F1 Challenge Game Sample - Sega Saturn
0Known as "F-1 Live Information" in Japan, F1 Challenge is an acceptable arcade-style F1 racing game developed by Bell Corporation and published by Virgin Interactive between 1995 and 1996, and promotes FOCA (or the "Formula One Constructors Association"). There isn't much to say about it.
The game supports a few basic options and the ability to practice (Time Attack) or race through (Arcade Mode) six stages (technically four) of varying design and difficulty (partially real and made up). Using some of the top racers of the 1995 F-1 season (Michael Schumacher, Mika Hakkinen,Jean Alesi, Ukyo Katayama, and Damon Hill), you drive multiple laps around circuits and the goal is, like in F-1, to make the best laps and maintain your stability to gain the best position as this game focuses on longer endurance races than shorter sessions. You're allowed very basic customization options to alter each drivers' car's performance as well, though car handling in general is pretty responsive. One thing that's bothersome is that the game doesn't have qualifying laps.
The visuals are average; the game moves at a fairly slow pace when driving in rear-view mode, but the framerate is very smooth if you drive in third-person view. The game also has tons of graphics pop-up (some stages are worse than others), most background details are very pixilated or difficult to make out, and the track designs as a whole are mediocre. On the plus side, it features a crisp opening movie and many legitimate advertisements and authentic F-1 references/details. The soundtrack is nice (mostly jazz and rock), though the Japanese game substitutes music during the races with live commentary for added realism. Between the two, I personally prefer music during the races.
The game overall is a decent, fairly early Saturn racing game, but with few real unlockables or noteworthy secrets to unearth, the game is a little boring and doesn't compare to more quality racing titles like Daytona U.S.A., Sega Rally or Andretti Racing, but is a decent diversion in its own right. This is a video of the game in action. Enjoy.