Gamecube F1 2002

While we have no yardstick with which to measure F1 2002 for the Gamecube, as this the first incarnation of it on this platform, it is obvious that EA Sports has pulled out all the stops for the newest version. Given the graphics capability of the Gamecube, you would expect nothing less. 

The speed of the racing will almost make your head spin. The scenery flashes past at an alarming rate once you hit over 130km. 

It is easier to appreciate the graphics at a slow pace, as they are quite detailed and high quality. However, at times, they can seem a little grainy and once or twice in a race, they seemed a little slow, especially if when trying to pass a few cars on a corner. 

When it comes to gameplay, there are plenty of race options open to you, whether you want to race as a single player or in multi-player format. You can race a full Grand Prix, complete with a realistic number of laps and a full grid. However, if you want something a little less full on, set the amount of laps yourself and play around with the numbers on the grid. But before you can play the single player Grand Prix mode, a bit of practice is necessary. The basic challenges will cover everything from weather conditions to pitstops, and to make it onto the starting grid, you have to achieve at least a bronze (60 per cent) in the challenges. 

Multi-player options include a tag team mode, where two teams of up to four players take each other on; Advantage, where players with less experience can get a head start; and Last Man Standing, where the car in last place in each lap is removed until only one is left. 

No matter how realistic the experience, the commentary of someone like Murray Walker is definitely missed. Instead, your team will keep you informed of who has spun off the track, retired or taken the top spot – useful, but not quite the same.

However, all the top drivers and teams are here, including the Schumachers, Hakkinen and Montoya. Depending on how realistic you want your F1 experience to be, you can set the damage level your car will experience — none if you want a destruction-free race; forgiving; or for purists, realistic. For those who like to cause a bit of destruction themselves, it is possible to take out one or two of your competitors will a well-timed nudge. 

Veer off the track (as I often did) and apart from slowing you down, you will also find the surfaces stick to your tyres for a few seconds afterwards. 

You can also customise and tweak your car so it runs almost exactly as you would like it. This could be a bit more important once you unlock the various weather conditions, which adds a whole new dimension to your racing. 

The AI has also had a bit of an improvement — the other drivers are aggressive and react to your moves quite well. It’s not unusual to find that there’s a persistent driver on your tail that you simply can’t shake. 

With other F1 games, I found the controls to be quite straightforward, with very few errors committed in the heat of the moment. Thankfully, this hasn’t altered for the Gamecube version. Easy to grasp for first time players, especially on the new platform, the controls will feel somewhat familiar.

F1 2002 – Specs: