F1 24 Review: Familiar Gameplay, Minor Tweaks

Image Credit: EA

Introduction

F1 24 marks the latest entry in Codemasters’ long-standing series of official Formula One games. Following the success of F1 23, which featured a robust story mode, the newest installment raises the question: does it bring enough new content to the table, or does it feel like a minor update rather than a full-fledged sequel? This review explores the various facets of F1 24, including its gameplay, features, visuals, and overall performance to determine its place in the franchise and its value to both returning players and newcomers.

Gameplay and Features

Last year’s F1 23 stood out with its rich single-player experience, notably the story mode inspired by the popular “Drive to Survive” series. However, F1 24 shifts away from this narrative focus, leaning on its two-year cycle for major updates. This change results in a game that feels familiar, with its “new” career mode echoing previous iterations. The predictable structure, including the repetitive R&D tasks in practice sessions, now feels stale, raising questions about whether these features could have been offered as downloadable content instead.

The absence of the story mode is particularly noticeable. The story mode in F1 23 added a layer of drama and engagement that extended beyond mere racing. Without it, F1 24 feels like a return to the series’ roots, but not necessarily in a good way. The career mode, which was supposed to be the highlight this year, fails to impress. The R&D tasks during practice sessions, once innovative, now seem redundant and overly familiar. Even the “new” career mode, touted as a fresh take, follows a predictable and uninspiring pattern. Starting each weekend with practice sessions designed to fulfill R&D tasks feels like a chore rather than an exciting prelude to the main event.

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The Racing Experience

Despite these shortcomings, the core racing mechanics of F1 24 remain strong. The game offers fast and responsive driving across real-world tracks, including four newly remodeled circuits. The handling has been fine-tuned, and it feels slightly lighter compared to the previous installment. Notably, Max Verstappen himself contributed to these handling tweaks, aiming to enhance the driving realism. His involvement likely explains why the driving feels smoother and more driveable, bringing a touch of authenticity to the game.

However, the game is not without flaws. AI drivers exhibit erratic behaviors, such as turning into the player at the apex, which can be frustrating. Additionally, the difficulty balancing seems inconsistent. At times, AI-controlled cars display unexpected bursts of speed, outpacing the player even when they have a fully charged ERS battery and the AI difficulty is set to medium. These inconsistencies can disrupt the immersion and make the gameplay feel less polished compared to previous entries in the series.

A particularly frustrating aspect is the role of the race engineer. The race engineer’s advice often feels nonsensical and poorly timed. For instance, being told that your tires are too hot just a few corners after a pit stop, or receiving criticism for inconsistent lap times immediately after a tire change, can be exasperating. Such interruptions break the flow of the game and detract from the overall experience.

Career Mode

Career mode now emphasizes the player’s reputation within the team and against rivals. The dynamic rivalry system, including interactions with teammates and other drivers, adds depth to the gameplay. Players start by competing against their teammates, with a sliding bar indicating their performance relative to each other. As the season progresses, players can gamble on how far they think they can push this bar, adding a layer of strategy and risk to the mode. Excelling against your teammate earns you preferential treatment in car development, even though the gains are shared between both drivers.

Once you’ve cemented your position as the better driver within your team, new rivalries with other drivers emerge. This adds an extra layer of challenge and motivation as you strive to outperform your competitors. However, some aspects of this system feel underdeveloped. For example, the “secret” meetings with other teams, meant to add intrigue, fall flat. If you decline these meetings, your agent simply informs you that your current team appreciates your loyalty, making the supposed secrecy seem trivial.

The career mode also includes scripted events and interactions that can feel contrived. For instance, being informed that a team is happy with your loyalty immediately after rejecting their offer undermines the realism of these interactions. Such moments detract from the immersive experience that the career mode aims to provide.

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Visuals and Performance

One of the standout aspects of F1 24 is its visual presentation. The game boasts a beautifully optimized engine, performing well even on older hardware like an RTX 2070. The game delivers stunning graphics with detailed cars and immersive environmental visuals. The realism extends to the drivers’ appearances, although minor quirks, such as incomplete eye closures when blinking, remind players of the game’s limitations.

On a now-aging RTX 2070-enabled laptop, F1 24 manages to run on Ultra-High settings at 1080p with ray tracing enabled, maintaining a silky smooth frame rate. Stuttering is rare, only evident on a few specific corners, such as the approach to Aquaminerale at Imola, suggesting a processor bottleneck rather than the engine straining to run the game. Aside from some odd time-lagging after camera changes in a few replay scenes, the game runs perfectly, with glorious environmental graphics and beautifully detailed cars.

Even the drivers look better this year, with more realistic faces. However, there are still minor issues, such as drivers not fully closing their eyes when blinking. Despite these small imperfections, the overall visual presentation is impressive and contributes to the immersive experience, making the game feel closer to a real TV broadcast of a Formula One race.

Additional Modes and Monetization

F1 24 also sees the return of the F1 World mode, which involves completing events and series to earn points that can be spent on car upgrades. Players collect and upgrade rare loot to enhance their car’s performance. However, the novelty of this mode has worn off, and the quality of the loot on offer is questionable. Receiving underwhelming rewards, such as ugly gloves or cartoon dinosaur stickers, detracts from the excitement of earning new items.

Moreover, the game’s monetization strategy is likely to be a point of contention for many players. F1 24 includes an optional VIP pass and Pitcoin currencies, which allow players to purchase unlockable items faster by spending real money. This further monetization of a full-price game is a bold move, especially when the game already feels less polished and innovative compared to previous entries. The potential cost of these in-game purchases can significantly increase the overall expense, making the game feel less like a premium product and more like a platform for additional spending.

Annoyingly, the game does not support Steam Deck at launch, although this was also the case for F1 23, which received support with the first patch. Players can only hope that F1 24 will follow a similar path and eventually become compatible with the Steam Deck.

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Conclusion

In isolation, F1 24 is an excellent racing game, but it suffers from the weight of its predecessors. The absence of major new features and the reliance on familiar gameplay mechanics make it feel more like a minor update than a significant leap forward. With last year’s game offering a more compelling single-player experience at a lower price, F1 24 struggles to justify its cost. Unless you are a die-hard fan eager for the latest rosters or can’t resist the allure of playing as iconic drivers like Nigel Mansell, you might find better value elsewhere.

Final Thoughts

Codemasters seems poised for a major update in the next cycle, potentially making F1 25 the groundbreaking title fans are waiting for. For now, F1 24 offers incremental improvements but lacks the innovation needed to stand out in the series. It remains a solid racing game with excellent driving mechanics and stunning visuals, but it doesn’t quite deliver the fresh experience that fans have come to expect from a new entry in the franchise.

The game’s emphasis on reputation and rivalries in career mode adds some depth, but these features feel like refinements of existing concepts rather than groundbreaking innovations. The inconsistent AI behavior, erratic race engineer advice, and minor visual quirks detract from the overall polish of the game. The monetization strategy, with its optional VIP pass and Pitcoin currencies, further complicates the value proposition, making F1 24 feel like an expensive proposition for what it offers.

Ultimately, F1 24 is a game for dedicated fans who crave the latest updates and enjoy the core racing experience that Codemasters consistently delivers. For those looking for significant new features or a fresh take on the series, it may be worth waiting to see what Codemasters has in store for F1 25. The hope is that the next installment will bring the innovation and excitement that the franchise needs to keep its position at the forefront of racing games.

FAQs for F1 24

What are the new features in F1 24?

F1 24 primarily focuses on refining existing gameplay elements rather than introducing groundbreaking new features. The handling has been fine-tuned with input from Max Verstappen, and four newly remodeled circuits have been added. However, there is no new story mode, and the career mode features minor updates focused on reputation and rivalries within the team.

Is the story mode from F1 23 included in F1 24?

No, the story mode that was a significant part of F1 23 is not included in F1 24. This installment shifts focus away from narrative elements, returning to more traditional racing gameplay and career mode features.

How does the career mode in F1 24 differ from previous versions?

The career mode in F1 24 emphasizes the player’s reputation within the team and against rivals. A dynamic rivalry system adds depth, allowing players to compete against teammates and other drivers. However, the mode follows a familiar pattern, and the repetitive R&D tasks in practice sessions can feel stale.

What improvements have been made to the racing mechanics?

The core racing mechanics remain strong, with the handling feeling slightly lighter and more responsive compared to F1 23. Max Verstappen’s involvement in tweaking the handling contributes to a more realistic and enjoyable driving experience.

Are there any issues with AI behavior in F1 24?

Yes, there are some issues with AI behavior. AI drivers can exhibit erratic behaviors, such as turning into the player at the apex, and there are inconsistencies in difficulty balancing. AI-controlled cars sometimes display unexpected bursts of speed, which can be frustrating for players.

What is F1 World mode?

F1 World mode involves completing events and series to earn points that can be spent on car upgrades. Players collect and upgrade rare loot to enhance their car’s performance. However, the novelty of this mode has worn off, and the quality of the loot can be underwhelming.

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Does F1 24 support Steam Deck?

No, F1 24 does not support Steam Deck at launch. This was also the case for F1 23, which received support with the first patch. Players can hope that F1 24 will follow a similar path and eventually become compatible with the Steam Deck.

How are the visuals in F1 24?

The visuals in F1 24 are impressive, with beautifully optimized graphics that perform well even on older hardware. The game features detailed cars, immersive environmental graphics, and realistic driver appearances, despite minor quirks like incomplete eye closures when blinking.

What is the monetization strategy in F1 24?

F1 24 includes an optional VIP pass and Pitcoin currencies, allowing players to purchase unlockable items faster by spending real money. This monetization strategy, on top of the full-price game, can significantly increase the overall expense.

Is F1 24 worth buying if I already own F1 23?

F1 24 offers incremental improvements but lacks significant new features. If you are a die-hard fan eager for the latest rosters or the handling tweaks, it may be worth considering. However, if you are looking for major new features or a fresh experience, F1 23 might offer better value at a lower price.