Metacritic Games

F1 Career Challenge (Playstation 2)

Start as a rookie Formula One driver. If you prove your worth by passing a range of superlicense tests, you can take your place among the elite drivers competing in the world's fastest and most glamorous motor sport. To succeed, you’ll have to work hard, as your reputation determines how far your career can take you. Hone your skills to make the improvements that will show over four successive seasons (1999–2002) on the Formula One circuit as you make your drive for the championship.

Electronic Arts
Racing, Simulation
Players: 4
E (Everyone)
Developer: EA Sports
Released June 23, 2003

Overall Metascore

This is a weighted, normalized average of all individual scores given by critics, on a scale of 0 (worst) to 100 (best).

70 / 100

Critic Reviews

100 Official U.S. Playstation Magazine
EA Sports has been gradually enhancing the presentation of F1 over the past few years, and this time, it's stunning. [Aug 2003, p.97]
89 TotalGames.net
This is possibly the best Formula One game we have played for quite some time and provides a totally entertaining experience.
86 BBC Sport
The difficulty level, although frustrating at first, certainly adds longevity to the game.
80 Games Radar UK (Pre-2006)
Four seasons for the price of one is quite a little bonus, and the F1 action is sound. But there are plenty of better 'pure' racers.[GamesMaster]
79 Gamezilla!
Although one of the better F1 racing games around, it seems like F1 Career Challenge might need to add some air to their tires.
76 GameSpot
Basically an enhanced version of F1 2002, giving you the opportunity to create your own driver and take him through all four of the previous F1A racing seasons that occurred between 1999 and 2002.
74 IGN
The ability to race the previous four seasons is awesome and the sense of speed is simply unparalleled.
70 Game Informer
While F1 driving demands a high skill level, I don't appreciate how your car's handling lacks that fine touch. [Aug 2003, p.91]
60 PSX Nation
The absence of the 2003 line-up of F1 racers/teams, needless ‘dumbing down’ of the prequel’s simulation aspects, average-at-best audio and superior PS2 product (namely Infogrames/Atari’s “Grad Prix Challenge”) bring Career Challenge’s worth down to rental status instead of must-own.
60 Total Video Games
If you like racing games generally then it is hard to pick this over "Toca Race Driver" or "Ferrari 355," the former offering the best racing experience, the latter one of the best driving experiences.
55 GameSpy
The worst, and most important thing about F1 Career Challenge, is the jerky handling I mentioned earlier. It takes about an hour of game time to get acclimated to it. Even after that, the cars are nearly impossible to drive smoothly, and it never really feels like you are in total control.
55 Sports Gaming Network
The AI flaws and problems with vehicle control bring the title down. The career mode is an interesting but not enough to maintain the title.
50 Eurogamer
For anyone who has either of the last two EA F1 games, don't bother, unless the idea of building an F1 career specifically appeals to you. For us, it just smacks of more of the same.
49 Operation Sports
With all the things that left me scratching my head wondering how it made it in the game I just wonder why they released a product with as many glaring flaws as they have in this.
40 G4 TV
Fans of F1 racing may be able to put up with the game's lack of features and frustrating nature. This simply isn't a racing game, however, that will appeal to a mainstream audience or win any new fans for the sport.

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