F1 2017 PS4 Hands On Preview – Impressive At Every Level

The developers at Codemaster have shown year after year that Formula One should not be messed with. Being one of the first racers with dynamic weather, they’ve come up with some clever new techniques that really improve upon the game’s mechanics, as well as some other intriguing aspects in F1 2017.  I recently went hands on with the game and it becomes very easy to appreciate every graphical aspect of the upcoming entry.

I started up the time trial in my 2017 Ferrari on the Montreal track in Canada using a racing wheel. When I got my hands on the wheel, and I took off, I could nearly feel the initial jerk of the Ferrari as it sped down the track. My physical actions on the racing wheel almost 1:1 with the onscreen driver and it felt quite accurate. Pushing down the stright and hitting the breaks right at the beginning of the turn was the best way to bank without totally skidding out. The handling of the Ferrari itself was great. The smooth interaction from the turns on my wheels to the on-screen action had a nice flow about it.

"What works in real life doesn’t always equate to what goes on on a simulated track in many of today’s racing simulators. F1 2017 really digs in deep to eliminate those absent feelings, and emphasizes the luxury and feel of a real asphalt."

What works in real life doesn’t always equate to what goes on on a simulated track in many of today’s racing simulators. F1 2017 really digs in deep to eliminate those absent feelings, and emphasizes the luxury and feel of a real asphalt. F1 2017 has an amazing tire to track feel that astoundingly makes the tires feel as though they embrace the track rather than just roll along it. The tire tilt in turns feel authentic and dramatic compared to most other big title racers out there.

Sadly, I was only able to explore the Montreal course within the game; so the game’s treatment of how tracks look throughout the game is regrettably absent from here. Within the Montreal track, however, I got to experience a true-to-form track that looks as amazing in game as it should in real life. The track was intricately detailed with plenty of walls with a lot of advertisements, and a crowd of what felt like hundreds or more. And though the crowds aren’t the most lively I’ve seen in other sports games, they were better than cardboard cutouts that many games still use.

"With the likes of interesting sound technology, a robust and new weather dynamics, smooth driving mechanics, and a overall feeling of pure fun, it’s easy to see F1 2017 at the front of the race compared to other games in the genre."

F1 has always been a game about creating the most accurate sounds possible within the racing genre; and F1 2017 is no different. Now I will admit that I’ve never been in a Ferrari that’s designed for the tracks before; but I can distinguish between a very basic static and artificial sound, and a more customized feel that sounds like it comes from an exhaust of an car. The engine of my Ferrari hummed like a newborn ready to tear up the tracks; its unique blend of power and smoothness really shines through. Following that came the tires and the pull of rubber snatching rocks right from the asphalt. Most of us know that distinct sound of tires pulling away from a road or most hard surfaces. In F1 2017 you willl speed up on the track and you will get to listen to the rip of the road from under those wheels. It’s quite beautiful.

Overall F1 2017 is shaping up to be a great step forward in the series. With the likes of interesting sound technology, a robust and new weather dynamics, smooth driving mechanics, and a overall feeling of pure fun, it’s easy to see F1 2017 at the front of the race compared to other games in the genre.

This game was previewed on the PlayStation 4.