Formula One Championship Edition

 PlayStation 3
  • Publisher: SCEA
  • Release Date: Feb 27, 2007
Metascore
74

Mixed or average reviews - based on 55 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 55
  2. Mixed: 21 out of 55
  3. Negative: 2 out of 55
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  1. 1UP
    75
    Lovers of Formula One will get a huge kick out of the way it wallows in the culture of the sport...That said though, its biggest flaw is that, rather than providing you with an experience that makes you feel like a Formula One driver, it instead seems to require that you practically need the skills of one to truly succeed.
  2. AceGamez
    90
    The best pure racing simulation I've ever played - F1 is to Burnout what Microsoft Flight Simulator is to Ace Combat.
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  3. Boomtown
    80
    A great recreation of the sport and a fine game to boot and is perhaps my favourite title among the PlayStation 3 launch line-up.
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  5. Cheat Code Central
    88
    Don't look for it to shatter any sales records here in the U.S., but if you're looking for a technical racer that requires attention to be placed on tire wear, rather than the unlocking of vinyl decals, you will be in for a real treat.
  6. DailyGame
    84
    It looks and sounds "next-gen," and the career mode is definitely deep, but it might be a bit intimidating for casual fans who just want to hop into a Grand Prix race and play. It could also benefit from more people actually playing online.
  7. DarkStation
    80
    Formula One has steadily garnered some following, and Sony has finally done the sport justice with this realistically thrilling racing experience.
  8. Digital Entertainment News
    75
    It's an astounding racer that offers a lot of depth and reward to dedicated players, but might scare away the novices.
  9. Extreme Gamer
    85
    This is one pure racing experience that will test your skill while dragging you deep into the detail and testing world of Formula One racing.
  10. Game Chronicles
    88
    Formula One Championship Edition is easily the best F1 racing game console gamers have had the privilege of playing. Thanks to the power of the PS3 and Sony’s painstaking attention to every last detail, the console is now capable of delivering a sim experience that was previously reserved for high-end PC’s.
  11. Game Informer
    80
    These drivers get treated like absolute superstars, and ungodly amounts of money get poured into these racing programs, but that’s not conveyed enough here. I don’t want a caviar-eating minigame, but I think the series should reflect that F1 is about more than just fast cars.
  12. Game Revolution
    75
    The hyper-realism is impressive at first, but Championship Edition lacks the flash and fanfare of most racing games. The mild weather conditions and tiring voiceover do little to shake up the core game.
  13. GamePro
    100
    Clearly, the power of the PS3 has been successfully harnessed because the game's speedy gameplay does not come with any sacrifice to graphical quality. The cars, environments, and race tracks all look close to photorealistic.
  14. GamerNode
    79
    A strong racing title for hardcore F1 fans or purists of the racing genre. While the gameplay is its strong suit, the problematic graphics, lack of good sound engineering and long qualifying rounds may have some gamers losing patience with this title.
  15. Gamers' Temple
    78
    The most accessible F1 racing game to date.
  16. Games Master UK
    79
    Technically excellent, if dry, representation of the sport. [Apr 2007, p.79]
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  17. GameShark
    91
    Rich visuals and loads of gameplay options ensure your experience will be a positive one, packed with simulated Formula One racing that is surprisingly accessible.
  18. GameSpy
    80
    F1 is a tough sport, but it's a wonderful one. Championship Edition captures that astonishingly well, although it stumbles with fully implementing the online features, and the lack of force feedback is murderously noticeable.
  19. GameZone
    80
    This is a game built for the driving sim fan that likes micro-managing car setup and doing a lot of work. The controls are responsive, and the AI is also very good.
  20. Gaming Nexus
    90
    The collection of innovative features and seriously sweet eye candy in Sony's Formula One Championship Edition set a new standard in console-based racing games.
  21. Gaming Target
    80
    Formula One Championship Edition’s high-definition graphics, intense sense of speed and ability to be appeal to rookie and veterans alike makes me happy that the franchise finally reappeared in North America.
  22. GamingExcellence
    76
    Formula One Championship Edition provides a good balance of arcade and simulation gameplay.
  23. GamingTrend
    83
    The game is a triumph for simulation fans, and is moderately accessible to new players.
  24. IC-Games
    88
    F1 fans will enjoy this game without reservation. F1 fanatics will love this game and want to take it to bed, with the profound amount of customizability that may find Fernando Alonso scratching his head in places.
  25. PALGN
    75
    The fact that it controls superbly well and contains some of the best tracks in the world means that if you’re a racing game fan you could almost completely ignore that this is an F1 game and enjoy it solely on its driving merits.
  26. PGNx Media
    85
    The game’s graphics are great although not phenomenal when compared to upcoming PS3 games like "Motorstorm."
  27. Play Magazine
    90
    Progressive damage, super real lighting and weather effects, and full surround audio make it the vision of next-gen; great gameplay makes it incredibly addicting fun, and six-axis control makes it unique. [Apr 2007, p.47]
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  28. PSM Magazine
    80
    Not to worry though, Formula One Championship Edition offers some of the truest-to-life driving we've seen, while also being the Burger King of F1 racers--you can have it your way. [May 2007, p.72]
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  29. PSX Extreme
    87
    A superb racing game. Enthusiasts of the motorsport will eat this up and ask for more. Everything about this game is a quality product, from the visuals to the gameplay.
  30. Pure Magazine UK
    90
    Even rookie racers can pick up and play without spending too much time getting frustrated at the handling. [Mar 2007, p.54]
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  31. TotalPlayStation
    85
    This is technical racing at its best. Sure, it has an absolutely mammoth difficulty to overcome, but they're lessons that actually make you a better driver, and as one of the most exacting sims out there, it's like almost nothing else.
  32. VideoGamer
    80
    While it's by no means a perfect recreation of the sport, it does a lot of things very well. Casual fans might be best advised to stay away though, unless prepared to invest a lot of time into learning circuits and how to drive the incredibly powerful cars.
  33. Yahoo!
    80
    In the long run, we love F1's purity; while it can seem too much at first, the stringent driving model is ideally suited for Formula One racing. An arcade leaning would make the game more accessible for a broader audience, but would also sell short the enthusiast appeal of the sport.

Awards & Rankings

45
#45 Best PS3 Game of 2007
23
#23 Most Discussed PS3 Game of 2007
42
#42 Most Shared PS3 Game of 2007

User Reviews

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User Score
8.4

Generally favorable reviews- based on 78 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 66 out of 78
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 78
  3. Negative: 9 out of 78
  1. JamesJensen
    Nov 11, 2008
    10
    The reason the "professional" game reviews are relatively low is because this game is HARD. Guess what? So is driving an F1 car. This gameThe reason the "professional" game reviews are relatively low is because this game is HARD. Guess what? So is driving an F1 car. This game appeals to die hards like me who enjoy having to run an error free race just to barely win by 2 seconds. Career mode is fun, but full of conceptual errors, such as when you are promoted to first driver, the original first driver is relegated to test driver (why would Renault bench Alonso rather than Fisichella???). During the race, it's also annoying how you are the only one who will ever spin on oil. And in the rain, it's aggravating how all the other drivers are only a few seconds off the dry pace while remaining on the dry racing line. But all in all, this is a great driving game, and a must have for anyone who takes their driving seriously.… Full Review »
  2. ItsHimAgain
    Sep 12, 2010
    10
    This is one my all-time favorite racing games. In fact, I had never even watched an F1 race prior to getting this game. I enjoyed it soThis is one my all-time favorite racing games. In fact, I had never even watched an F1 race prior to getting this game. I enjoyed it so much, I actually now follow the F1 series in real-life and enjoy it.

    If you are into "simulation" type racing you will not be disappointed with this one. I would recommend that you definitely use a racing wheel however as that is much better than trying to control your car with a regular controller.    … Full Review »
  3. ScottR.
    Mar 31, 2008
    10
    I wasn't totally sure what to expect from this game as I had never played an F1 racing game before. I chose to ignore the critics I wasn't totally sure what to expect from this game as I had never played an F1 racing game before. I chose to ignore the critics reviews and base my decision to purchase the game on the user reviews which scored the game 8.9. I am very glad I made that decision. I am practically obsessed with this game. I love the realistic driving physics and damage. The visuals are incredible and the difficulty has so much customization that you can keep turning off the driving aids as you get better at the game so the challenge is always relative to your skill level. This is the best driving I have ever played.… Full Review »
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