F1 2013

I'm not really a huge racing fan. Not into Nascar. Not really into Formula 1 either, though I think Ron Howard's new movie, Rush, looks pretty good. That said, when it comes to racing games, I usually tolerate them. The majority of my experience comes...

F1 2013 is a dynamic and varied simulation then, and that's not a compliment that could readily be aimed at too many of its forebears. There is an element of treading water as Codemasters gets ready for the inevitable shift to new console hardware and...

The new classic content ultimately doesn’t soar quite high enough to justify purchase alone for F1 2012 owners but, combined with the well-honed existing content, F1 2013 is a very complete and satisfying package overall. Yearly devotees will be less blown away than new fans, or ones returning from a year or two away from the series, but F1 2013 is the most definitive distillation of the motorsport to date.

Dedicated series fans might feel somewhat aggrieved, then, that they're being asked to spend a further £10 just to augment that slim offering with 90s content, particularly as it's those hardcore fans who likely feel the tug of nostalgia the hardest. Still, it's testament to how thrilling and dramatic the included classic cars are that it's even a dilemma at all.

While it doesn’t make an astounding first impression, and the F1 Classics mode isn’t as big as you might think, F1 2013 is a fine F1 game. There are enough assists and game modes to cover everyone from F1 fanatics to more casual fans, and the action on the track is fast and visceral, with no shortage of high-speed thrills.

La Formula 1 di Codemasters si conferma essere come un piacevole appuntamento per tutti gli amanti del Circus iridato. Il suo immobilismo viene scosso anno dopo anno da introduzioni azzeccate, ma è impossibile non notare che le stesse problematiche continuano a riproporsi edizione dopo edizione senza essere risolte. Il tutto a scapito della voglia di realismo del gioco.

An essential purchase? Certainly if you're either a Formula One devotee, or just someone looking for a motorsport game with both meat and rigour. Now, let's see what Codemasters can do with the next-gen consoles.

With gorgeous visuals and exciting racing action, it’s a wholly enjoyable and supremely satisfying Formula One experience. There’s always the chance that some hardcore players will feel more at home with something more focused on strict simulation, but this is a marvelously high-octane experience for F1 newcomers and veterans alike.