F1 25 Review – Investment Policy

Despite your criticism, I always get thrilled about new Formula 1 game releases. I acknowledge that it’s probably going to be more of the same, and I agree that the high AAA price tag isn’t usually justified. However, the realistic experience it offers is unmatched! Truly, in what other sport can you invest a fortune just to watch Verstappen win once more?

Even though I still enjoy the series, my time with EA’s management of the F1 games has begun to resemble a typical Monaco Grand Prix – it’s attractive, renowned, and undeniably entertaining, yet somehow it doesn’t seem quite valuable enough.

As a dedicated follower, I understand and accept the recurring elements in the annual updates, as they mirror real-life events. It’s no secret that not every aspect can be drastically altered without a substantial shift in the sport itself.

Let’s shift gears from my anticipation for F1 26. Today, we’re diving into F1 25, a game that delivers as promised, yet leaves one pondering if this digital F1 racing experience encompasses the entirety of a virtual Formula One pilot’s journey.

A Long Formation Lap

Back in my day, Formula 1 was like a totally distinct species compared to what we have now, especially during the Drive To Survive era. I’m referring to the early 2000s F1, with Placebo’s “Every You, Every Me” as our theme song.

Formula 1 has always been known for its glamour and splendor, sometimes sparking feelings of envy or contempt among fans and competitors from different racing circuits.

In the year 2025, the offering from EA Sports for Formula One doesn’t hold back when it comes to embodying Netflix’s perspective on the top-tier racing category. The menu layout, the numerous cinematic scenes, and the seamless transitions between actions all serve as a constant reminder of the high-caliber competition you’re engaged in while playing F1 25.

The emphasis on stunning aesthetics became so intense at a certain point, I couldn’t help but exclaim aloud, “Could we just start the race now, please?

Consider the scenario of the career mode. Upon choosing a driver, the game transitions smoothly into a personalized scene, guided by your agent who outlines the contract particulars. You have some control over these details, but the transition from fully-voiced scenes to the menus where adjustments are made is flawless and uninterrupted.

Nevertheless, the emphasis on aesthetics became quite intense to the point where I exclaimed aloud, “Let’s start the race now, please!”, despite acknowledging the significance of establishing the scene and the effort put into it. Yet, it shouldn’t feel like a secret plot aimed at delaying the moment when we hit the gas.

A fair portion of this soft material seems linked to tutorials, however, it doesn’t sit well with me. I acknowledge that for many, this could be their first encounter with Formula 1 video games, and perhaps even the series. Yet, I find it hard to believe that EA Sports genuinely thinks its audience requires such extensive guidance.

It’s no exaggeration that nearly every menu in F1 25 comes with a tutorial voiceover. Given that the game isn’t overly complex, compared to other racing games, it would have been nicer if there was an option to confirm whether I need such persistent guidance before starting the game.

Carbon Fiber and V6 Hybrids

After plowing through all the lengthy tutorials, you are richly rewarded with breathtaking graphics when playing the game. The latest version of the EGO engine truly shines on the PlayStation 5, offering striking visuals coupled with exceptional smoothness in performance. Codemasters has clearly mastered their craft, as evidenced by this impressive display.

Despite myself, I find myself experiencing a touch of envy towards PC gamers, as F1 2025 boasts path tracing for Windows and the demonstrations I’ve seen of it in other games are breathtakingly beautiful. However, the ray-traced lighting on PlayStation 5 remains robust, and I admire the developers’ approach to gradually releasing this technology instead of a wide, untested deployment.

In the F1 25 game, each car model is meticulously reproduced, capturing the minute distinctions between them. It’s a detail that some might find picky, but I’ve often noticed this inaccuracy when playing simulated F1 games other than iRacing. For instance, in iRacing, while Red Bull cars may differ aesthetically, beneath the paint job, they all drive essentially the same—a situation that occurs 100 times more frequently in collisions.

It was refreshing to notice in this character-centric game that the human models didn’t resemble nightmarish creatures that broke free from a PlayStation 3 lab. Rarely do we get to see faces, but when we do, they are not startling like jump scares.

The aesthetics match the audio quality quite nicely. Previously, my Formula One encounters were on PC with earphones plugged in, yet it was pleasing to notice that the game translated well into TV speakers. Although today’s V6 hybrid engines might sound like noisy exhausts compared to the screeching V10 engines of the past, Codemasters doesn’t have the power to alter this aspect. It’s common knowledge that headphones will always provide a better audio experience, but that’s hardly surprising information.

The voice performances are consistently strong throughout, with Marc Priestley’s heavenly voice, subtly urging me to avoid shortcuts or risk incurring a 5-second penalty.

Indeed, the audiovisual experience is quite delightful, yet it must be noted that nearly everything presented is already found in F1 24. For newcomers to the series, it’s an enjoyable introduction, but those who are veterans might find little novelty, especially considering the price tag of $59.99 and a simple handshake.

Lights Out And Away We Go

It seems like you’re frustrated because the discussion about the racing experience is limited to just two parts. That’s exactly how I felt while attempting to get to a race in F1 25.

Instead of enjoying racing with controllers, I find them lacking compared to force feedback wheels. However, Sony’s DualSense controller makes a genuine effort to provide a satisfying haptic experience despite the limitations of the medium.

Using the right joystick for camera control feels incredibly intuitive, surpassing even non-VR alternatives that don’t involve head tracking.

Instead of choosing an easier option, I selected my customary environment: all aspects simulated, except for the pitstop release since my clutch control skills are embarrassingly weak. This setup also includes the cockpit camera view with the sturdy halo bar.

Although the controller trigger offers less range than a traditional pedal, it was still satisfying to observe that the cars no longer skid immediately upon acceleration. This issue used to require professional drivers to play with minimal traction assistance, even on high-end setups, but now, even controllers don’t need such assistance due to the improvement in this aspect.

In the year 2025, my inaugural race took place at Melbourne, where I assumed the character of Carlos Sainz driving for Williams. It felt somewhat unusual to encounter a Williams car equipped with an MFD on the steering wheel after spending so many years defying convention and mounting it onto the dashboard instead.

As a gamer, when I’m playing with zero assists on my DualSense controller, I find the left stick to be surprisingly stiff, which makes handling the sensitivity of those high-speed F1 cars quite challenging. I had to put in a lot of effort to make minute adjustments, and despite reminding myself that even Carlos Sainz had his share of crashes during the Melbourne Grand Prix, it was still a tough race for me. That particular debut ended up as a P18 finish, but it wasn’t just my performance; those Sauber cars seemed to be struggling even more, which unfortunately left them trailing behind me.

It was nice to see that the cars no longer spin out instantly when applying throttle.

As a dedicated gamer, I’m super excited about the laser-scanned tracks in F1 25! Now, I won’t dive too deep into the financial aspects of this feature and its impact on smaller game developers, as that’s beyond the fun part of the game itself. The DualSense haptic feedback definitely adds to the experience, but I must admit it’s tough to justify the price tag solely based on this extra level of realism.

This year’s Formula One AI driver seems somewhat less likely to cause harm compared to the previous version. However, there were a couple of tense situations that I encountered.

This time around, the race engineer has received some subtle adjustments, which is fortunate since last year’s F1 24 version often featured seemingly illogical advice over the radio. However, it appears they’ve rectified that issue this year.

In simpler terms, it doesn’t mean all advice from the race engineers is flawless, but it’s much less irritating, which is a significant improvement when you’re completing 20 laps and receiving suboptimal suggestions.

Modes For Days

One compelling feature of F1 25 is its diverse gameplay options. It offers both online multiplayer, a standard driver career mode, an overhauled team management career, the concluding chapter of Braking Point, and an intriguing side story connected to Brad Pitt’s upcoming Formula 1 film, set for release in late June.

In each prior version, my preferred gameplay style has been the driver career mode, which remains my favorite today. What I enjoy most about it is immersing myself in the experience of becoming a real-life driver, navigating the challenges and hardships that come with their season.

Releasing the game in the middle of the season provides the developer with a larger volume of data to optimize the car performances more accurately. Fortunately, this year there are no underperforming teams like last year’s Haas to slow things down.

In the digital realm, Jack Doohan remains present for now. However, it’s likely that an update will introduce a new digital version of Franco Colapinto.

This year’s presentation is top-notch, featuring intricate details such as actual pilots interspersed throughout the session speaking on specific radio frequencies. For an added touch, you could incorporate either the fictional team from Braking Point or characters from the F1 movie into the career mode, making for a delightful prelude to future seasons.

Instead of using generic stencils, which were previously mandatory in the game, the team creator now offers a refreshing change with its innovative custom decal system.

Instead of merely being an expanded version of the pilot career with a few additional menus, My Team offers strategic considerations for managing your team. It was rewarding to have detailed control over upgrades, although it did require some effort to grasp the delicate balance involved.

To achieve meaningful progress on the track, it’s essential to focus on improving facilities, conducting research, and fostering development before the improvements reach the vehicle, rather than settling for purchasing the final product without further action. If you aim for a longer racing career, consider whether you want to use your budget on parts that will be available sooner this season or invest in laying a solid foundation for a more competitive challenge in the future.

Year after year, I find Braking Point falling short compared to FIFA 17’s The Journey for me. Despite admiring its idea and the high-quality production it offers, nothing seems to make up for how heavily scripted the racing segments feel.

It strikes me that perhaps the narrative could work more effectively as a standalone TV movie instead of continuing as a story mode.

Occasionally, you’re given the option to run a race as either Callie Mayer or Casper Akkerman. In other instances, you get to play both characters concurrently during the same competition. This dual role brings a fresh viewpoint to the race, but I find the overall experience still seems overly formulaic to me.

Final Lap

Judging yearly releases like the F1 series is a little different from your average standalone game.

In my experience playing F1 25, I was delightfully amazed to notice that the game’s quality remained consistently high – a refreshing change from other series like FIFA, where I’ve sometimes seen deterioration over time.

The game seems to lack sufficient enhancements and additional features considering its cost, however, the alterations in handling are revolutionary for those seeking a more authentic Formula 1 racing sensation. It’s challenging to express enough appreciation for the ability to apply throttle effectively on exit without losing traction too frequently.

In a more casual tone, “Braking Point infuses a hint of the thrilling atmosphere from Drive to Survive into the game, and partnering with the F1 movie is a cool addition that links the project seamlessly with the series. But I’m not convinced that people will be purchasing Formula One 25 just for those reasons.

On May 30th, F1 25 will be available for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S and X. However, those who own the Iconic Edition have early access to the game starting now.

Closing Comments

EA Sports and Codemasters have created what is currently the best Formula 1 game available. However, they seem to release a new version every other year without fail. F1 25 boasts stunning graphics, an exhilarating presentation that occasionally outshines the actual racing, and handling enhancements that finally break free from five years of recurring issues in the series. For those seeking a truly realistic Formula 1 racing experience and prepared to invest over a hundred hours annually into this game, these improvements are worth the cost. Nevertheless, for many players, particularly those using controllers or relying on multiple assist options, this is simply a $59.99 investment for a slightly smoother experience compared to F1 24. Here’s hoping that the 2026 regulations bring about the transformation that both virtual and real racing series require.

2025-05-27 18:11