TGS 06: F1 World Championship Hands-On

TOKYO--While American racing tastes run toward the left-turning tin-top circuit, the rest of the world is focused on Formula One. Arguably the sexiest form of motorsport in the world, F1 feature exotic locales, state-of-the-art automotive technology, and, of course, blinding speed. It fits, then, that one of the showpieces for Sony's upcoming PlayStation 3 console here at the Tokyo Game Show is its one of its upcoming racing games, F1 World Championship. Having last seen the game at the 2006 Electronic Entertainment Expo, we're wishing more than ever that this game was coming stateside.

Unlike in our previous look at the game, this version of F1 featured most of the teams and drivers on the current F1 circuit, and three real-life F1 tracks: Monaco, Imola, and Japan's own Suzuka circuit. We had a chance to try a quick three-lap race on all three, and luckily, each track has its own unique characteristics.

We started in Suzuka, one of the most exciting high-speed tracks in the world. Here, we were really able to open up the virtual engines and get a load of the high-pitched whine of the motors that are virtually synonymous with F1. F1 World Championship is using a suggested line feature, similar to that found in the original Forza motorsport, which gives you color-coded details on when to hit the gas (green), brakes (red), or merely lift off the throttle (yellow). Using the suggested line is an ideal way to learn tracks you aren't familiar with; though those familiar with the tracks will likely find derivations from the suggested line that they can find additional speed on. The next track we tried was Monaco, a track whose claustrophobic, winding streets are the stuff of grand prix legends. We also got a look at the rain effects in the game, which are, frankly, gorgeous. As you speed through up the hill after the start line, streaks of rain bead on the "windshield" and streak along the sides of your visor as you go. If you get caught behind a car, you'll get a face full of their water plume at the same time.

Finally, we came to Imola, a medium-speed course that features some tricky chicanes and dangerous curbing. At this track, we got a fine idea of the kind of responsive controls in the game that benefit from some twitchy reflexes on the part of the player. The high-speed chicanes can be attacked at high speeds, but you need to watch the aforementioned curbing, as it's really easy to get caught in a lap-time-ruining spin if you put too many wheels off of the asphalt.

One other impressive aspect of F1 World Championship was the aggressive tendencies of the artificially intelligent drivers. At the medium difficulty level, cars behind you will really push you to keep up your pace and, if you get off line, you can expect an opponent to put a wheel into you and send you off the track. Nonetheless, we enjoyed the challenge the game's responsive controls and unforgiving opponent AI provided.

We'll say it: F1 World Championship needs to come out in America, if only because F1's popularity seems to be growing here in the States, be it ever so slowly. Years ago, EA used to issue yearly, if not exactly inspiring, entries in its F1 series. Sony seems to have a nice game on its hands with F1 WC; here's hoping they make decision to bring it stateside so us poor Americans can get our hands on it.