• ID = PS0266
• STYLE = Formula 1 - Indy Racing
• DEV. = EA SPORTS
• PUB. = EA SPORTS
• R-DATE = Dec-20-2000
• ESRB = E / For Everyone
• PLAYERS = 1-2 players
• LIST PRICE = $29.99
  

Formula one racing makes its first appearance on the PlayStation 2 with F1 CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON 2000. Since the game is fully licensed by the F1 Association, all of the drivers, teams, and tracks from the 2000 season are included. When you are ready to race there are five modes of play to choose from: Race Now, Multiplayer, Single Grand Prix, Custom Championship, and Full Championship. As an added bonus, the Multiplayer mode supports up to four players with a multi-tap. Since the 17 tracks included in the game have unique conditions, there are a number of options you can use to fine-tune your car including tire type, down force, gear ratios, and fuel load. If you love F1 racing, you can get into the drivers seat with F1 CHAMPIONSHIP SEASON 2000.

• 22 drivers
• 17 tracks
• Five modes of play
• Multi-tap support

For statistical die-hards the game is up to date until Spring 2001, which some may perceive as an advantage over Formula One Grand Prix 3 . If your machine is powerful enough, all the visual trimmings to make the race the way it's watched at home can be re-enabled.

The radio link purports to be the same as heard by real-life drivers. In real life it's doubtful that common sense is spelled out to the driver like, for example, the necessity of staying on the track. It's another feature that would be tried and forgotten other than for the lap time updates--if you don't have the seconds necessary to read the onscreen displays.

Then there is the pace lap, EA's homage to televised Formula One racing coverage. Sadly it's a waste of time when you want to get your hands dirty competing. It's not all bad, however, and the best new feature is the driving school where your general skills are tested, including achieving a certain manoeuvre or distance in a given number of seconds, and graded by shades of medal. As a training mode it's quite effective.

That training is affected when set to ultra-realistic and the cars slide across the track as if still in arcade mode. The physics have improved, but in the benchmark GP3 the car's visual reaction fits the handling. If you have the original EA F1 2000 , it's best waiting for the inevitable 2001 edition for this problem to be addressed rather than settling for this interim update. -- Kenneth Henry