Test F1 22: A genuine revolution?

The problem with annual release games is often the repetition caused by the lack of new features between each installment. Did F1 22 fall into this trap? Or did the developers at Codemasters manage to bring a refreshing experience to the players?

Gameplay

Physics

One of the main challenges of F1 22 was to offer players a new driving experience. Indeed, Formula 1 was shaken by a major technical and aerodynamic revolution of the single-seaters. This resulted in a complete change in the behavior of the cars. Codemasters could not simply copy the physics of F1 2021 and paste it onto F1 22. In this aspect, it is a success from the development studio in Southam.

The F1 2022 single-seaters don’t handle at all like the ones from F1 2021. It’s noticeable from the first few minutes of gameplay. The ground effect has been well taken into account. Fortunately for players, porpoising or bouncing won’t bother them during their races. However, where the game really aligns with reality is the tendency of the single-seaters to understeer in slow corners. The braking points are often much earlier than in F1 2021. However, in fast corners, these new single-seaters do well.

The biggest difference between F1 22 and its predecessor is the acceleration. At low speed, the throttle pedal must be managed much more cautiously to avoid spinning out. The other challenge is braking. Locking the wheels is something easier to do than before. Additionally, wheel lock-ups are much more punishing, they hinder the steering more.

The circuits

Following the real Formula 1 calendar, the Miami Grand Prix has been added to the game. In addition to this new circuit, 3 tracks have been redesigned (Australia, Spain, Abu Dhabi). And on the other circuits, small changes have been made that alter the way they should be approached. Some rumble strips can now be mounted, while others can send you spinning out. The texture of the asphalt has also been modified to be more realistic.

In addition to the new physics of the single-seaters, the changes made to the circuits require the player to drive in a completely different way. This allows for a renewed experience for the fans of F1 games.

Les IA

The AIs.

Like every year, the computers that players face in solo modes have been improved. The AI is now even more aggressive than before. They also don’t easily leave the door open if the player launches an attack from too far away. They also make small mistakes, which really enhances the immersion. This really motivates to constantly push while waiting for a potential bot error to gain the advantage.

New features

Big absence from F1 2021, Sprint races are now available in F1 22. Players will now be able to use this format for all Grand Prix races if they wish.

New ways of enhancing immersion have also been developed by Codemasters. If the player requests it, they can manually position their car on the starting grid during the formation lap. There is also a small reaction game during pit stops. When done correctly, it helps speed up the pit stop. While it may initially present a minor challenge, it quickly becomes apparent how to achieve a perfect pit stop. As a result, it becomes quite repetitive. A QTE (quick time event) like in F1 Champions Editions (2006) would certainly have helped avoid this repetitive phenomenon. All of this could be replaced with cinematic scenes, making the player a spectator during these moments.

Virtual Reality

Although we haven’t had the opportunity to test virtual reality, know that it is indeed present in F1 22. Only available on PC, though.

Content

My team

To our great disappointment, the “My Team” mode has hardly changed. Thankfully, the programs for the free practice sessions have been revised, allowing for a slightly different challenge. Additionally, new events can occur in the R&D departments, forcing the player to make certain choices. The real good idea about this game mode is the possibility to choose the amount of resources allocated at the beginning of the adventure in order to determine where in the field we will be positioned. The player has three options. One is to start with the least amount of resources possible and therefore be at the back of the grid, enough resources to constantly fight for points, or assign the most resources to fight for podium finishes from the first season.

Life in F1

The “Life in F1” mode is a new hub introduced by F1 22. It is not a game mode per se, but rather an ecosystem that allows players to fully customize their gaming experience. In addition to being able to customize their helmet and suit, it is now possible to choose their look off the track as well. Several t-shirts, pants, shoes, and other customization items are available. The most surprising thing is the ability to customize the interior. Indeed, the player now has a sort of apartment that can be visited by their friends. Inside, the trophies won by the player and the supercars obtained are displayed.

Well yes! For the first time in the F1 games, the player will be behind the wheel of something other than single-seaters. There are 8 supercars (10 if you count the two safety cars). They can be driven either in “My Team” mode or “Career” mode between certain Grand Prix races, in time trial mode, but especially during the Pirelli Hot Lap Challenges. In fact, about forty additional challenges have been added to the game. These include checkpoint races, time trials, drift challenges, and 1vs1 showdowns. This significantly extends the game’s lifespan. However, once completed, these challenges do not reward the player with any prizes. It could have been new helmets, new suits, etc…

Each of the supercars has its own characteristics, strengths, and weaknesses. They are very different from the F1 and F2 already present in the game and are a very fun addition. The only drawback, however, is their almost non-existent level of customization. It is only possible to change the body color.

The usual Career, Time Trial, split-screen multiplayer, and online multiplayer modes are also still present. The only one missing is F1 2021’s story mode, Braking Point. So F1 22 no longer has a story mode.

Graphics

In terms of the graphics of the game, there aren’t major differences between F1 22 and its predecessor, F1 2021. Indeed, both versions run on the same graphics engine, the EGO Engine. The visual improvements mainly revolve around better lighting management and how it reflects on the cars. Especially in replay or broadcasting mode, the rendering now closely resembles something we could see while watching a Grand Prix on our television.

Audio

The pleasant surprise during the first moments of gameplay is the improvement in engine sounds. They are much louder than before and relatively close to reality. A good point for immersion. However, they could still be improved. The sounds of gear shifts and the turbo are still a bit too muted.

F1 22 now has its own playlist. It’s no longer just the game’s theme that plays in the menus, but songs from artists like Charlie XCX, Kavinsky, and Diplo.

Bugs?

On Playstation, we have rarely encountered any issues. However, the few that we have dealt with have marred our gaming experience. On two occasions, the game completely froze, forcing us to restart it. During a race, raindrops appeared in a very choppy and overwhelming manner on the screen, making visibility almost impossible. We also noticed that whenever we came out of the pit, it was no longer possible to communicate with our engineer. The only way to contact them again was to use a flashback to bypass this bug. It is likely that some of these issues will be fixed in the Day-1 patch.

It can also happen in online multiplayer mode that the game sound becomes very strange. The sound of our engineer and the engine then has a very glitchy effect, making the gaming experience not enjoyable. However, this issue often only occurs after a sprint race. Without this additional race, this bug is much rarer.

Conclusion

Without revolutionizing the formula that made the previous installments successful, Codemasters has added new elements to F1 22 that keep the gameplay experience interesting, even for those who have already played the previous games.

F1 22 will be playable starting from July 1st or July 28th with the Champions Editions. It is available on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, and PC.

This test was conducted on the PS4.