F1 2020 game is the most comprehensive F1 game yet, putting players firmly in the driving seat as they race against the best drivers in the world. For the first time, players can create their own F1 team by creating a driver, then choosing a sponsor, an engine supplier, hiring a teammate and competing as the 11th team on the grid. Build facilities, develop the team over time and drive to the top. Here is our detailed overview about the game.
Codemasters are back with a bang
With the latest part of the series, the British racing game manufacturer Codemasters wants to capture the fascination of Formula 1 better than ever before. Among other things, many small adjustments should help with the already good game feel. Fans can also look forward to the return of split-screen mode and the introduction of the brand new “My Team” mode.
What is “My Team” mode?
The most important innovation for solo players is undoubtedly the My Team mode. In contrast to your career, here you not only take care of your driver’s interests, but manage the entire racing team. The story behind it is self-explanatory: For the first time in over 40 years there is a driver who is also the team manager of his own team. And that is exactly what creates a lot of motivation.
Codemasters brings gamers in F1 2020 with My Team a completely new game mode, which allows the player to start their own eleventh racing team in Formula 1 with everything that goes with it: design of the cars, logo, driver line-up, negotiations with sponsors or development on the vehicle – all of this and more is in your own hands as a team manager.
Gameplay of “My Team” mode
At the beginning you define the name of your F1 company in the editor and determine the logo, team colors or the appearance of your vehicles. This immediately creates a connection to your own troop and a now-more-than-usual feeling towards the apparently overpowering competition. After the first formalities have been clarified, you go looking for sponsors, hire a second driver for the team and choose an engine manufacturer. Already here you have to pay attention to the money and not overdraw your budget.
Afterwards, after a first interview, you will arrive at the headquarters of your racing team, where your own car will be presented magnificently. But after that, everyday life begins, and it mainly consists of time management and of course the racing weekends. In a clear, but not particularly complex system, you fill your appointment calendar and, for example, define team events or certain technical focal points.
The game immediately shows the effects of these activities in the overview. The “engine focus”, for example, gives you resource points for research and a boost for the drive department, but the areas of aerodynamics, chassis and durability lose their morale. Over the course of the season, you also take care of the state of your technology and have to keep an eye on the condition of the engine or tires, for example. So there is always something to do.
The planning and, above all, the further development of your own racing team are fun, but the presentation is quite conservative. Aspects such as rivalries or the interspersed invitation events bring variety, but could have been staged more beautifully and spectacularly. Unfortunately, the virtual consultant also fits in with this, who is always added via still image and voice output.
Multi Player Mode
Finally, a few words about the multiplayer part of the title. Here, too, Codemasters has one of the greatest wishes of the community – and yes; also by me – fulfilled: there is a split screen mode! And also one that can also be driven against a full AI driver field. Hooray! In addition, there is still an extensive online section, including its own e-sports section, weekly online events and league opportunities. Due to the fact that the game was not released at the time of the test, I cannot yet say too much about the stability and functionality of the multiplayer part.
Two new bookings on the race calendar
The two new racetracks, the Hanoi Circuit (Vietnam) and the Circuit Zandvoort (Netherlands) are good implementations as usual and have managed to convince and motivate us to get more out of our box. The Grand Prix in Vietnam consists of 23 curves. The highlight of the street circuit is the 1.5 kilometer long straight, which is the third longest of the F1 calendar – perfect for an intensive race full of changes of position. The Dutch Grand Prix, on the other hand, is a well-known circuit that F1 fans of the early years may even know. The last official race was held on the high-speed track in 1982. The course is extremely demanding and hardly forgives mistakes.
Extremely Flexible
Incidentally, “F1 2020” is not only something for “old hands”, but also for newcomers. Codemasters makes it possible to activate more powerful driving aids, which, for example, allow you to directly return to the route should you have (clearly) strayed too far.
The strength of the computer opponents can also be set very precisely and flexibly – so everyone can find the right challenge for themselves.
In addition to the new “My Team”, the racetracks in Zandvoort (Netherlands) and Hanoi (Vietnam) are also making their debuts in an officially licensed F1 2020 game video game. In addition, the “split-screen” mode returns, in which you can compete against your friends on just one screen.
Improvements to the track
“F1 2020” is extremely flexible on the track thanks to the various setting options. Codemasters extends the help options for casual gamers and newcomers. In plain language, this means that those who are not so much involved in Formula 1 business are made a little more comfortable here with driving and braking aids, as well as physical relief.
Even on the standard difficulty level, you get support through braking assistance and a virtual ideal line. However, these functions are absolutely optional. You can always turn help on and off in your current career or in My Team. The game also challenges real professionals with sophisticated driving physics, gasoline management and damage model as well as the corresponding effects.
Return of the split screen
The racing game experts from Codemasters presented the new split-screen mode from F1 2020 game with a first gameplay video and some screenshots. In the included video you can see a race on the Circuit de Gilles-Villeneuve below. The three-lap race with Valtteri Bottas’ Mercedes and Lance Stroll’s Racing Point was recorded by the F1 2020 development team.
Almost as spectacular as Fernando Alonso’s comeback in real Formula 1 is the return of an old acquaintance from the 1990s to F1 2020 game: the split-screen mode. In it you can finally drive against each other on a console to win the race. The screen is split horizontally. F1 2020 is Codemasters’ first Formula 1 game to include this mode.
After a long time, Codemasters is bringing back the opportunity to hold exciting races with friends on the two-player split screen with F1 2020 game. The embedded video and the appropriate screenshots show how this can look on the screen. In addition to the split-screen mode, there is a comprehensive career mode and various other online multiplayer modes.
The legendary “Schumacher Deluxe Edition”
The Schumacher Deluxe Edition of F1 2020 game, which is ten euros more expensive, offers special delicacies for Schumi fans: It offers four iconic Formula 1 cars in which Michael Schumacher achieved milestones in his career.
These included the Jordan 191, in which he made his Formula 1 debut in 1991, the Bennetton B194 and the Benetton B195, in which the Kerpener celebrated his first two world titles, and the Ferrari F1-2000, in which Schumacher made in 2000 raced his first title with Ferrari. The standard version ofF1 2020 game also includes the Ferrari F2004, with which Schumacher won its seventh and last world title.
You will be rewarded
For almost all your efforts, you will receive a reward in my team mode – mostly in the form of resource points, prestige and in-game credits. The technology system is based on the predecessor. So you buy upgrades with the resource points in the categories of drive, durability, aerodynamics and chassis. However, you do not get this immediately and certainly not guaranteed. Every extension has a failure rate, and so it is quite possible that the first attempt will fail and a second will be necessary. There is also an express feature that makes the upgrade instant. However, this is outrageously expensive.
Great Timing of release
The time of the release of a new F1 2020 game offshoot has rarely been so close to the real season start of the premier class. The world is still firmly in the grip of the corona pandemic, causing Formula One to start with almost four months behind schedule. The 71st season started on the first weekend in July, in line with the release of F1 2020 game, which arrives on the global shelves just a few days later.
Other minor game improvements
Preview version already suggested that F1 2020 game also made a leap forward on the track. We can confirm this tendency with the finished game.
Compared to the previous version, the cars have significantly more grip in the corners, which, in combination with the improved brakes, ensures differentiated driving behavior. We catch braking points that would have taken us directly to the gravel bed last year.
If we head for the Remus curve at full throttle on the Red Bull Ring, press the brake pedal at the 50-meter mark as far as it will go and still turn safely onto the back straight, this creates an enormously satisfying feeling.
At Codemasters, the F1 series has developed into a real simulation over the years. F1 2020 game feels a good pinch more realistic than its direct predecessor. Throttle and brake want to be gently stroked so that they don’t lose control at over 300 km / h.
So…is this the greatest F1 game ever?
Absolutely! The negative aspects mentioned keep the series from a 100% realistic representation of the premier class, but the series comes a little closer with each new part. The new My Team mode is the biggest innovation (and improvement) of the past few years and fits perfectly into the F1 game principle. Apart from that, F1 2020 game comes around the corner with a very large scope.
The many adjustments with regard to driving experience, punishment system, the TV-related presentation and the technology put it a step further. F1 2020 game is not only the best F1 game, it is perhaps the best racing game of the year. Well done, Codemasters. After such an extensive and great product, you can concentrate on off-track problems next year. Then the game feeling would hardly be distinguishable from the real premier class.
Bottomline
Absolutely! The negative aspects mentioned keep the series from a 100% realistic representation of the premier class, but the series comes a little closer with each new part. The new My Team mode is the biggest innovation (and improvement) of the past few years and fits perfectly into the F1 game principle. Apart from that, F1 2020 game comes around the corner with a very large scope. Though F1 2020 game has made large improvements over F1 2019, there is still room for more. But none the less, this game is terrific too.
The many adjustments with regard to driving experience, punishment system, the TV-related presentation and the technology put it a step further. F1 2020 game is not only the best F1 game, it is perhaps the best racing game of the year. Well done, Codemasters. After such an extensive and great product, you can concentrate on off-track problems next year. Then the game feeling would hardly be distinguishable from the real premier class.
Minimal system requirements
- Windows 10
- Intel Core i3 2130 / AMD FX 4300
- 8 GB RAM
- NVIDIA GT 640 / AMD HD 7750
Recommended system requirements
- Windows 10
- Intel Core i5 9600K / AMD Ryzen 5 2600X
- 16 GB RAM
- NVIDIA GTX 1660 Ti / AMD RX 590
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