This is the latest incarnation of Codemasters’ controversial Formula One game. Last year’s version was easily one of the most discussed racing games - but probably not for the right reasons.

On first glance, Formula One 2010 was the holy grail for legions of F1 fans. It featured updated tracks, the chance to drive for your favourite team, and the promise to race online, for the very first time in a console F1 game.

However things were not as they seemed, and after the dust settled many disappointed fans reported numerous glitches which severely hampered enjoyment. This time round Codemasters promised to right all the wrongs of last year, and add much needed polish to what could be a hugely impressive game.

As expected F1 2011, features all the new rules, tracks and drivers of the Formula One 2011 season. There is a Career mode, in which players can work their way up to champion as well as Grand Prix Mode and also Multiplayer.

Career mode has been overhauled compared to last year’s offering, and although slightly more detailed than before, it still doesn't offer the immersive feel it seems the developers were going for.

Grand Prix Mode allows players to pick a race of their choice, and configure it to their every wish, but the fun really starts in multiplayer.

Completely revised for this year, Multiplayer lets you race up to 15 other players from around the world. Furthermore, a new co-op mode allows you to complete a championship alongside a friend via the PSN Network.

With so much promise, the gameplay has to deliver, and on the whole it does. Playing offline the game is everything the first should have been. It's manageable for beginners and after tweaking assists and AI difficulty, it can easily become a challenge for more experienced players.

By virtue of the new rules this year, KERs and DRS are also included in the game, where they become a hugely important element of racing. Unlike feeling like a tacky addition, these new features are superbly interlinked with the flow of driving, and using them in battles soon becomes second nature.

Unfortunately things are not so rosy when playing online. Penalties are often given against the wrong player, and it's likely that players will frequently be on the end of seemingly mindless penalties. In addition, there have also been glitches where races simply refuse to finish, or when cars even disappear and reappear on other parts of the track - which is fine in a sci-fi game but maybe not a racing simulation.

There is also a great inequality between the versions of this game. Although the game runs at a smooth speed on the Xbox360 and PC, PS3 owners are stuck with inferior graphics and an often stuttering frame rate - which takes away from the gaming experience.

In conclusion, F1 2011 adds a lot compared to its predecessor. New games modes and gameplay elements make racing more exciting than ever, but unfortunately many of these positives are dragged down once again by questionable online penalties, and a multitude of online and offline glitches.