F1 24: EA’s Latest Entry Falls Short in the Grid
F1 24 has finally come, but it appears to be stalled in the paddock rather than racing to the front of the grid. While EA’s latest version in the long-running franchise includes certain updates, it falls short of the promised improvements from the previous edition, prompting players to question its $69.99 pricing.
A well-known problem with F1 24
The major problem with F1 24 is its handling. In a racing game, the ability to drive the automobile and maintain it on track is essential. Unfortunately, I found it almost impossible at times. It was especially noticeable on street circuits like Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, where I battled to keep inside track restrictions while my AI competitors flew through the course.
These handling issues not only harmed my performance, but also eliminated any hope of a podium finish. To make matters worse, there were no safety car events or red flags to provide anyone a second chance. Surprisingly, in all of the races I have finished in F1 24, I have not seen a single retirement or collision involving AI drivers.
Furthermore, every pit stop I performed was hampered by front-left tire replacement issues, which increased my stop duration compared to my competitors who had faultless pit stops.
F1 24 Career Mode Facelift
The overhauled Career Mode in F1 24 is the game’s main centerpiece. For the first time, players may take control of genuine drivers, selecting from existing F1 racers, up-and-coming F2 talents, or a variety of icons. The opportunity to start in F2 and progress to F1 was a much-anticipated addition. However, it proved to be nothing more than a gimmick.
One annoying element was the inability to change the AI difficulty across races. Even after setting a qualifying lap seven seconds quicker than my closest competitor, I discovered the recommended settings needed to be adjusted. Unfortunately, there was no way to make these changes in between races. The lack of a pause between events in F2 further restricted my capacity to adjust difficulty settings, forcing me to restart my career.
Another difficulty is that mid-race goals lack emphasis. Instead of aiming for a podium finish with Hamilton challenging from behind, my goal in Bahrain was to pass Max Verstappen—a difficult feat for any driver, let alone a rookie.
Déjà Vu
The status of F1 24 is expected, given that the franchise’s quality has fallen dramatically since its takeover by EA. Each new edition fails to offer significant differences from the prior one. The only consolation is that F1 24 offers a five-hour trial accessible on EA Play, allowing players to try the game before making a purchase. However, considering the lack of significant upgrades, there is little motivation to switch from prior entries in the series.
Overall, F1 24 falls short of expectations and struggles to justify its price. The handling flaws, limited Career Mode upgrades, and lack of significant updates make it difficult to recommend this current entry over previous entries in the genre.
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