F1 Manager 2024 Review (PS5): I Couldn't Have Any Fun

It's like one of the discussions we had about philosophy. If two people look at the same hand, they will see different things, as life is about perspective. With that in mind, please acknowledge that the following review is just my point of view, and you could feel completely different about it.

I played F1 Manager 2024 for the first time a few months ago to give you a preview of the title Frontier Developments was still working on. I'll be honest with you: it was quite boring. But keep in mind what I said earlier about my dad. Boring to me doesn't necessarily mean it will feel boring to you.

But you must fit a certain description to enjoy playing this game. For one, you need to be a hardcore F1 enthusiast. Anyone who likes racing would enjoy playing F1 2024, but that doesn't apply to F1 Manager 2024. The amount of information the game bombards you with dabbles on the border between tiresome and annoying. If you don't know everything about F1 tech, development, strategies, and so on, you're in for a rough ride.

Sure, letting the game know you're a beginner will immediately prompt you with a series of virtual assistants that incessantly send you emails and notifications about what's coming next. But that doesn't mean they'll solve all your problems. Some of you will enjoy creating a new team and designing liveries and colors, but it all feels stale whenever you compare it to Gran Turismo 7.

Well, at least that's true from a certain perspective. Creating a new team requires many decisions: which drivers you plan on using, which team members, and so on. Crafting the right team will be tricky, but it might be more satisfactory than just choosing an existing one.

I'm not technically savvy enough to tell you if the parts development part of the game is accurate, although I presume it's a lightweight take on the real world. But looking at the sponsors part of the experience, it's all a joke. You just have to push a few buttons, and the money's yours, which never happens in the real world. Lightweight or not, the development program has many aspects to consider. When designing a new suspension, you must decide how many hours some of your team members will spend in aerodynamic testing.

You'll have velocity, downforce, cooling, airflow, and durability indicators to monitor. I will admit it's interesting to observe how every little tweak you make affects the result: top speed could increase by 0.05 kph down the road, while tire preservation could be 1.10% more effective than before installing the new part.

Understanding these changes will take time; I guess it will also look at the sport in a new light. When you're done with suspension work, you realize that's just scratching the surface: the chassis, front wing, rear wing, sidepods, and underfloor also require your input. Time is a limited resource, and you must choose your every move wisely.

Playing the game almost felt like I was stuck in the Matrix, having to work a job that doesn't pay and living a life that doesn't offer any rewards. What's even worse, I was so overwhelmed by the information and annoyed by the game format that I opted to simulate every session. Except for one occasion where the game tells you to try a hands-on approach, you can just have the game do all the work for you while you just keep pressing the right buttons to pass the time.

Sometimes, you get good results; sometimes, you don't. Even if you decide to manage the session, you're just watching the race from afar. I would prefer driving, but there are plenty of race management options to explore if you want to get involved. You can communicate with your drivers by telling them to increase their pace or slow down.

Every input you give them consists of some risk: they could crash, overheat the engine, or be required to pit early if their tires are no longer good. Making the wrong calls is still important as it will help you improve your strategy for future events. If you would rather your team members made all the decisions for you, sitting back and watching the race is an option, too.

I liked using the onboard camera for a more dynamic perspective of the weekend, but the bird's eye view will certainly be more efficient for decision-making. If you think you have genuine race-management skills, just apply for the real thing: you'll get paid, be close to the action, and make something of your life. The entire game feels like an ensemble of menus with no real action: it takes me back to some of the forgotten games I've experienced in the '90s.

Either the studio had to work with a tight budget or forgot to add the fun factor. Of course, we may all have a different definition of "fun." I played the game on my PS5 console this time, and the graphics were not as good as on my PC. The music is so generic that you'll forget about it when you turn off the game: meanwhile, I still enjoy listening to old NFS or Gran Turismo soundtracks while driving.

Of course, it could be hard to focus on the music if you want to pay attention to all the details that require your attention. Some of my friends who enjoy tuning engines or just building cars instead of driving them might have fun with F1 Manager 2024.

I've seen mixed reviews on Steam and other platforms: some people think it's good, others dislike it even more than I did. All I knew was I needed to return to Gran Turismo 7 for an hour just to calm down. Get ready to spend $44.99 for the Deluxe Edition (whatever Deluxe means these days).

Conclusion

My conclusion is this: I'd rather play with my Hot Wheels cars than have another go at this game. Maybe I'm too obsessed with driving, or I'm just becoming a grumpy old bastard. Games are supposed to be fun, and I couldn't find any in F1 Manager 2024.

As I mentioned in my preview, F1 super fans will probably be good at this game while also enjoying it. If you'd love to dive deeper into the world of Formula One, this game might be a good place to start.

I'll rate it mostly for the development effort and the clear desire for authenticity; it would take some convincing to have me personally consider trying out the next title in the franchise when it comes out.

Rating: 70/100