F1 22 Review: Laying the Groundwork, but Falling Short

gadgets.ndtv.com:

F1 22 — released July 1 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series S/X — delivers a high-octane simulation racing experience with updated car and track physics. Codemasters — which has been at the helm of the F1 franchise for over a decade — does not drop the ball when it comes to the core of F1 22. The new car models feel more responsive than last year, the tracks have been adapted faithfully, and the cars sound riveting zooming around the tracks. Minor tweaks have also been made to the My Team mode to make it more attractive for returning players.

But it is F1 22's surrounding package that is a major letdown. Just like every other EA Sports game that comes out with yearly sequels, F1 22 also suffers from a lack of polish and any significant revision to its formula.

The absence of last year's cinematic campaign — “Braking Point” — is definitely felt. Its replacement — “F1 Life” — is an uninspiring addition that only exists to justify the presence of microtransactions in the game.

The addition of supercars to F1 22 fails to bring anything spectacular to the game and feels poorly executed. Codemasters could have instead taken this opportunity to include classic cars and tracks that the fans of the franchise have been clamouring for.

That said, things on track are crisper than ever. The new Formula One 2022 season cars are seemingly more responsive than last year, offering a fresh challenge to veteran players without being extremely difficult to master. Still, the learning curve is significant — newcomers will have to sink in several hours to get to grips with the basics of F1 22's driving mechanics. The AI does not make things easier either. I found the AI to be extremely unforgiving at tight corners; recklessly