Game Review: Formula 1 Simulator (MSX, Mastertronic)

As with some of the other earlier Mastertronic releases, Ed Hickman handled the conversion duties from the original version for both the MSX and the Amstrad CPC, such as Chiller, Finders Keepers and this game. This took on the original Spirit Software version released (complete with the infamous “steering wheel”) and was based on that rather than the Shaun Southern version which appeared on the Commodore machines. As such, this would be more of a simulation of driving around tracks rather than an arcade style Pole Position clone, so would definitely need more attention and concentration when playing.

First impressions are reasonable, with the loading screen resembling the ZX Spectrum version and showing a Formula 1 car on track with a Mastertronic logo on the top left. Loading is relatively quick and before long, you will start to hear the title theme, which was based on a Rob Hubbard original he made as a basis for conversion. The MSX version at least sounds more in tune than the Amstrad one does, and this plays whilst you browse through the tracks to make your selection when starting the game.

And That’s the Disadvantage of Getting Your Line Wrong

There are ten circuits to choose from, based on what were popular circuits used in the early 1980s, and their corresponding layouts. This includes both Silverstone and Brands Hatch from Great Britain as well as Monaco, with the other tracks being Hockenheim (Germany), Kyalami (South Africa), Monza (Italy), Österreichring (Austria), Paul Ricard (France), Zandvoort (Netherlands), and Zolder (Belgium) – with a nice little track layout graphic showing you the circuit beforehand. Once you have chosen your track, you then choose whether you would like manual or automatic gears. You do go faster on manual, but you may find the car more difficult to get the gearing right for certain corners.

Once selected, the game will randomly tell you if the track is dry or wet. In wet weather, cornering can prove to be a more difficult exercise, so do bear in mind. You are then thrust into qualifying – one lap from a standing start around the circuit to see how you do. You accelerate with up, brake with down and steer left or right, all with the cursor keys or joystick. Space (or fire) with up or down changes gear, with the status display at the top flashing red if you are over-revving in the current gear. The display at the top of the screen shows the speed, RPM, the gear, time taken, position (if in the race) and the lap number. At the bottom is your car from cockpit view, with the hands on the steering wheel turning when you turn a corner. The track is from that cockpit view 3D perspective in high resolution.

Always Crashing in the Same Car

As you approach a bend, there are countdown markers in yellow on the outside of the bend to indicate which direction the bend will be, so if the markers are on the left, you are approaching a right turn. Once you start to turn, you will see that depending on the corner, the track curves around, but you may need to go at a slower speed. Any going off on to the grass, no matter how slight, results in your car crashing, and it is game over. This can be particularly unforgiving when learning the game and the circuits, and also it is sometimes easy to hold off the direction for a split second and then realise that you needed to keep it there for a tighter turn. Practice is something that you will need to do, inevitably.

If you do manage to get around a lap, and in a reasonable time, you will qualify for the race itself, with your starting position based on the lap time you recorded. The other cars line up ahead of you, and all do seem a lot smaller. There is also no lights or green flag to indicate when to go – you just go off with the hope you have accelerated early enough to keep pace. When there are several other cars on screen, the action does slow down somewhat including the frame rate of the track approaching ahead. This can sometimes make cornering more difficult because the smoothness that you may have had in qualifying is not there. The same rules apply as in qualifying too – if you hit the grass just a bit, the car is crashed and game over.

Excuse Me Whilst I Interrupt Myself

Whilst the game can slow down with action on screen, at least the controls do remain relatively responsive. The joystick or cursor keys are equally so, and the sensible design decision to use the MSX’s cursor keys and space is very welcome. You can though over-respond when coming out of a corner, so it is important to start to straighten up a little even before you exit the corner. One other thing I did notice was that the braking could be quite brutal in terms of slowing the car down, but in some cases that did allow you to brake for a corner and actually make it without crashing, albeit at a slower speed, so worthy of note nonetheless.

It is also hard to tell which track is which at times because everything looks the same. While this may have been due to ensuring the game ran at a reasonable speed, it does also mean that to get the bearings on a circuit may require a good practice session, so maybe a practice mode from the title screen for each track would have been nice to have, as well as going straight to race mode without having to faff around qualifying every time, and pushing too much meaning you crash before you even get chance to race. It is a fine line and sometimes a little too fine.

Graphics and Sound

The graphics in Formula 1 Simulator are reasonable, with the drivers’ cockpit and the way the hands turn the wheel in the corners being a nice touch. The backdrops of the track are too plain though, with nothing there to enhance the feeling of being there. The countdown markers display well but the yellow on green used can be a bit difficult to see at times, maybe white on green may have worked better. The track layouts on the track select screen are also nicely drawn. Sound effects are just the drone of the engine, the braking sound and a loud noise when you crash, but the title theme is a nice little piece of music based on Rob Hubbard’s Commodore 64 classic theme, and done much nicer than the Amstrad CPC version.

Final Thoughts

Formula 1 Simulator replicates the original ZX Spectrum release in that it is genuinely more of a simulation of racing rather than be an arcade racer. The difficulty can be sometimes unforgiving, especially when learning a new circuit and find that you have gone just that bit too fast on one corner and hit the grass. The slow down when other cars are on screen when in race mode is unfortunate, and it could have easily been made a lot better with time. Having ten tracks to select from is nice, but maybe like the original, having the option for a dry or wet track and being able to race rather than have to go through qualification every time would have worked better. It is a playable conversion and at least gave MSX owners the game that would go on to be Mastertronic’s biggest seller for this system.

* * *

You know what we think but why not share your thoughts on this game! Let us know what you think of it in the comments below, or add your own score using the slider in the summary box at the top of the review!

Please follow and like us: