F1 2009 (video Game) - Reception

Reception

F1 2009 received generally mixed reviews from game critics, for both Wii and PSP versions. The graphics of the game were heavily criticised by reviewers: IGN said that the textures were "murky" and the models "half-hearted", while the Official Nintendo Magazine said that "visually it's a dog's dinner". GameZone continued the theme, saying that "the graphics... are super plain and are often ugly", and also commenting that the game "looks like it should have been released for the PSone." GameSpot stated that the physics were "not up to scratch", also commenting that "Your car will bounce off walls and other vehicles with little regard for what would happen in the real world." The AI was singled out as a failure of the game, with IGN calling it "underwhelming", while Eurogamer said that the computer-controlled cars followed the racing line "too rigidly", commenting that "they appear just as likely to run into your gearbox as attempt to overtake you." The fact that the game contained only the 20 drivers that started the 2009 Formula One season, and did not take into account the driver changes that happened during the season, was another complaint. The sound was also criticised, with GameSpot calling it "uniformly poor".

Critics gave much praise to F1 2009's gameplay and handling, however. GameSpot said that the "cars have a good sense of speed", and IGN commented that the game has "a handling model that's at once accessible, rewarding and – most importantly – fun", while also calling F1 2009 a "driving game that's without compare on the Wii". VideoGamer.com also praised it, stating: "Racing in an F1 car should feel fast, dangerous and put you on the edge of your seat... This Wii simulation captures that feeling superbly, with a sense of speed that even genre rivals on more powerful hardware can't better." The Official Nintendo Magazine praised the gameplay as well, saying that the "handling is perfect and if you switch to the in-car cockpit view this is one of the most immersive racing experiences on the Wii." Reviewers also praised the "Challenge Mode" of the game; IGN strongly praised it on the PSP version, stating that "F1 2009 is best played in the Challenge Mode".

EuroGamer summarised by saying "This may not be the revolution the Formula 1 sub-genre has been waiting for, but you're not likely to find many Wii owners complaining." GameSpot summarised the game by saying, "If you're looking for an arcade-style racer with a Formula 1 badge, then F1 2009 may fit the bill and is likely to keep you busy for quite some time. Unfortunately, if you're looking for a game that captures the essence and challenge of the pinnacle of motorsport, you're going to be disappointed." GameZone recommended that customers play the game before they bought it, while IGN said that "for fans of the sport deprived of an F1 game for so many years this does just enough to satiate the thirst." VideoGamer.com looked forward to the game's sequel, F1 2010, to be released on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC, stating that "there's undoubtedly something better coming next year, on platforms that can do the sport justice." VideoGamer.com summarised the general consensus by stating, "This is a perfectly competent racer, one of the best on the Wii, but it's not a classic by any stretch of the imagination."