F1 2021

The opinions of the critics regarding the Story of F1 2021 are generally positive. Many critics appreciate the addition of a story mode, specifically called Braking Point, which follows the journey of a rookie F1 driver. They highlight the engaging narrative, well-acted cutscenes, and cinematic presentation. Critics such as AusGamers, GameGrin, and COGconnected find the story mode entertaining and gripping, with GameGrin mentioning that it could have included more post-race interviews and behind-the-scenes content. The inclusion of characters and relationships that keep players invested is also praised by Comicbook.com. The story mode is compared to popular story-driven modes in other sports games like FIFA's Journey and Madden's Longshot, as mentioned by Forbes. The story mode is described as formulaic but surprisingly charming by AusGamers. However, there are some criticisms regarding the Story of F1 2021. Some critics, like Shacknews and Stevivor, express disappointment with the Braking Point story mode, stating that it focuses on made-up characters and lacks player interaction. GameByte mentions that the story lacks player agency and meaningful choices. GAMES.CH also points out that the emotional aspects of the story are not explored enough, and the characters could have been more developed. PlayStation Country finds the story mode short and cheesy, while Push Square states that the narrative itself isn't particularly compelling. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the Story of F1 2021 is a positive addition to the game. The engaging narrative, well-acted cutscenes, and cinematic presentation are praised by multiple critics. The story mode is seen as a fun and entertaining experience that adds a new dimension to the game. Critics like Xbox Achievements and Xbox Tavern find the story mode to be a solid addition, with well-written characters. However, there are criticisms about the lack of player interaction, meaningful choices, and character development. Despite these shortcomings, the overall sentiment is that the story mode enhances the F1 2021 experience and provides an enjoyable narrative for players to engage with.

The opinions of the critics regarding the gameplay of F1 2021 are overwhelmingly positive. Many critics praised the fast and exhilarating nature of the gameplay, with AusGamers describing it as "rewarding over time" and GameByte highlighting the inclusion of various scenarios that an F1 driver might face. The gameplay is commended for its realism, with critics such as GameCritics and Metro GameCentral noting the increased difficulty of curbs and accurately emulated tire degradation. The handling model has been tweaked to provide a more realistic experience, as mentioned by PC Gamer and Digital Chumps. The gameplay also offers a range of options and assists to cater to different player preferences, with Game Debate mentioning the addition of a co-op driver season as a major highlight. The customizable difficulty settings and different driving modes were also appreciated by critics like Comicbook.com and PlayStation LifeStyle. While the majority of the critics had positive opinions about the gameplay, there were a few minor criticisms mentioned. GameGrin noted the absence of classic cars from previous years, which could be seen as a missed opportunity for some players. Screen Rant mentioned some minor technical issues, although they did not significantly impact the overall experience. Cubed3 expressed a desire for more scripted team radio calls or additional events/objectives in the story mode to add variety. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the gameplay of F1 2021 is highly enjoyable and realistic. The gameplay mechanics are praised for their depth and immersion, with critics like God is a Geek and Push Square highlighting the wide range of skills required to control the cars effectively. The gameplay is described as engaging, rewarding, and highly customizable by GameSpew. The positive feedback from multiple critics, including AusGamers, CGMagazine, GameByte, and Forbes, further solidifies the consensus that the gameplay of F1 2021 is of high quality.

The overall sentiment regarding the Graphics and Visual Design of F1 2021 is overwhelmingly positive, with the majority of critics praising the game's visuals. The game is commended for its realistic representations of seasonal tracks and up-to-date driver stats and likenesses, as mentioned by AusGamers. CGMagazine highlights the stunning visuals, inch-perfect recreation of tracks, and impressive rain effects, particularly mentioning the reflection of the landscape in the water during rainy races. GameByte also notes the stunning detail in track rendering and improvements in wet weather effects, including impressive grass textures and rain effects. However, there are some criticisms regarding the lack of significant graphical upgrades from previous entries in the series. Game Debate mentions that the graphics haven't changed much from F1 2020, although ray tracing has been added. The reviewer from TheSixthAxis also states that while the game looks good and runs well on PlayStation 5, it doesn't offer a significant visual improvement compared to previous entries. Cubed3 echoes this sentiment, mentioning that there are no significant graphical upgrades from the previous game, with many assets being reused from previous years. Despite these minor criticisms, the overall consensus among critics is that the Graphics and Visual Design of F1 2021 are impressive. The game is praised for its attention to detail in track design, realistic car models, and utilization of next-gen console features. Critics such as Comicbook.com and God is a Geek specifically mention the lifelike cinematics, attention to detail in tracks, and great utilization of the DualSense controller. The visuals are also described as stunning, impressive, and well-rendered by critics like Metro GameCentral, Digital Chumps, and COGconnected. The game's presentation and overall visual experience are considered to be top-notch. In conclusion, F1 2021 receives high praise for its Graphics and Visual Design. The game's realistic representations of tracks, attention to detail, stunning visuals, and impressive utilization of next-gen console features contribute to its positive reception. While there are some criticisms regarding the lack of significant graphical upgrades and reused assets, the overall consensus among critics is that the game's graphics and visual design are very good.

The opinions of the critics regarding the Sound Design and Music of F1 2021 are generally positive. Many critics praised the improvements in sound design compared to its predecessor, F1 2020. Game Debate and COGconnected specifically highlighted the fantastic and realistic car sounds, with Game Debate mentioning the clear audibility of the transmission whine as a major improvement. PlayStation Country and PlayStation LifeStyle also commended the authentic engine sounds and immersive sound effects, capturing the essence of Formula racing. Cultured Vultures appreciated the increased variety in engine noises and screeching tires, contributing to a fully immersive experience. Xbox Achievements and Xbox Tavern both mentioned the authentic audio, with Xbox Achievements specifically mentioning the decent commentary, radio chatter, and the official F1 theme. However, there were a few criticisms raised by the critics. GameGrin expressed a preference for the screaming V10s of the mid-nineties, suggesting that the current car sounds did not reach the same level of greatness. PlayStation Country noted that while the engines sound authentic, the commentary remains unnatural. TheGamer mentioned that the team leader's voice can be confusing, which could potentially impact the overall sound design experience. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that F1 2021 has made significant improvements in sound design compared to its predecessor. The realistic and powerful car sounds, along with the immersive sound effects, were widely praised. The variety in engine noises and the turbo sound in the engines were also appreciated. While there were some minor criticisms, such as the preference for older car sounds and issues with the commentary, the positive feedback outweighs the negatives. F1 2021 successfully captures the essence of Formula racing and provides an authentic audio experience for players.

The opinions of the critics regarding the voice acting in F1 2021 are generally positive. PC Gamer commends the acting in the CG cut-scenes, particularly for the older teammate. PlayStation LifeStyle also praises the voice acting in the cinematic mode, stating that it helps bring the story to life. Cubed3 highlights the well-done voice acting in the story mode, specifically mentioning the inclusion of a returning character, Devon Butler, as a highlight. These positive opinions suggest that the voice acting in F1 2021 effectively enhances the overall experience and immersion of the game. However, there are some criticisms regarding the voice acting in F1 2021. Forbes mentions the lack of human speech during races, indicating a lack of voice acting in those moments. PlayStation Country points out technical issues with unvoiced responses during press conferences. These negative opinions suggest that there are certain areas in the game where the voice acting could have been improved or implemented more effectively. Overall, the critics' consensus on the voice acting in F1 2021 leans towards the positive side. The praise for the voice acting in CG cut-scenes, cinematic mode, and story mode indicates that it successfully adds depth and immersion to the game. The inclusion of a returning character and the use of the DualSense speaker in the team leader's voice are specifically highlighted as positive aspects. However, the criticism regarding the lack of voice acting during races and technical issues during press conferences suggests that there are areas where the voice acting could have been better executed. Despite these minor drawbacks, the overall sentiment is that the voice acting in F1 2021 is decent and contributes positively to the overall experience of the game.

In terms of technical performance, F1 2021 receives positive feedback across multiple gaming platforms. On PC, critics such as AusGamers and CGMagazine highlight the game's smooth performance, with AusGamers specifically mentioning that it easily hits 60 fps on most hardware. PC Gamer also mentions that the game runs well on modest modern hardware, even with Ray Tracing enabled. Additionally, Shacknews notes that the game offers 120Hz support on PS5 and Xbox Series X, along with 4K60 mode, ensuring a premium experience for console players. However, there are some negatives mentioned by the critics as well. Game Debate points out that the game now requires DX12, which may make it unplayable for those with older GPUs. GameSpew mentions screen-tearing issues on PS5, although it is expected to be fixed with a patch. Push Square also notes screen tearing during interviews and other scenes outside the car on the PS5 version. Screen Rant mentions minor technical issues such as glitches with the physics engine and persistent strategy suggestions after using the flashback option, but these problems are considered minor and do not significantly impact the overall experience. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that F1 2021 delivers a solid technical performance on all platforms. The game runs smoothly on modern hardware, with fast load times and no noticeable technical issues on PS5, as mentioned by PlayStation LifeStyle. TheSixthAxis also states that the game runs perfectly well on PlayStation 5. COGconnected praises the virtually non-existent load times on Xbox Series X, and Xbox Achievements only mentions tearing and slowdown in cut-scenes, without any significant technical performance or stability issues. This overall positive sentiment towards the technical performance of F1 2021 indicates that the developers, Codemasters, have made significant improvements from the previous installment and have optimized the game well for different gaming platforms.

The opinions of the critics regarding the replay value of F1 2021 are generally positive. Many critics highlight the game's extensive content and options for replayability. AusGamers praises the expanded career mode, custom Grand Prix creation, weekly challenges, esports features, multiplayer, co-op career modes, split-screen, and time trial, which provide a lot of content and options for replayability. PC Gamer also mentions the replay value offered by the My Team mode, classic drivers, and the ability to download real 2021 season stats. The inclusion of a cooperative Career mode is also praised by Shacknews and Stevivor, as it allows players to run through multiple seasons with a friend. Cultured Vultures also mentions the various game modes, including Career Mode, My Team, and multiplayer, as contributing to the replay value. However, there are some criticisms regarding the replay value of F1 2021. CGMagazine mentions the option to purchase cosmetic items using real money via microtransactions, which may detract from the overall replayability for some players. Game Debate suggests that the game may not be worth buying if you already own F1 2020, unless you are a hardcore F1 fan or interested in trying the new story mode called Braking Point. Screen Rant mentions that while the game offers comprehensive Career Mode and My Team mode, the limited cosmetic customization options may disappoint some players. Overall, the critics' consensus is that F1 2021 offers a significant amount of replay value. The game's extensive content, including various game modes, customization options, and cooperative features, is praised by multiple critics. The inclusion of the My Team mode, classic drivers, and the ability to download real 2021 season stats are also mentioned as factors contributing to the game's replayability. However, some critics raise concerns about microtransactions and limited cosmetic customization options. Despite these criticisms, the overall sentiment is positive, with critics highlighting the game's replay value for both casual newcomers and hardcore simulation-seekers.