Codemasters' third Formula One game sees the series finally find its
feet. A broader range of game modes gives you much more to do, while
great care has been taken to ease newcomers into the game. Though F1
2012 doesn't capture the magic that surrounds the sport, the on-circuit
action is the best and most exciting of the series. You'll be holding
your breath as you sweep around the majestic corners of world-renowned
circuits, cursing as opponents swerve past you, and punching the air as
you reach the chequered flag for months to come.
Right from the off, F1 2012 does a great job of getting newcomers
straight into the action. You begin your career in F1 at the young
drivers test in Abu Dhabi. This short tutorial introduces you to the
fundamentals of the sport and the underlying mechanics of each race.
Tasks include brief challenges around accelerating and cornering, and
short videos explaining when to use the car's KERS boost button and drag
reduction system, which are crucial to any F1 race. You need to
complete the tutorial to play Career mode, but it's smart enough and
short enough not to irritate seasoned racers, while also acting as a
crucial stepping stone for newcomers--something that was sorely lacking
from previous games in the series.
Once you complete the test and the game opens up, there are a range of
modes for you to play through that are much more varied than in previous
Formula One games. The first of those is Season Challenge, which lets
you enjoy the excitement of an F1 season without the longer time
investment of Career mode. You compete against various rivals over 10
Grand Prix weekends; if you place above your rival in the best of three
races, you're immediately offered a contract by his team. Race weekends
in Season Challenge are short affairs consisting of five-lap races,
preceded by another addition to the series: one-shot qualification. Here
you have a single opportunity to set a lap time, accompanied by the
ghost cars of your closest rivals.
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