PC F1 games

[Minardi fan]

Which F1 games do you recommend I get for my PC??? I have a fair few for the Playstation (F1 '97, F1 2000, F1) but I would like some to play on the PC.

I bought Grand Prix World the other day, but what else do people recommend????

[Toth]

Everyone is going to tell you this but I wanna be first:

Grand Prix Legends

I don't own that game (damn me, I really want to) but have played it and everything they say about it is true.

My favourite was F1 racing simulation, a couple years old so probably hard to find but it had the best and most extensive car setup thingy.

[Minardi fan]

Ok, so who is going to tell me all about GP Legends then??? I want details people, details! And is it readily available????

[Toth]

We'll it's published by Sierra and developed by papyrus. I think.
You've got internet right, the truth is out there.

I can't tell you much about the game cos I don't have it. Everybody tells me it's the best and the 10 min's I tried were enough to convince me that it is very realistic.

About availability, I tried twice to go buy it but couldn't find it. But others could...so I dunno, I dunno much huh.

[Gerard]

Grand Prix Legends is the best formula one simulator there is.
At least that's what I think.

The game features the 1967 season.
There are 11 world famous tracks in Grand Prix Legends, Watkins Glen, Monza, Spa-Franchorchamps, Mosport Park, Silverstone, Rouen-les-Essarts, Mexico City, Kyalami, Monaco, Nurburgring and last but not least Zandvoort.

There are several cars, the Lotus-Ford 49, Repco-Brabham BT24, Eagle-Weslake T1G, Ferrari 312, and the BRM H-16.
Also two fantasy cars, the Murasama and the Coventry.

You race against famous names like Clark, Hill, McLaren, Gurney and Surtees to name a few.

The cars all have their own characteristics and are terribly hard to drive.
Imagine this, you're visiting a formula one race, walking in the pits and for some strange reason you get the chance to drive a Grand Prix car. You get in the car, they start the engine, you engage first gear and you step on the gas.
What will probably happen?
The car will stall, right?
Well, that's exactly what will happen in Grand Prix Legends.
I don't want to discourage anyone, but before you manage to drive the car around a track with an acceptable speed without spinning or crashing, it's gonna take you several hours.

In the manual it says: 'You will spin and crash because everyone who tries the simulation spins and crashes the first time out. And the second time out. And the third. People who have raced real cars spin and crash in the simulator.'

If you can complete a single lap on either of the circuits without spinning or crashing, you're good. Damn good!

Graphics are wonderful with accurate mirrors and drivers shifting up and down and turning the wheel.
The best thing however is the replay function.
It's almost perfect.

To enjoy all this you do need a fairly high-end system.
At least a 300Mhz computer with 800x600 resolution in 16 bit colour.
And a steering wheel as well, the game is almost impossible to play with the keyboard.

Grand Prix Legends isn't for everyone, but if you are willing to follow the learning curve and have the patience to play on after your first frustration, it's the best racing game there is.
And one more time, it's not an arcade game, it's a simulation.
Don't open the package only to throw in the CD, install the game and start driving, you can't.

I'm reasonably familiar with racing games and setting up a car, but it took me 4 hours before I could survive the first lap.
One hint at last, start with Monza, it's the easiest track and set the race length to novice.
Good luck, you're going to need it.

p.s. If anyone wants some url's for Grand Prix Legends sites, just ask.

[Minardi fan]

Some URL's would be nice ta.

Since my PC is just over 400mhz I believe and 800 x 600 I shouldn't have too many probs.

Any other game recommendations???

[Gerard]

Look in the Cool Sites forum for some Grand Prix Legends sites.

[Sparky]

Gerard, I couldn't agree more with your description of GPL. I own it, but my PC doesn't do it justice.

One point, though. The two 'fantasy' teams, Murasama and Coventry, represent Honda and Cooper. I can only guess licensing limitations meant the true names could not be used.

I must get a 3D card...!

[Gerard]

Yes, Sparky, it were licensing limitations.
However, on some of the GPL links I mentioned in the Cool Sites forum, you can download Honda and Cooper cars to replace the two fantasy teams.