Formula One 99
Cover art featuring from left to right: Jean Alesi, Michael Schumacher and Mika Häkkinen
Developer(s)Studio 33
Publisher(s)Psygnosis
SeriesFormula One
Platform(s)PlayStation, Microsoft Windows
ReleasePlayStation
  • JP: 21 October 1999
  • EU: 29 October 1999[1]
  • NA: 16 December 1999[2]
Microsoft Windows
  • EU: 10 December 1999
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Formula One 99 is a racing video game developed by Studio 33 and published by Psygnosis for PlayStation and Microsoft Windows. It is the sequel to the 1998 video game Formula 1 98 and was based on the 1999 Formula One World Championship.

Following the disappointment of Formula 1 98, and the subsequent split with Visual Science, Psygnosis hired Studio 33 to develop Formula One 99, after their successful development of Newman/Haas Racing the previous year. During production of the game, Sony completed a full acquisition of Psygnosis, making this the final Formula One game to be published under the Psygnosis name.

The game is unique in having substitute drivers appear in the game as they did in the real 1999 season (such as Mika Salo replacing Michael Schumacher for the races between Austria and Europe). A new grid editor tool was also introduced, allowing players to customise the starting grid to their own liking before a race. Despite the lack of an arcade mode that had featured in previous titles, the game was widely praised as an overwhelming improvement in comparison to the 1998 game.

Reception

The PlayStation version received "favorable" reviews according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[3] Official UK PlayStation Magazine said that the game "put the series back on track after last year's debacle", with top gameplay and a true sense of speed.[13] GameSpot praised the controls and grid editor tool.[9] IGN called it the best F1 game for PlayStation.[11] In Japan, where the PlayStation version was ported and published by Sony Computer Entertainment on October 21, 1999, Famitsu gave it a score of 28 out of 40.[5]

References

  1. ^ "PlayStation plus 4 New Releases". Daily Mirror. October 29, 1999. p. 14. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  2. ^ "Psygnosis Ships Stellar F1 99". PSX Nation. December 16, 1999. Archived from the original on February 25, 2001. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "Formula One 99 for PlayStation". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on January 19, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  4. ^ Edge staff (December 1999). "Formula One 99 (PS)". Edge. No. 78. Future plc.
  5. ^ a b "フォーミュラ ワン 99 [PS]". Famitsu (in Japanese). Enterbrain. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  6. ^ "REVIEW for Formula One 99 (PS)". GameFan. Shinno Media. January 3, 2000.
  7. ^ Anderson, Paul (January 2000). "Formula 1 '99 (PS)". Game Informer. No. 81. FuncoLand. Archived from the original on May 22, 2000. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  8. ^ The Freshman (2000). "Formula One 99 Review for PlayStation on GamePro.com". GamePro. IDG Entertainment. Archived from the original on February 15, 2005. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  9. ^ a b MacDonald, Ryan (January 4, 2000). "Formula 1 99 Review (PS) [date mislabeled as "April 28, 2000"]". GameSpot. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on August 20, 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2017.
  10. ^ Rouse, Rich (May 30, 2000). "Formula One 99 (PC)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on January 19, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  11. ^ a b Bishop, Sam (February 2, 2000). "Formula One '99 (PS)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  12. ^ "Greymatter". PlayStation Official Magazine – Australia. No. 32. March 2000. pp. 106–109. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  13. ^ a b "Formula One 99". Official UK PlayStation Magazine. No. 52. Future plc. December 1999.
  14. ^ "Formula One 99". Official U.S. PlayStation Magazine. Ziff Davis. 2000.
  15. ^ Hamm, Tom (June 2000). "Formula One 99". PC Accelerator. No. 22. Imagine Media. p. 85. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
  16. ^ Goble, Gord (2000). "Formula One 99". PC Gamer. Imagine Media. Archived from the original on March 15, 2006. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  17. ^ Hobbs, Mike. "Formula One 99". Gamers' Republic. No. 20. p. 64. Retrieved August 4, 2021.

External links

Video games based on the Formula One Championship
Sony's Formula One series
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