This majority of the postings re F1 on this newsgroup are not
very complimentary about its frame rate and whilst it is true that
you are probably going to need something like a P200mmx and 3dfx or
Rendition card to get it running at a decent speed in full res., I
cannot emphasise enough how superior I think this is to GP2,
specifically:-
- It actually has a wet weather option, which also happens
to be graphically excellent. The car handling also alters to suit.
- Just like the real thing, driving your car in F1 requires tremendous
precision - go off track in GP mode and you'll get my drift.
- The accuracy of the circuits is mind bogglingly good. Now
I can understand why the drivers are nuts about Spa's Eau Rouge and
the Becketts Complex at Silverstone. And as for the road contours at
Monaco...
- Whilst it may lack a***pit view, you have most information you
need to hand i.e. speed/gears and you really don't miss it at all
because the racing's so involving.
- No way is the frame rate in this game worse than GP2. On my machine
it's light years more smooth and fast.
Yes, yes, yes it is a port of an arcadish console game. But
what you lose on the straights you gain in the corners, because it
has a far superior overall racing "feel" to GP2.
Obviously, the setup options that GP2 offers put it firmly in the
simulator tradition but, to be quite honest, this game has so many
basic faults, most notably the snail-like frame rate and total lack of
support in the way of patches from Microprose, I've never bothered
with them.
F1 is far from perfect, possessing truly awkward menus and opponent
cars that have very little going for them in the AI stakes. I think if
we all learn to accept it on its own terms, however, it will get
plenty of use in our collections alongside the mothers of race sims N2
and ICR2, which still remain firmly at the summit.
Best wishes
Chris Wright
"If you stand still, you'll get blown off" - Niki Lauda
