Formula Retro Racing
- May 14, 2020
- Repixel8
- 4h median play time
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games Store"Formula Retro Racing" is a fast-paced arcade-style racing game with low poly visuals and a retro soundtrack. Race through 8 unique tracks in either classic checkpoint or eliminator game modes, with up to 4 player split screen local multiplayer. Challenge yourself and others on the online leaderboards for best lap and race times. *Retro arcade racing *8 unique tracks, up to 4 player split screen *Online leaderboards for best lap and race times.
Reviews
- The game captures the retro arcade racing feel reminiscent of classics like Virtua Racing, with vibrant graphics and enjoyable handling.
- It offers a fun and straightforward racing experience with multiple game modes, including Arcade and Eliminator, making it accessible for casual players.
- The driving mechanics are engaging, and the game provides a nostalgic experience for fans of 90s arcade racers.
- The AI is erratic and can lead to frustrating collisions, often causing players to restart races due to unpredictable behavior.
- There is a lack of content, with only 8 tracks and one car, which can be unlocked quickly, leaving players wanting more variety and features.
- Collision detection and physics are inconsistent, leading to frustrating moments where minor contact results in significant penalties or crashes.
- graphics17 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a retro aesthetic, featuring simplistic polygonal designs that evoke the early days of 3D racing games. While the visuals are clean, colorful, and polished, they may not appeal to everyone, as some players find them lacking in depth and complexity. Overall, the graphics successfully capture a nostalgic arcade vibe, complemented by a fitting soundtrack and solid gameplay mechanics.
“Polished graphics, nice sound and gameplay that will keep you occupied for a while.”
“The graphics are clean and fun, nothing overly complicated but it works.”
“The art style is a modern, HD take on Virtua Racing and it looks fantastic.”
“But everything else is severely lacking, with an art style that looks like the beginnings of a model rather than the final product.”
“The biggest plus and also my biggest complaint is the graphics.”
“It's definitely not fancy but the simplistic polygonal graphics harken back to the earliest era of 3D racing games, back at a time when the best you could get on console were sprite-scaled representations of driving.”
- music16 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The music in the game is characterized by a catchy, chip-tune-inspired soundtrack that aligns well with its retro arcade racing theme, though it tends to be repetitive. While some players appreciate the nostalgic feel and find the tunes enjoyable for cruising, others express a desire for a more diverse selection and the option to turn off music entirely. Overall, the soundtrack complements the game's visuals but leaves room for improvement.
“It does come at a very nice price point for that arcade racer kick, and even though it has only one music track for racing, it really hits those retro notes.”
“The music is chip-tune-ish square wave stuff and pretty cheery.”
“The soundtrack is pretty good as well; they're good tunes to cruise to.”
“The music is catchy but a little repetitive.”
“When music is set to 0%, you still have tunes playing when you are not racing.”
“I would like to be able to choose no music at all as I listen to my own tunes and just have sound effects on.”
- gameplay12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a mix of nostalgic 90s arcade style with polished graphics and sound, but it struggles with limited mechanics and poor AI, making it challenging to master despite its simplicity. While the drafting mechanic adds a layer of strategy, the lack of remappable controls and issues with controller compatibility detract from the overall experience. Players may find the tracks too simple and short, which can lead to a less engaging gameplay experience.
“Polished graphics, nice sound, and gameplay that will keep you occupied for a while.”
“Excellent analogue controls and handling, beautiful Sega blue skies and flat shaded visuals, and the perfect old school arcade gameplay.”
“The gameplay sounds simple, but it is really hard to master.”
“The AI isn't very good, crash mechanics aren't great, and it says full controller support, but I've found the Switch Pro controller doesn't work properly after playing for a short period of time and uses strange controls which cannot be remapped.”
“There are no other cars, the tracks are fairly simple and short, and the mechanics of the game are limited.”
“Gameplay aside, the game is lacking in some areas, such as a way to configure controls in settings.”
- stability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including buggy collision physics, numerous bugs and glitches, and a lack of polish, leading many users to feel it does not justify its price. Additionally, the absence of wheel support further detracts from the overall experience.
“The collision physics are buggy, there's no wheel support, it feels like a Newgrounds game and certainly not worth the asking price.”
“The game is full of bugs and glitches, lacks polish, and is missing a bit of content for its price.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users highlight that the game's replayability has significantly improved, making it much more enjoyable and engaging over time. Many find it infinitely playable, enhancing their overall experience.
“This makes the game infinitely more playable.”
“Since my original review, the game is much more playable and I have fun with it.”
- story2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The story is perceived as a brief yet enjoyable experience that offers good value, with reviewers expressing optimism about its potential for future development.
“The short story is a fun little racer that's worth the money.”
“The long story has so much potential - I hope they continue to develop it!”
“The story had so much potential but ultimately fell flat.”
“The narrative was confusing and left many plot holes.”
“I found the characters to be one-dimensional and unrelatable.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users express frustration with the emotional impact of inconsistent gameplay mechanics, such as unpredictable car behavior when interacting with walls, which can lead to feelings of confusion and disappointment.
