F1 2002 (PlayStation 2)

CNET editors' rating: 4.0 stars Excellent
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Gamespot editors' review

• Reviewed by: Amer Ajami
• Reviewed on: 06/18/2002
• Updated on: 05/17/2006
• Released on: 06/17/2002

Electronic Arts' venerable F1 franchise seems to get stronger with every successive release on the PlayStation 2, and certainly, that's the case with the company's latest game in this acclaimed series. F1 2002 uses the same impressive graphics and physics engine used in F1 2001, but it is based on the current season of Formula 1 racing, which gives F1 2002 the sole distinction of being the only game currently available with an up-to-date roster of drivers and teams. But F1 2002 places fans of this adrenaline-filled sport, especially those who bought last year's F1 2001, in a slight predicament. Specifically, F1 2002's improvements on last year's game are marginal at best, and for some, that won't be enough to justify its $50 price tag.

F1 2002 is mostly similar to last year's F1 2001...

In absolute terms, F1 2002 is better than F1 2001. The game has retained all the exceptional aspects of its predecessor, while trimming a lot of the fat. Gone are the domination single-player and the last man standing multiplayer modes. As interesting as they might have been, they weren't true to Formula 1 racing, so they're out. The number of challenges has also been changed since last year. These objective-based driving exercises are modeled after Gran Turismo's license tests, and they're designed to hone your F1 driving skills to a sharp edge. They're down to 11 from F1 2001's 25, and unlike in last year's game, completing them is no longer a prerequisite to racing in F1 2002's season mode, which--like in most racing games--is this one's heart and soul.

Though the game is now leaner than F1 2001, its core has not been changed. Those who played F1 2001 know exactly what to expect. The cars' sensitive, almost twitchy, controls are still the same. Driving these 800hp machines around the tracks requires a judicious amount of restraint, as laying into the accelerator will do nothing but quickly introduce your car to a cement wall. The brakes require a delicate touch as well, since it doesn't take much to cause a lockup. Those who might not be used to these controls will probably find them frustrating at first, but it only takes a few laps to get used to them, and a few more to excel at them. The physics model of F1 2001 has also been retained, meaning that your car's handling will change throughout the course of the race as your tires grow bald and as you use up fuel, making the car lighter. The interactive pit stops are also the same, and you can easily make out your entire pit crew fussing over every aspect of your car. If you damage your car during a race, you'll even see some crewmembers replace the broken parts with brand-new ones--they don't magically appear out of thin air.

Obviously, what has been changed is the season the game's based on. As its name implies, F1 2002 is based on the current season of Formula 1 racing, and as such, it lets you race as any of the league's 22 drivers--from Barrichello and Coulthard to the brothers Schumacher--on any of the world-famous racetracks. This updated roster of teams means that you can also choose to play as either of this year's new arrivals, Renault and Toyota, as well. The game's season mode will take you through all 17 tracks in the proper order, starting with Melbourne and concluding at Suzuka, and before every race, you can practice, qualify, warm up, and dial in your car's settings to your liking. Like in real life, points are awarded for drivers and teams who place first, second, and third, and at the end of the season, the driver with the most points is crowned the champion and the winning team is awarded the constructor's cup. The ultimate goal, of course, is to have enough points to win both of these coveted prizes. For those without the patience to endure 17 individual practice sessions, qualifying runs, and races, F1 2002 lets you create your own custom season of any length and order. You can also participate in a single race weekend, or skip practice and qualifying altogether and jump straight into a race. Most of the tracks in this quick race mode are locked, however, and require you to successfully complete them in the season mode beforehand.

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