by The nuances of Formula One racing are mostly imperceptible to the layman. It’s all angular momentum and downforces; a system of geometry, physics, and engineering in which minute adjustments have outsized effects. As a result, a game like F1 2013—the latest of Codemasters’ annual racing series, brought to Mac by Feral Interactive—tends to require technical precision and strict execution.
F1 2013’s controls are delicate, subtle, and responsive, leading to daring passes and disastrous spinouts in equal measure. Career Mode plops rookie drivers at the beginning of a standard 19-race season, setting them up with both a team and the potential for a more lucrative contract if they perform well enough. This is obviously the centerpiece of F1 2013, and it’s where the game’s rigid demands are most keenly felt. At best, an ill-taken hairpin turn may add half a second to your time; at worst, you’ll earn a blown tire or a 10-second penalty for cutting corners. A perfectly driven curve is highly satisfying in the moment, but these imperfections add up: it’s possible to race well—but not perfectly—and still not meet your team’s goals at the end of a 22-lap race. Given the effort and time it takes, ho-hum results are frustrating.
It doesn’t help that F1 2013’s tutorial is a slog, despite not covering enough of Formula One’s subtleties and quirks. Good luck sussing out the intricacies of qualifying, or how to best take off after the green flag. Fortunately, Codemasters has packed in a few features to make F1 2013 somewhat more approachable and inviting for newcomers. Opponent A.I. and driver assistance mechanics—including automatic braking and track overlay with optimal course and speed information—are fully customizable, and the Flashback system makes a welcome return: you can effectively “rewind” a race several seconds in order to undo a crash or penalty.
