Formula One World Championship: Beyond the Limit/Magazine articles

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File Date Source Title and comments
Logo-pdf.svg 1994-02-08 Beep! MegaDrive (JP), "March 1994" "Mega-CD Press"
The game is reported as 70% complete.
Logo-pdf.svg 1994-02-08 Beep! MegaDrive (JP), "March 1994" "Mega-CD Press"
The game is reported as 80% complete.
Logo-pdf.svg 1994-03-31 Edge (UK), "May 1994" as F1 World Championship 1993: Heavenly Symphony. The preview begins by addressing the lack of Mega CD games by Japanese developers, including Sega themselves, and that this game could briefly bring the system back to life. Sega and Fuji Television's deal October 1993 deal in this Sega-programmed game that makes use of footage recorded by Fuji Television. It will include every event from the 1993 series, 25 cars and 16 cars, ensured to be as realistic as possible with the help of a "well known Japanese Formula 1 journalist". Both GP Mode and '93 F1 Mode are covered, as is what the writer thinks must be the same 3D scaling graphics used in Thunderhawk and the bonus game in Sonic CD, not unlike Mode 7 used by the SNES. They hope that an English version will eventually release as a replacement for the ageing Super Monaco GP.
Logo-pdf.svg 1994-xx-xx 576 KByte (HU), "Március 1994"
Logo-pdf.svg 1994-04-08 Beep! MegaDrive (JP), "May 1994" "BE-Mega dog race"
The game description reads "An extenstive F1 racing game designed and production in cooperation with Fuji TV. Not only does it include a large amount of treasured film, every course is faithfully recreated. Supervised by Kazuhito Kawai."

Reviews consider the game appealing to F1 fans with its impressive cinematics and realism, but the gameplay is generally considered to be very bad. Game beginner girl 青山ようこ, who loves the opening, is the most lenient on the gameplay, simply saying it is for very skilled users, so it's a purchase to be wary of, but a game that has to be seen. Foreign game user OLIX光治 is an F1 fan who was severely disappointed by the jerky game mechanics, but gives props for the idea of faithfully recreating the 1993 World Championship, suggesting it might have been better if it focused more on the simulation elements. Game mania group ハイローラーズ's ロ commends it for the surreal feeling of seeing so many real-world racers in the game (sans those whose contracts meant they had to be excluded) and finds the gameplay all the more disappointing for it, recommending gamers wait for a price drop. General game user ジャムおじさん thinks the in-game graphics look very bad compared to the Cinepak videos, but still communicates its authenticity. Settings, the screen layout and quick turns are good bits, while nitpicks include sound and processing failure when in tunnels.

Review
Version Rating Awards Calculated score
NTSC-J 7/10   6/10   5/10   7/10
63
[Info]
1994-04-15 Famitsu (JP), "1994-04-29" "Cross review"
Actual ratings breakdown unknown, needs correcting when actual breakdown known.

Review
Version Rating Awards Calculated score
NTSC-J 6.5/10
65
[Info]
1994-04-30 Hippon Super (JP), "June 1994" "TV game・broad-way"
Review
Version Rating Awards Calculated score
NTSC-J 6/10
60
[Info]
Logo-pdf.svg 1994-05-26 Edge (UK), "July 1994" as F1 World Championship 1993: Heavenly Symphony. A running gag throughout the article is to mention the cows seen in the background. Despite being hopeful in its previous preview, Edge has soured on the game now that they have played it. They note that, still only being in the Japanese language, the tactical advice offered in-between rounds can't be used, nor are the tactics innovative in the racing genre. The graphics are also noted to have been designed to look good if players would play the game as intended, but fall apart when investigating further, lampooning the 3D scaling and collision detection. They deduce that the game's problems stem from Sega working much harder to ensure the accuracy of real-life events, which can then confuse players unfamiliar with F1, instead of designing a game that ends up being inferior what was possible on 8-bit consoles.
Review
Version Rating Awards Calculated score
4/10
40
[Info]
Logo-pdf.svg 1994-06-08 MAN!AC (DE), "07/94"
Review
Version Rating Awards Calculated score
PAL 88% It's a Man!ac
88
[Info]
Logo-pdf.svg 1994-06-16 Mega (UK), "July 1994" Paul Mellerick, who has played Mega Drive since the Japanese launch, mocks the Heavenly Symphony title. This is followed by a lot of background waffle so that discussing the very simple gameplay can be put off. This includes comparing the viewpoint to previous F1 games and the bad 3D scaling, as well as there being a great amount of detail on the intended track while visuals off the beaten path are comparatively primitive. The gameplay is summed up as getting everything wrong, as oversteering is too common and poor collision detection makes it very easy to accidentally veer off-course. The FMVs are nice and famous racers (Damon Hill for exapme), but Paul says to just look at the screenshots and leave. Sound is one of the highly-rated elements, but is not discussed.
Review
Version Rating Awards Calculated score
NTSC-J 37%
37
[Info]
Logo-pdf.svg 1994-06-16 Sega Pro (UK), "July 1994" Writer Nick 'Brum, Brum' Roberts praises it as the next step in racing simulation following Virtua Racing and OutRunners. The excellently used and presented FMV is Nick's highlight. The different modes are discussed, 1993 Mode being the most exciting for F1 fans, and Pete mentioning it as a highlight. Gameplay is remarked as being difficult, so players will need to ease into it and build their confidence. Mark says there is a lot of driving action to be found.

Review
Version Rating Awards Calculated score
NTSC-J 90% Yo!
90
[Info]
Logo-pdf.svg 1994-06-22 Mega Fun (DE), "07/94"
Review
Version Rating Awards Calculated score
NTSC-J 84%
84
[Info]
Logo-pdf.svg 1994-06-23 Mega Power (UK), "July 1994"
Review
Version Rating Awards Calculated score
NTSC-J 92% Mega Blast
92
[Info]
1994-06-30 GamesMaster (UK), "July 1994"
Review
Version Rating Awards Calculated score
47%
47
[Info]
Logo-pdf.svg 1994-0x-xx Joypad (FR), "Juillet/Août 1994"

Review
Version Rating Awards Calculated score
NTSC-J 89%
89
[Info]
Logo-pdf.svg 1994-07-07 Sega Power (UK), "August 1994"

Review
Version Rating Awards Calculated score
NTSC-J 51%
51
[Info]
Logo-pdf.svg 1994-08-xx Sega Magazine (UK), "September 1994"
Review
Version Rating Awards Calculated score
PAL 78%
78
[Info]
Logo-pdf.svg 1994-0x-xx Todo Sega (ES), "Septiembre 1994"
Review
Version Rating Awards Calculated score
86%
86
[Info]
Logo-pdf.svg 1994-09-07 Play Time (DE), "10/94"

Review
Version Rating Awards Calculated score
86%
86
[Info]
Logo-pdf.svg 1994-09-15 Computer & Video Games (UK), "October 1994"

Review
Version Rating Awards Calculated score
63%
63
[Info]
Logo-pdf.svg 1994-09-21 Mega Fun (DE), "10/94"
Review
Version Rating Awards Calculated score
NTSC-U 86% Gold Game
86
[Info]
Logo-pdf.svg 1994-09-28 Video Games (DE), "10/94"

Review
Version Rating Awards Calculated score
NTSC-U 81% Classic
81
[Info]
Logo-pdf.svg 1994-xx-xx Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US), "October 1994"

Review
Version Rating Awards Calculated score
NTSC-U D
25
[Info]
Logo-pdf.svg 1994-xx-xx Game Players (US), "Vol. 7 No. 10 October 1994" The game is listed as developed by Fuji Television. Written by Darrell Sasagawa, who notes that beginners will struggle with the game, but becomes very fun when mastered. They explain that the 2 keys to doing well are paying attention to what cars do well on which courses and learning the tracks. The grand prix mode and 1993 mode are mentioned.
Review
Version Rating Awards Calculated score
NTSC-U 77%
77
[Info]
Logo-pdf.svg 1994-0x-xx Mega Force (FR), "Septembre 1994" "Zapping"
As Beyond the Limits.

Review
Version Rating Awards Calculated score
PAL 71%
71
[Info]
Logo-pdf.svg 1994-xx-xx Sega Megazone (AU), "October 1994"
Review
Version Rating Awards Calculated score
55%
55
[Info]
Logo-pdf.svg 1994-xx-xx VideoGames (US), "October 1994"
Review
Version Rating Awards Calculated score
NTSC-U 7/10
70
[Info]
Logo-pdf.svg 1994-xx-xx GamePro (US), "November 1994" "The Sports Page"

Review
Version Rating Awards Calculated score
NTSC-U
Graphics: 3.5 Sound: 3 Gameplay: 3.5 FunFactor: 3.5
68
[Info]
Logo-pdf.svg 1994-11-xx Games World: The Magazine (UK), "January 1995"
Review
Version Rating Awards Calculated score
PAL 81%
81
[Info]
Logo-pdf.svg 1994-1x-xx Joypad (FR), "Décembre 1994"

Review
Version Rating Awards Calculated score
89%
89
[Info]
Logo-pdf.svg 1994-1x-xx Player One (FR), "Décembre 1994"
Review
Version Rating Awards Calculated score
80%
80
[Info]
Logo-pdf.svg 1994-xx-xx Gambler (PL), "12/1994"
Logo-pdf.svg 1995-08-08 Sega Saturn Magazine (JP), "September 1995" "Beep! MegaDrive readers final rating"
It continued up until then in Sega Saturn Magazine (JP).

Review
Version Rating Awards Calculated score
NTSC-J 8.3521/10
84
[Info]

References


Formula One World Championship: Beyond the Limit

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