EA Sports F1 24 Review: Best-in-class Realism Claims Podium Finish

F1 24 achieves success by both introducing new features and updating its core gameplay from the previous year. Following the positive reception of its predecessor, F1 24 prioritizes enhancing realism, even for players who do not have a racing wheel.

In light of EA’s purchase of Codemasters, the F1 series has continued to cater to both casual and hardcore fans. The release of F1 24 marks further progress, thanks in large part to the addition of exciting gameplay elements.

F1 24 continues the success of its predecessor, F1 23, by incorporating numerous highly requested updates, including refreshed tracks and a revamped Career Mode. These additions further enhance the already immersive and realistic gameplay experience.

EA Sports F1 24 Key Details

  • Price: $69.99 / £59.99
  • Developer: Codemasters
  • Release Date: May 31, 2024
  • Platforms: PS5, PS4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC

Precision Racing at its Finest

One of the main features that sets F1 24 apart is its precise racing, which is carried over from the previous installment. Although it may take some practice to become accustomed to the game, particularly with regards to handling, utilizing optimized controller settings can greatly improve the experience.

The incorporation of the EA Sports Dynamic Handling feature greatly improves the authenticity and immersion of the game, specifically in regards to the car’s suspension and handling. By disabling most of the setting assists in F1 24, the car gains a significant amount of grip, enabling it to navigate both slow and fast corners with ease. This unexpected improvement makes F1 24 a thrilling experience when played with a controller.

F1 24 Dynamic Handling in-game
EA Sports

EA Sports Dynamic Handling features insight from three-time F1 world champion Max Verstappen.

Consequently, this creates a more arcade-like experience in the game, where steering wheel motions that would normally cause loss of control are much more forgiving. Although aggressive driving is highly rewarded, it is also counterbalanced by the enhanced F1 24 tyre model.

Tweaking the tires affected my approach to gameplay, causing my already aggressive driving style to have a more significant effect on the wear of the tires. As a result, the tires degraded more quickly and it ultimately slowed down my lap time in comparison to my competitors.

Despite the challenging conditions, the gameplay shifts significantly in rainy weather. The car becomes much harder to handle, feeling slow and unresponsive when making turns at lower speeds. Interestingly, the Intermediate tyres outperformed the Wet tyres even in heavy downpours.

Even under ordinary weather circumstances, the updated features provide an immersive gaming experience, particularly when utilizing a controller. With F1 24, players can now experience the track’s layout, including curbs and chicanes, due to the improved suspension and the fairly challenging new handling system.

The F1 Driver Experience

The ability to fully immerse players in the exhilarating experience of being a driver is a crucial aspect of F1 games. F1 24 effectively achieves this, keeping players more captivated than ever before.

Although the inclusion of authentic audio from the official F1 grid or playable Icons is certainly exciting, there’s nothing quite like forging your own path from F2 to the highest level in Career Mode. The journey may be more challenging this time around, but the sense of accomplishment is even greater.

Thanks to the implementation of the driver recognition and rating system, you have the opportunity to enhance your statistics and work your way up from the bottom to become the most skilled driver on the grid. F1 24 provides a variety of tasks, both on and off the track, for you to complete in order to achieve this goal.

Specialist mode in Career Mode keeps you engaged by providing new objectives to enhance your in-game driver. As you advance, Rivalries become more complex and winning them brings an even more satisfying feeling of accomplishment.

Red Bull Checo Perez and Max Verstappen teammate rivalry
EA Sports

Rivalries are a key competition aspect in F1 24 offering different types which freshen up the objectives.

The addition of F1 24 has significantly improved the overall experience by providing constant engaging activities, eliminating any feeling of emptiness. The most noteworthy aspect is the inclusion of mid-race challenges that push you to step out of your comfort zone and add some excitement to your race.

Improving the minor details

To achieve a truly authentic and captivating F1 experience, meticulous attention to detail is crucial. This is particularly important for aspects that have been greatly desired by fans, such as track enhancements and enhancements to AI difficulty.

The recent renovations of Spa Francorchamps and Silverstone, as well as updates to Lusail and Jeddah, have greatly enhanced the visual appeal of the game. After much anticipation, Codemasters has successfully achieved a level of realism that truly captures the exhilarating speed of the sport.

Spa and Lusail circuits comparison F1 23 vs F1 24
EA Sports

F1 24 introduced an overhauled version of fan-favorite tracks to fit their real-life versions.

Similarly crucial is the level of AI difficulty. In contrast to previous iterations, the AI in F1 24 is highly competitive, making for an intense and demanding racing experience.

Despite the fact that there is room for further improvement in defensive maneuvers, the progress made, especially when it comes to close racing and navigating challenging corners, has resulted in exciting and captivating races.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Despite preserving the core of the F1 games, F1 24 effectively improves significant aspects that were neglected in previous installments. While there might be a learning curve to adapt to the updated handling model, once you have mastered the excessive front grip and difficult low-speed turns, the gameplay becomes highly satisfying.

The game has achieved the same level of success as its predecessor, thanks to a post-launch update that has been confirmed by the developers. The main goal of the update is to improve the immersive experience and attention to detail required to drive a Formula 1 car. As a result, players will feel even more like real F1 drivers compared to any other racing game available at present.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *