Games based on Formula 1 have never been the domain for the casual or arcade racing fan, and Codemasters' F1 2012 is certainly no exception.
This is a driving game for the F1 enthusiast: someone who sits in their Toyota Corolla and simulates the high-pitched scream of an F1 car while going through the gears; someone who has a chart on their wall mapping qualifying lap times. Of course, there are obligatory driving aids to ease newcomers into the skills required to navigate a four-wheeled rocketship around a ribbon of tarmac, but using them is like sneaking a look at the solution to a Sudoku puzzle - sure, you'll complete the puzzle, but the feeling of accomplishment is a hollow one.
Then there is the false sense of security with the likes of braking assist - one that's quickly realised when it's removed and you make a beeline for a concrete wall on the first corner.
The most realistic F1 simulation to date is meant to be experienced as such - with your force-feedback steering wheel, foot pedals and taking into account the information fed to you by your team, tyres and the conditions on the track.
Where F1 2011 rewarded a gung-ho attitude, F1 2012 has been totally rebuilt and the heavy-footed/thumbed driver will not last long.
