Review by: Nick Stewart
Published: May 18, 2000

Skill, be it overt or subtle, has often been recorded in the annals of history, immortalizing those who possess it in abundance. While certain categories of skill, such as the cultural stylings of poets and painters, have only been recognized decades and sometimes centuries after the possessors’ demise, there is one class that has almost always been instantly acknowledged: athletes. From the Olympians of Ancient Greece to the football players of today, people with obvious physical skills often achieve status on a national level, regarded as heroes by children and adults alike. Within the past couple of decades, the relatively young sport of F1 racing has bred its own share of champions, from the legendary Gilles Villeneuve to its modern icon, Michael Schumacher. The appeal that the sport and its athletes possess has not gone unnoticed by gaming developers, as an increasingly large number of offerings have been making their way onto the market and into homes across the globe.

The recently released F1 2000 is one such product, and is EA Sports’ newest effort to break into yet another athletic genre. Although they stand practically unmatched in the realm of digital sports, their previous attempts to approach simulation racing, such as Andretti Racing and NASCAR Revolution, were met with mixed reviews. As such, fans have been rather cautious about the whole affair, curious to see if the famous developer / publisher could finally produce a simulation pro racing title that could definitively be nailed down as a good, solid game.

To address these concerns, EA Sports has reproduced in great detail most every imaginable aspect of the FIA Formula One World Championship. With the focus lying on utter realism, you are placed in the shoes of any one of 23 actual F1 drivers from the 11 licensed teams, including the new Jaguar team. As such, your goal is to sufficiently hone your skills to win the Drivers Championship and aid your team in winning the Constructors Championship after competing in the 17 World Championship races. Though the choice of racers doesn’t particularly affect your performance on the track, it does affect which team you’re in, and consequently your chances of beating out the other teams for the Constructors Championship title. For example, selecting Jacques Villeneuve will partner you with Ricardo Zonta as part of the British American Racing team, and selecting Michael Schumacher will net you a spot on the Ferrari team alongside Rubens Barrichello. Although you may alter the name of your selected racer, the cars remain the same as their real-life counterparts, from their colors right down to their corporate sponsorship.

Fans of F1 racing will gladly find that the tracks are just as recognizable as those who race on them. From the classic Italian Monza circuit to Australia’s Albert Park, each track closely reflects what can be seen on television, down to the slightest twist or turn. As the game pins its hopes on giving players a glimpse of the upcoming 2000 season rather than the previous one, the well-known and recently appointed Formula One Indianapolis circuit has also been included. These circuits each possess their own visual style and racing flair, providing a completely different experience with each passing event.