into total certainty.
Let's get on the track
After dealing with all the novelties presented with F1 2020, it is time to put on the equipment of the trade and get on track. There are two ways to exit the pits: Exit and Fast Lap. In the first it will be up to us to exit the pit lane and launch for the timed lap putting the tires in temperature, while in the second the driving of the car is only granted to us at the exit of the first braking after the finish line. After playing the provisional release for several hours, we are fully satisfied with the mechanics and driving dynamics. Compared to previous titles, the tire temperatures are managed in a slightly different and decidedly more realistic way. The grip of the tires is also affected by our driving style thus favoring pilots who have a smoother and cleaner ride, without too sudden changes of direction and very invasive corrections in the event of power oversteer. Entering very badly in the corners, exasperating the braking and steering a lot, soon both the front and rear tires will suffer a marked increase in temperature, penalizing significantly the grip.
A particular appreciation goes to the realism of the braking. With a slight pressure difference of the brake pedal, the braking force significantly changes the braking distances. All this is exasperated when racing in the rain, where it is practically impossible to unload all the power of the vehicle on the ground with low gears. Going to the wall is a snap! If you play with the pad, turning off all driver assistance controls will prove to be a great choice for crashing into barriers in a variety of ways. The sensitivity of the controller will not allow you to match that of a steering wheel and pedal set. Thanks to the McLaren driver Lando Norris the implementation of the management ofERS. In this year's championship this feature is partially automated and will be activated by the "overtaking mode“, With which we will be able to supply a small dose of extra power to the car while consuming the battery much faster. Noteworthy is the extreme detail with which the road surfaces of the circuits have been developed, a sign that the new technology of laser scanning does his job flawlessly. This has a positive effect on the realism of the reactions of the car with which you face the curves where there are small roughness of the road surface.
F1 Classic
In the car showroom section it is possible to drive the great F1 cars of the past. Very well done from a graphic point of view, consistent in terms of aerodynamics and power, remarkable efficiency in terms of performance but consistent with the technology of the time. Nothing to do with the missiles of 2020, but there is no better thing for an enthusiast than driving the Williams Renault of the heyday of Damon Hill or with the Mclaren Honda MP4 / 4's Ayrton Senna. A feature that nostalgics will appreciate a lot. There Deluxe Edition dedicated to the legendary German driver Michael Schumacher, will allow users to drive four of his most iconic cars. In addition, those who purchase the special edition of F1 2020 will receive several exclusive content including: themed cars, liveries and items for personalization of the driver, including an “exclusive” celebration on the podium.
Multiplayer mode
During our test we had the opportunity to ride together with other drivers, and the gaming experience is truly exciting. Too bad for the low turnout due to the pre-release of the game, which saw us take to the track with a maximum of 5 other cars, but we are sure that at the time of the launch of F1 2020 the starting grids will be much more crowded, significantly increasing the show and the tussle on the track. The level of realism driving dynamics, as previously written, it is truly remarkable and with the controls off it's pretty hard to go really fast without doing some damage to the car or risking a collision with other players.
We are running out, the wait for the release of F1 2020 is almost over. We just have to wait for the July 10 2020, date on which the title will be released in official version. The product underlined - and confirmed - the excellent work by Codemasters experts, exalted the painstaking labor file for developing the physics and dynamic reactions of the car, the introduction of the new game mode in a managing key, the how the car was developed in relation to the tests carried out during the grand prix and increased the realism of the circuits even more by laser scanning the road surface. We can't wait to play in multiplayer mode even more in depth to challenge simracers from all corners of the planet!
