Doing 30-plus laps while meticulously avoiding collisions and penalties won't appeal to most, but F1 2012 is meant for those interested in a tiny taste of what it's like to drive the most extreme vehicles on earth. The game requires patience, precision, and a steady hand to win, but still manages to be a good entry point for players new to the simulation racing genre.

F1 2012's Young Driver Test is a well-integrated tutorial that eases new players into the action, however penalties are left unexplained, which is sure to mystify people unfamiliar with Formula One. Career Mode is the game's centerpiece, pitting you against rival drivers and teams. The initial goal isn't to take first place, but to build your reputation, get signed to a major team, and then make your bid for the championship. Meanwhile, Time Attack and Championship modes offer shorter challenges that help break the game down into more digestible chunks.

Shaving seconds off lap times quickly becomes addicting once you're settled in.

Despite having nearly a thousand horsepower, the cars in F1 2012 are surprisingly manageable at the lower difficulty settings. Start turning the assists off and increasing the race length however, and things get more demanding. Each pit stop becomes a tactical decision, and every pass is a sacrifice of your precious tire life. It's a game of inches, and single mistake can ruin an otherwise perfect run. Fortunately, F1 2012 includes Flashbacks, which allow you to briefly rewind time, perfect for correcting messy turns or negating race-ending collisions.

But even with the extreme speed of the vehicles, F1 2012 strangely doesn't feel particularly fast. Cars are stable at nearly every speed and tend to understeer, which keeps them from feeling like the violently powerful machines that they are. The dead-serious tone of the game doesn't do much to entice players, either. Those looking for the immediate rewards of arcade-style racing should stay far away, but for racing fans interested in taking things a bit more seriously, F1 2012 is a stellar choice.

Dynamic wet weather can force a surprise pit stop on everyone.

The bottom line. As faithful a simulation of the motorsport as you're likely to find, though the taxing difficulty and time requirements limit its appeal.