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Formula One 99

Formula One 99
Formula One 99
PAL cover art
Developer(s) Studio 33
Publisher(s) Psygnosis
Take-Two Interactive
Platform(s) PlayStation, PC
Release PlayStation:
  • PAL: 20 October 1999
  • JP: 21 October 1999
  • NA: 31 October 1999
Windows (PC):
Genre(s) Racing
Mode(s) Single Player, Multiplayer
Review score
Publication Score
PSM 8/10

Formula One 99 is a 1999 video game developed by Studio 33 and published by Psygnosis.

The drivers on the front cover, from left to right are: Jean Alesi, Michael Schumacher and Mika Häkkinen.

Other innovations included the pit lane speed limiter and a clutch. This game was a considerable and welcome improvement upon Formula 1 98. It may have lacked an "arcade" mode or that extra polish, but Studio 33 clearly concentrated on the most important aspects of the simulation mode, leaving the addition of an arcade mode for Formula One 2000. The AI was suspect, and often cheated the player when pulling out a substantial gap, the AI would then do impossible lap times to catch up and pass. This was also inherent in the Newmann Haas Game which Studio 33 also developed. Another AI tactic was to simply pass through solid walls when trying to overtake the player. This was especially noticeable in Monaco.

Like usual, this game features in game commentary provided by Murray Walker and Martin Brundle. It was also the first F1 game to feature Jacques Villeneuve after he had prevented the use of his image and name for the 1997 and 1998 editions.

During the making of this game, Psygnosis was taken over by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe and became SCE Studio Liverpool. The game features all the drivers and tracks from the 1999 season, including the replacement drivers that were featured in the real F1 season, Mika Salo (for both BAR and Ferrari) and Stéphane Sarrazin.

All alcohol and tobacco sponsors are censored:

This game was the first Formula One PC game to this point to have a fully working safety car. The safety car was not seen again in a simulation of the sport until Codemasters released F1 2011 for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC - a gap of roughly 12 years.


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