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Rookie
OVR: 4
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Michigan
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Re: F1 2021 Review - One for the Ages
I've been playing the game for about 5 days now, I'll drop my thoughts.
Currently using a G29 Racing Wheel with Load-Cell pedals on PS5.
Gameplay
If you've played F1 2020, the game will feel similar, but better. The cars feel more "on the limit," especially through sustained cornering. At the same time, if you feel the car starting to over-steer, it seems easier to catch the car. Handling at lower speeds is significantly improved (avoidance of other drivers during in-laps and out-laps is much easier).
Some of the kerbs really allow you to attack them now, looking at your turn 8 of Monza at the Ascari chicane. In the same light, some of the more punishing kerbs are now better represented. Turn 3 at Bahrain comes to mind, given that this kerb is sort of a double cut kerb, it really throws the car if you hit it wrong.
Dirty air is a little more pronounced now. It was rare in 2020 that I would be thrown aside on straights from dirty air. In 2021, it's certainly manageable, but there is a lot more fight with the car. Outside of your practice sessions, fuel management is now a thing of the past and to me, it's a welcomed addition (subtraction). I can now focus on differential and brake bias changes throughout a lap, knowing that I never have to mess with my fuel mode. ERS seems to recover a bit faster than it has in the past and its management is of it is definitely more critical now that fuel modes have been eliminated.
The tyres also got some love this year. When coming into the pits or at lower speeds, you will notice blistering and other forms of tyre degradation. Also, the damage model has been improved as it concerns the chassis and tyres. Punctures realistically happen, damage can be done to the rear wing, sides, and under carriage of the car now. Also, if turned on, mechanical faults can occur for the user. The faults can be terminal or (more often) slight performance issues.
Career Mode / AI Drivers
As someone who enjoys career mode, I'm happy with a number of improvements that have been made. The research and development of your car has been drastic simplified. I don't know if I actually enjoy this or not yet. It seems that each improvement leads to the next, rather than making decisions about what to improve. The practice sessions can be simulated with some benefit in the form of a simple mini-game if you don't want to participate in them. The actual programs to run have been made more realistic and less cumbersome.
AI Drivers are improved a bit. You will see them make mistakes much like they did in 2020 (losing the rear out of low-speed corners, missing apexes, etc). They seem a little more aware of their positioning as it comes to defending and I am not getting "pitted" as much mid-corner, provided I am actually ahead through the corner and not just dive-bombing. In simulations ran, at equal performance, you'll routinely see Hamilton, Verstappen, Russell, and Norris towards the time of the time sheets, consistent with their real life skill (in my opinion).
Multiplayer
This is one area of the game I think benefited from the EA takeover. There are now options for beginner (1-shot, 5 lap races, no damage), experienced (1-shot, 25%), as well as open lobbies, ranked 5 lap / 25% races. It's a nice touch to be able to select one of the social racing options and to have a lobby found for me. And, good news, ranked lobbies work again. I don't know if it was just my game or what, but last year, after about 10 ranked races, I could not find a single driver to race against.
The 2-player career mode works exactly like it was advertised. It's the same single player career mode, with interviews, acclaim, and car development, but with a buddy. Great added feature. Hope to see a full 20 driver career mode in the future.
Graphics
I am currently maxed out at 4k, 60fps, 60hz as I don't have a gaming monitor. The track looks improved. Maybe I didn't notice it in 2020, but the marbles and tyre tracks look much better and identifiable this year. If you roll over the grass, gravel, or marbles, you'll notice them on your tyres. The game is silky smooth on my PS5, although I'd really like to compare it to 120fps.
The Menu / UI system is slightly different, especially when modifying your career mode or open lobby. I don't like the new layout of things as you have to access several more menu options to modify certain things about the game. In addition, joining an online lobby and checking the assist restrictions, track list, and rules, all require you to be in different menu options. It was as if they made it complex for the sake of complexity. Kind of a head-scratcher there.
The cars all look great and true to form. I drive in ****-pit mode. The steering wheels are close to their real-life counterparts but not perfect.
Sound
They definitely put some more work into capturing the difference in each of the 4 engines. Regardless of which engine you are driving, you will hear the turbo wind up just like you do on tv. Really happy with what Codemasters did here.
In the end, F1 2021 is definitely an improvement over 2020. Fans of the sport and fans of the game will certainly notice the difference within the first sector of their first lap as it concerns the vehicle's improved and more realistic handling model. The lack of tracks, missing classic cars, and mostly untouched myTeam mode are the worst part of the game, with the lack of tracks being my personal gripe.
I have no use for modes like Braking Point, so I didn't bother jumping into it. From what I heard, it's a pretty linear although engaging experience, just not my cup of tea.
More than happy to answer any questions I can about the game.
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Michigan State Alum
Currently Playing: NBA 2k21 / F1 2020 / Apex / Warzone
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07-16-2021, 09:38 PM
