GENRE
	Racing
	DEVELOPER
	Sumo Digital
	PUBLISHER
	Codemasters
	NUMBER OF PLAYERS
	1-2
	WI-FI ENHANCED
	No
	DS COMPATIBLE
	No
	BUY NOW AT

Nintendojo was provided a copy of this game for review by a third party, though that does not affect our recommendation. For every review, Nintendojo uses a standard scoring criteria.

Formula 1 Racing is one of the most popular racing series in the world, with contests spanning across several continents. It’s also relatively unknown in the United States, overshadowed by the Indy Racing League and NASCAR’s Sprint Cup series. That hasn’t stopped UK-based Sumo Digital and publisher Codemasters from trying to bring F1 action to North American shores via Wii and PSP. And while F1 2009 is a niche title at best, it is nonetheless the real deal for Formula 1 devotees.

The game is, at the core, an arcade-style racer. Players get into the action and race through a variety of treacherous street tracks scattered around the world. The default setup is pretty predictable -- three laps, lots of cars, and even the use of a “speed boost” ability via the new (and somewhat controversial) K.E.R.S. system that was tested in Formula 1 this past year. For the more serious fans, there are a nice slate of tuning options such as tire composition and gear ratio, and while these will no doubt impress gearheads, they aren’t required in order to be competitive in the game.

The game also features a slate of difficulty-related settings, allowing the game to be as easy or as hard as desired. Those wanting an idiot-proof experience, for example, can blow by the competition with the help of predictive braking and assisted steering. Those wanting a hardcore difficulty, by contrast, can disable these advantages and even turn on the likes of automatic transmission, car damage, weather, tire wear, and penalties.

This infrastructure is wrapped around several gameplay modes of varying depth. At the shallow end is the quick race, where a player can choose an F1 personality, select a track, and dive into competition. Time trials and other various challenges are also playable in short installments. Further along is the Grand Prix Weekend mode, where players can choose an F1 personality, participate in pre-race practices, run qualifying laps, and race in the main event.

The centerpiece of the game, though, is the game’s Career mode. In this mode, the player starts out as an unknown rookie racer who looks to make a splash by racing in up to three seasons of Formula 1. Players must try out and get signed by a sponsor, then meet the sponsor’s expectations by performing well and thus scoring points in races. Each individual race carries the depth of Grand Prix Weekend; players can participate in practice sessions to get a feel for the track before even trying to qualify for starting position. This also allows players to fine-tune their vehicles. (Those with less patience who just want to get to the actual race can skip the practice and qualifying sessions and go straight to the main race.)

The package is pretty rich, all things considered, and it offers a few other perks to keep things interesting. F1 2009 offers up its own version of achievements, which are unlocked by accomplishing certain performance tasks such as winning specific races or finishing in first place for a given season. The game also has a split-screen multiplayer, which is a short (if a bit rough) diversion from the main single player mode. There is, sadly, no online mode.

Key to any racing game is control, and F1 2009 offers a full slate of options. The standard Wii Remote and Nunchuk control is offered, with analog steering, and while it is not the most tactile option it is probably the smoothest. The game can also be played with the Wii Remote held sideways or in a Wii Wheel, which is fun, although (as in games like Mario Kart Wii is not as precise as analog control. Finally, the manual indicates that the game is compatible with the Logitech Wheel, although Nintendojo did not have the goods to test this control scheme out.

The presentation of the game isn’t bad, although it isn’t really great, either. The car models are solid and in rare moments seem to channel the glossy look of the PS2-era Gran Turismo games. The actual racetracks, though, leave something to be desired; although they are generally faithful recreations of their real-life counterparts, the textures range from cool to ugly. The streets, for example, often have a nice glossy look to them, but the grass looks pretty ugly and the buildings are pretty basic. Framerate is steady, though, and the draw distance is long enough that pop-in is not a problem.

On the sound end, the game is pretty basic. The main title theme is actually really catchy, but what little music exists in the rest of the game is forgettable at best. There is some voicework in the game -- presumably some guy in the pit crew talking to the driver -- and sometimes feedback like “you did better on that section” or “you slowed down a bit over the last lap” creeps up. The delivery is pretty monotone, though, and there are no color commentators or other personalities.

Overall, Sumo Digital has served up a pretty solid, if unspectacular, F1 racer. The game generally does more good than bad, which is good because F1 offerings aren’t common fare in the gaming universe. With several gameplay options, combined with the ability to tweak and tune, hardcore players will certainly have plenty to do. Unfortunately, at press time the game is also scarce -- both in stores and online – probably owing to the small number of copies made. That means that some players may end up paying more to get a copy than they normally might. Still, F1 2009 is a nice fix for the few Americans out there who care about the international sport.

7.5/10