F1 2020 Game Test: Finally available on PS4, Xbox, and PC

A brand new gameplay

First change regarding gameplay, and not the least: the new physics of the cars. We owe this new physics mainly to F1 drivers who felt that F1 2019 was actually more punitive concerning braking and acceleration compared to real life. That’s why Codemasters ensured that the cars now have much more aerodynamic downforce especially in medium and high-speed corners, allowing the player to go harder on the throttle. However, it is noticeable that low-speed corners are sometimes more difficult than last year, and the car tends to understeer more. Therefore, it will be necessary to try to carry as much speed as possible to make life easier.

This new physics also allows for recovering from small spins if you manage it. Something that was impossible to do in F1 2019, where once you lost the car, the race often ended in the barriers unless a miracle happened.

The other gameplay novelty concerns the management of ERS. Gone are the endless mode changes each lap, which were not very realistic and could quickly become annoying. Now, only one button needs to be pressed, activating an ERS overtake mode that allows you to overtake your opponent more easily. From now on, the game manages your ERS, but it’s up to you to use this boost wisely to avoid depleting your battery too quickly and becoming an easy target for other drivers. An interesting change that maintains a strategic dimension to the gameplay while allowing the player to focus more on driving rather than changing modes at every corner.

But that’s not all on the gameplay side. Indeed, now it’s possible for new players to start the game much more easily thanks to new accessibility settings that prevent off-track excursions and make them far less punitive. Novices will be pleased to be able to start in F1 games without hitting the gravel on the first laps.

Since Codemasters acquired the Formula 1 license, one of the points where the English studio has always tried to improve is the behavior of the AI. With F1 2019, they learned to fight each other over several corners, to defend their position better, etc. For F1 2020, they have learned to be even more aggressive and to take advantage of the player’s mistakes. If you mess up in a corner, be sure that the AI will take advantage to slip through and overtake you. Every open door becomes an opportunity, which was not necessarily the case last year when they sometimes tended to be a bit too timid.

A game rich in content

This year, the content will keep players on the edge of their seats for the long haul. In addition to the traditional career mode, which remains effective and comprehensive— even more so this year with the addition of new cinematics and more in-depth management of the driver and resources— there’s the MyTeam mode, or Mon Équipe in French. But what does it consist of?

The principle is simple: an eleventh Formula 1 team joins the grid, and in addition to being its number 1 driver, you are also its boss. The program includes managing each department of your team, the drivers, your engine supplier, sponsors, as well as finances. While not as in-depth as a Motorsport Manager, this game mode remains very comprehensive and highly immersive.

Of course, it is always possible to do simple Grand Prix races, personalized championships, time trials, to have a good time in Formula 2, or to drive retro cars. Especially since if you have the Michael Schumacher edition, you will be able to drive, among others, the Jordan, two Bennetons, and the Ferrari F200 that the seven-time world champion drove.

One of the major content additions, which in itself isn’t a new feature, is the split-screen mode. A very enjoyable game mode that becomes even more so if you turn off the damage, allowing you to push your friend off the track without any consequences. The display has been well executed, enabling you to see all necessary information on a screen split horizontally in two.

Visually successful

In terms of graphics, nothing has fundamentally changed for this new installment. The graphics engine remains the same, the lighting effects have been slightly refined. However, we notice that the face modeling has been improved, but especially the tracks are much better modeled in certain areas, such as sector 3 in Spain, which is much more faithful to its real-life counterpart than before. This F1 2020 simply builds on the groundwork laid by its predecessor in this regard. The game is generally quite beautiful. We only regret the occasional small texture loading times at the start or end of a race.

What about multiplayer?

Here is a part of the game that hasn’t evolved much, but that doesn’t really pose any problems because it is very successful. The online component is as stable as last year, which is very important for Esports, for example, which now occupies an even more significant part of the game since the F1 teams have fully committed to the project.

To play with friends, you can always create a public or private room where you can set the rules, but it’s also possible to aim for the best online ranking with ranked mode, where your level of performance and fair play will be evaluated. Since matchmaking is based on your ranking, it’s in your best interest to remain fair play so you don’t end up with other drivers who won’t hesitate to crash into you.

Conclusion

Whether you are a fan of Formula 1, motorsports, or car games, F1 2020 should largely satisfy your needs thanks to its rich content and graphics that meet current standards. The addition of the MyTeam mode is truly a significant plus for renewing the gaming experience, providing additional longevity to the game.