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Another summer brings a new Formula One game, and this time, all eyes are on the return of Braking Point, the dramatic story mode that plunges you straight into the trials and tribulations of being an F1 driver. There’s always scepticism around new sports titles, that they may only be facelifts with updated athletes and ratings, but little else in the way of meaningful improvements. While this may be the case in certain areas – we’re looking at you Career Mode – the second instalment of Braking Point and return of nemesis Devon Butler is a welcome one.
To tell the truth, after several attempts from EA to create story modes in other sports titles and the slightly underwhelming debut for Braking Point in F1 2021, hopes were not high. Sports titles are relatively limited by the bounds of realism, with fans seeking to play out their lifelong dreams in simulation form. This often leaves story and career modes feeling stilted and impersonal, with the prime example being the tale of Alex Hunter in FIFA’s long-abandoned The Journey mode.. That being said, Braking Point in F1 23 grips you from the start, with exciting cinematic clips introducing the previous storyline to anyone who needs catching up.
The rivalry between Aiden Jackson and Devon Butler is enthralling, and one that poses challenges on and off the track. As if pushing the unreliable Konnersport Racing car up the field wasn’t hard enough, you are also going toe-to-toe with your teammate. On-track challenges such as overtaking by a certain lap are where you can prove your worth, while media duties and phone calls will allow you to talk up your game when you’re not in the driving seat. All of this affects your performance and reputation, to gamify the drama-fuelled tensions F1 drivers often deal with; Verstappen and Russell being a prime example after Baku this year.
Braking Point in F1 23 is not just about Jackson though. Other characters have been introduced to the fold as you jump between Konnersport Racing Principal Andreo Konner, and up-and-coming F2 star Callie May. Switching between the F1 and F2 cars so frequently takes a lap or so to adjust, but it is a fantastic way to keep you on your toes, while also staying grounded – Jackson didn’t get that F1 seat without proving himself in the feeder series, after all. It also must be said that Braking Point is brilliantly paced this time around, as you flit between racing scenarios and multiple choice dialogue sections with all three playable characters, which goes a long way to maintaining engagement.
However, when it comes to the standard Career Mode offering, EA has taken the ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ route. This is little more than a facelift, as custom options are limited once more, with few decisions to make regarding looks, outfit, and helmet. Short interactions that contribute to driver acclaim aside, there is little in the way of personality in this mode. This means that there’s not a lot to write home about, but it is certainly the most replayable area of F1 23, with both the Driver and Team career options available. It’s all about the racing, so for those who want to experience multiple Formula One seasons back-to-back and battle the best in the business, Career Mode is certainly the best option.
Moving on from career, and F1 World has taken the place of F1 Life, although certain elements remain the same. The custom options haven’t changed, and My Place still exists where you can change the way your F1 World looks, along with your car design with badges, sponsors and basic liveries, and your avatar’s race and casual attire. Show off your trophies or check out all the current F1 and F2 cars, your own designs, and your supercars in the Showroom.
However, the biggest upgrade from F1 Life to F1 World is that it’s now like a mini team career. Work your way through the various series and earn upgrades for your car. You can also hire staff members for four pivotal roles, and decide on a sponsor, all of which contributes to on-track performance. Series, Solo, and Multiplayer Events will use your F1 World car and take into account the enhancements you have made.
When you feel ready, take your car into one of several racing options, including Ranked Multiplayer, and challenge yourself against others online. Ranked Multiplayer focuses on driver performance rather than the car, and features one-shot qualifying followed by the race with no collisions, which means it’s far more dependent on driver skill instead of car performance. Each week will offer new races and more opportunities to climb the ranks – or fall if you stop playing for a while. The ranked system has been completely overhauled too, and if you place among the top players in your 100-player group at the end of the week, you will get promoted to a higher division.
Braking Point 2 steals the show when it comes to the breadth of features on offer, especially when it comes to onboarding new players unfamiliar with Jackson’s story so far. There is emotion in Braking Point 2 that hasn’t been portrayed across other story modes. The emotion and passion on show in F1 23’s Braking Point means this is one of the best narrative modes in a sports game to date, bringing a human element that means you feel the joy, pain, frustration, and anguish of the drivers themselves. For this mode alone, F1 23 is a step up on F1 22 – though the lack of innovation in Career Mode stops F1 23 from being a truly impressive package.
Reviewed on PS5. Game provided by the publisher.
