The g-force caused by braking in an F1 car is so strong it'll drag water right out of your straining tear ducts. It's a sport of incredible speeds, with cars reaching up to and beyond 200mph, and Formula One 04 has all the speed of the real thing. Unfortunately, F1 is also a sport of incredible control, yet Formula One 04 handles like a slippery fish.

While you speed around the track, trying to keep every turn smooth and every exit fast, it's like you're in a car with a particularly nervy driving instructor. At the end of each turn, instead of letting you ease the wheels back in line he yanks at the steering wheel, straightening the car quickly as if trying to swerve away from a small child in the middle of the road. And although playing for long enough means you learn to make allowances for the reaction, this annoying niggle continues to gently poke you in the side. With a small but very sharp stick. Often.

Which is a shame, because the rest of the game is an F1 enthusiast's dream. Every manufacturer driver and course is in place - including the two new events at Bahrain and Singapore. You can tinker with the tyres, the ABS brakes, the down force... you can even adjust the brake balance and traction control while driving.

And while there are problems with the controls, winning is still a deeply satisfying experience. To get on the podium you'll have to hang on for position and judge your overtaking manoeuvres with pinpoint accuracy. You never feel totally safe, even in first place - at the highest difficulty it takes something special to remove the trailing cars from your arse-end and by the end of a 70-lap race you're truly drained. The massive career mode also requires a boot full of skill. It takes in the whole process, from impressive your first back-of-the-grid team through to being picked up by top bogs such as Ferrari or Williams. All this is very pleasing and the opposition AI is on the Jenson for the most part, although they don't seem to check their rear view mirror much, cutting you up and clutching to the racing line even if it means bumping you.

And it's this kind of minor irritation that pops up too often for comfort. The damage level, for instance, is hit and miss with big shunts sometimes leaving no visible mark while still affecting your internal workings - and in arcade mode there's a fat damage gauge that doesn't seem related to the bump you just took. There's also a whiny, horrific voiceover - shrieking that you've just crashed when you are still very much mobile. Fortunately in simulation mode - the bulk of the game - it's replaced by the very English and very repetitive commentary team from ITV.

When you add up these problems - and include the dreary looks and lack of trackside detail - they overwhelm all the good work. So what could have been a storming sim is a merely decent Sunday drive. And that really does bring a tear to the eye.

Graphics 60%
Unexciting looks and few trackside frills.

Sound 70%
Captures the race car whine perfectly.

Gameplay 70%
Elastic controls are never comfortable.

Lifespan 70%
It'll take a good few seasons to master.

Overall 70%
The drab appearance, twitchy handling and some minor irritations mar an otherwise solid and rewarding F1 driver.