Entertainment

Games: F1 2016 takes pole position among racing sims

F1 2016 – near unlimited vehicular tweakables that are so anal the game practically has buttocks
F1 2016 – near unlimited vehicular tweakables that are so anal the game practically has buttocks F1 2016 – near unlimited vehicular tweakables that are so anal the game practically has buttocks

F1 2016 (PS4)

By: Codemasters

A LOT has changed for F1's armchair asphalt gazers in the last year. The shift from the Beeb to Channel 4 means lashings of ad breaks, and, worse still, the towering sod that is Steve Jones.

On the small screen, the sport fares much better in videogame form, however, with the latest in Codemasters' venerable series offering the best experience yet for fans of watching the well-heeled drive in ovals. Capturing the sights and sounds of the glamorous, rubber burnin’ world of Formula One to a tee, Codemasters’ franchise tentpole comes with a heap of content and the latest real-world updates, including Baku's new street circuit and the Haas F1 team.

On top of the usual modes, including Time Trial, Quick Race, Championship Season and online multiplayer, its ridiculously comprehensive career mode spans 10 seasons, giving you the opportunity to craft an avatar and join an outfit.

More salubrious teams have greater expectations, though, and if you don’t have Ferrari’s trophy cabinet groaning handsomely, expect your P45 tout suite.

A realistic simulator with strict rules and damage settings, the fiddly new manual start mechanic even tasks players with working the clutch and pedals like a pro on the grid while the return of safety cars means the thrill-a-minute experience of queuing up behind a road car.

The die-hardest will relish the multiplayer championship – a gruelling time-sink where bragging rights are consistently on the line as armchair Alonsos sign up for a full racing calendar with weekly grids of 22 players.

Other welcome additions include a reason to complete the free practice sessions, which act as minigames and earn precious resource points to be spent on R&D. Taking a cue from the Hamilton/Rosberg shenanigans, a rivalry feature encourages players to not only beat their team-mate but demoralise them by smashing their fastest laps.

As much an engineering marvel as it is a sport, where heavily sponsored wedges of motorised carbon fibre blast around an oval, success relies not only on cockpit skills but getting hip to the near unlimited vehicular tweakables that are so anal the game practically has buttocks.

Codemasters’ first F1 affair was released in 2010 and since then the quality of their real-life Scalextric sims has been spotty. 2016, however, takes pole position as the greatest yet and fans will lap this up like sweet podium Champagne.