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F1 2009

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7.8 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 27 critic reviews
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Based on 21 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Codemasters

Developer: Sumo Digital

Genre(s): Racing, Driving

Players: Multi

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Release Date: November 16, 2009

Summary

(Also known as "Formula One 2009") F1 2009 offers a fully authentic FIA Formula One championship experience with all the teams, drivers, cars and tracks from the 2009 season.

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Eurogamer

Once on-track, few F1 games have managed to be as encouraging when it comes to pushing yourself to attack corners and better your lap time, and fewer still have proved as much fun. This may not be the revolution the Formula 1 sub-genre has been waiting for, but you're not likely to find many Wii owners complaining.

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Vandal Online

This Formula 1 2009 is a good racing simulator that will be enjoyed by fans, although it should have arrived earlier, and we miss an online mode.

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Eurogamer Portugal

F1 2009 does not revolutionize the genre, but has sufficient attributes to reach the top positions and live as a landmark and reference through the most remarkable games of the sport.

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Cynamite

The realistic gameplay and the complex multiplayer make for some good points. But the graphics and the damage model could be better.

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9Lives

Codemasters can finally please all the Formula One-fans with a new game. It doesn’t disappoint, but doesn’t wow either. Real fans will have plenty to do with all the official tracks and cars. Someone looking for a simple racing experience will not entirely be satisfied. You can do a quick race, but a championship will be one of the long haul, requiring plenty of time per race.

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Official Nintendo Magazine UK

A good start for the series. It's just a shame it looks so shabby and is already out of date.

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Nintendojo

Overall, Sumo Digital has served up a pretty solid, if unspectacular, F1 racer.

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InsideGamer.nl

F1 2009 brings back the speed of the sport on the console. The framedrops are too bad, but that doesn’t change much about the fact that this is a pretty decent racing game.

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IGN UK

Delicious handling and a palpable sense of speed combine to make a game that's unique on the Wii, and while there's a feeling of an opportunity missed with the licence, for fans of the sport deprived of an F1 game for so many years this does just enough to satiate the thirst.

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Multiplayer.it

While it's definitely not a racing game that'll make your head spin, F1 2009 is indeed a much more polished game than the last Formula 1 games.

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NGamer UK

Dreary racer. [Christmas 2009, p.51]

NintendoWorldReport

While not a bad game, it doesn't do anything to stand out even amongst its relatively weak competition on Wii. It is fun, but it just doesn't last.

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SpazioGames

F1 2009 it's a good arcade-racing game. There is the license of FIA, but we haven't found a lot of boundary elements you can find on television. However the game is discrete.

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Teletext GameCentral

It's not much of a simulation but Codemasters' first F1 game is a slick and hugely entertaining racer.

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XGN

When you like to race on your Wii, at this moment this is the game you should buy!

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3DJuegos

F1 2009 reaches the finish, but it's still very far from being a winner. Not a simulator, not an arcade, but yes a reasonable option for gamers looking for F1's speed.

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VideoGamer

It's a fun game, with an impressive sense of speed and the official license fans want, but there's undoubtedly something better coming next year, on platforms that can do the sport justice. This is a perfectly competent racer, one of the best on the Wii, but it's not a classic by any stretch of the imagination.

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Zentendo

Currently it’s the only semi decent F1 racer on the market, and for those that need to fulfill that sensation of rocketing though Monte Carlo, it’s a good surrogate until a 2010 game comes out.

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Gamestyle

F1 2009 is a perfect match for the Nintendo Wii. Whilst flawed it delivers a rare gaming commodity namely fun.

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Edge Magazine

The sport's on-track jousting is potentially some of the fastest and most exhilarating source material around, but by default developers appear to struggle to present it in anything other than a dry and overly technical fashion. [Jan 2010, p.91]

Games Master UK

Official and authentic, the lack of horsepower under the Wii's bonnet hinders this F1 racer. [Winter 2009, p.70]

GamesNation

Poor style and graphics don’t make a good game, so Formula 1 Wii should not be a good game. Yet it is not a complete disaster… On the contrary it is actually quite fun to play and should be savored as a starter before the main course is served on PS3 and Xbox 360.

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Everyeye.it

It's a pity that graphics and sound have so many issues, because the main gameplay is not that bad.

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GameSpot

While there is fun to be had in F1 2009, it's a long way from being a faithful reproduction of the pinnacle of motorsport.

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Cheat Code Central

There are plenty of modes, and the career mode certainly provides plenty of flexibility, but this title just can't match the experience offered by other racing simulators.

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GameZone

F1 2009 has some great steering/controller options, but the courses are much too hectic (and require too many stops) for players to get the most out of the game.

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Game Revolution

With the right combination of driving aids on, the game is actually playable for anyone with an interest in driving around in non-ovals, but there just isn't anything here to get in a tizzy about. It's not gorgeous, it's not deep (even Career mode isn't), and it's not anything you haven't played before. And while that might not say much for what's actually here, it isn't the worst thing either system has to offer.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 7.8 (out of 10) based on 21 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Liam K gave it a9:
This is really good for a serious F1 fan, but not so much for a casual racer. I, for example, love how all the tracks and the drivers are present, as well as the tuning opportunities on the cars. The gameplay is not too easy, and can be progressively made to be more challenging with stiffer AI competition. The graphics are good, nothing like Forza 3 or anything, but easily believed. All in all, F1 2009 is a great game for any F1 fan.

Jeff L gave it a4:
I love racing games, but only have a Wii - was really looking forward to both this and the new Need For Speed game (Nitro) - I have to say, while i'm a F1 fan, NFS Nitro is a much better Wii game, better graphics, better sense of speed, love the cops and customization, but best of all is the multi player career mode is really fun, I play with my 7 year old son (i'm still able to beat him!)

anonymous gave it a9:
The game itself is very well done, and becomes fantastic when used with the Logitech Speed Force wheel for the Wii. The wheel has analog gas and brake (which isn't really advertised), and improves the driving experience with better control and less fatigue.

Pedro Tavares gave it a9:
As hard as it should be. Very rewarding gameplay. Only drawback is the framerate drop which happens once in a while. Other than that, it is awesome.

Philip P gave it an8:
This is really good for a Wii 'sim' racer. I played with anti-lock brakes and anti-skid control... mainly because of the limitations of a digital gas/brake button. Graphics are of good quality for a Wii game going for a realistic look, in car view is really nice. Full race weekend available, good career mode progression, lots of fun to play as a fan of F1. But I am waiting for the 'full simulation' xbox 360 version coming as F1 2010 in spring to play with my xbox 360 force feedback wheel.

Micheál B gave it an8:
It's been a long time coming but its been worth the wait. In F1 09 Codemasters have finally given Wii owners a decent racer that doesn't involve Mushroom Power Ups and Turtle Shells. The graphics may not rival Forza or Gran Turismo but they are much better than the preview material over the summer led us to believe. The handling is somewhere between arcade racer and racing simulator and appeals to casual gamers and hard core F1 fans alike. All drivers, teams and circuits from the season just gone are present and correct and the Career mode and Challenge events add some longevity. + Finally a decent racer for the Wii + Handling is a happy arcade/sim compromise + Great depth for those who seek it + A host of optional driver aids mean this appeals to seasoned F1 gamers and newcomers - Graphics are on a par with the last PS2 F1 game - No TV commentary - Opponent AI leaves a lot to be desired - No online options

Matt B gave it a10:
Finally a proper racing game for the Wii!! I've playing Mario Kart for over 2 years now and although it's still good fun, I've been waiting a very long time for a decent racing game for the Wii. Whereas serious Wii racing games normally are rip-offs from their big next gen brothers and sisters, F1 2009 had a proper stand-alone treatment and you can feel and see that throughout this exciting game! The handling is amazing and for Wii the graphics are not too bad, or should I say the best I've seen so far? If you want to go hardcore and do some car tweaking that's possible, but I just enjoy the (coop!) career. The racing wheel feels much better than the Mario Kart one BTW. Best Wii product for this years' holidays!

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