Pacer

About

Pacer is a single player and multiplayer racing game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by R8 Games Ltd and was released on October 1, 2020. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

Pacer (formely known as Formula Fusion) is an anti-gravity racing game which pits your racing pedigree up against the rest of the world. Tackle the single player campaign and become the best pilot against the AI over leagues and championships, or play against the world in multiplayer and compete in a sports league where you can take either yourself or your team to the top step.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Skip User Reviews

74%

Audience ScoreBased on 424 reviews

music49 positive mentions

stability9 negative mentions

Pacer captures the essence of classic anti-gravity racing games, reminiscent of Wipeout with its fast-paced gameplay and stunning visuals.
The handling and controls have improved significantly, providing a satisfying sense of speed and responsiveness.
The game features a variety of tracks and customization options for ships, allowing players to tailor their racing experience.

The game suffers from performance issues, including frame rate drops and occasional crashes, which can hinder the overall experience.
The AI can be overly challenging, making it difficult for players to progress in the campaign mode without significant practice.
The weapon system feels underwhelming and lacks the excitement of random pickups, leading to a less dynamic racing experience.

music
165 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
63%
7%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising the extensive soundtrack that features a variety of electronic styles, including contributions from notable artists like Cold Storage. While some players find the music to be energetic and fitting for the racing experience, others criticize it for being repetitive or lacking impact compared to the iconic soundtracks of the Wipeout series. Overall, the soundtrack enhances the game's atmosphere, but some users suggest adjusting sound settings to better appreciate the music during gameplay.
- “There is a lot to like about Pacer - the art style, the customization, the emphasis on skill over randomness, and the soundtrack is pretty banging, too, even featuring some brand new tracks by Wipeout veteran Cold Storage.”
- “The soundtrack is thumping from start to finish, with a wide range of electronic music styles, including drum and bass and techno.”
- “The graphics, the music, and the racing elements are fantastic.”
- “The soundtrack is uninspiring, which is sad as Wipeout is synonymous with a banging audio.”
- “They changed what was a varied, imaginative soundtrack to a boring romp where every track sounds the same.”
- “The music feels bland compared to the Wipeout games.”
graphics
148 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
55%
5%
The graphics in Pacer have received widespread praise for their stunning visuals and detailed environments, often compared favorably to the classic Wipeout series. Many players appreciate the game's aesthetic, which combines a near-future art style with smooth performance, although some have noted inconsistencies in visual quality across different tracks. While the graphics are generally considered a highlight, there are criticisms regarding performance issues and a lack of customization options for graphical settings.
- “The graphics are really good and the soundtrack is good as well.”
- “Unreal Engine 4 is used to great effect here; the graphics are amazing, solid, and detailed with high polygon models.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, the music is fitting for the theme, and the sound is satisfying.”
- “The graphics, while not 'bad', are simplistic to the point they wouldn't be out of place on a first generation Xbox.”
- “Flat muddy graphics, convoluted ship configuration, boring combat and controls.”
- “Unfortunately the frame rate still leaves a lot to be desired, even on lower graphics settings.”
gameplay
92 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
67%
3%
The gameplay of Pacer has received mixed reviews, with some praising its tight mechanics and track design, while others criticize the lack of memorable courses and overly complicated upgrade systems. Many players find the racing experience enjoyable and reminiscent of classic titles like Wipeout, but note that it falls short in terms of innovation and depth compared to competitors. Overall, while the core gameplay is solid, it suffers from issues such as uncomfortable controls and a lack of engaging interactions between racers.
- “Well balanced, refreshing gameplay.”
- “The gameplay and physics are on point.”
- “Gameplay is tight and rewarding; the vehicles and performance/weapon system is diverse yet surprisingly balanced, all tracks feel unique and challenging.”
- “The downside is that, in order to maintain gameplay balance, basically all of the weapon mods are sidegrades which sacrifice one aspect of the weapon over boosting another, thus you never really feel like your ship is gaining any offensive power.”
- “Everything about this game that should be simple is overly complicated and feels like a limp attempt to modernize gameplay that is begging to not be modernized.”
- “The gameplay itself would rate as 'average' and that in and of itself isn't a terrible thing, but my god the sound effects and music sound like they were directed by Helen Keller.”
optimization
78 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
29%
54%
17%
The optimization of the game has seen significant improvements since its early access phase, with many users reporting smoother performance and fewer crashes. However, some players still experience inconsistent frame rates and stuttering, particularly on lower-end systems, indicating that further optimization is needed. While the customization options for performance and loadouts are appreciated, the lack of clear performance metrics and occasional menu navigation issues detract from the overall experience.
- “Performance is amazing on my PC (i7-4790, GTX 1070, 16GB DDR3 2400) and the fluidity and sense of speed when rushing along the tracks is amazing.”
- “The game launched with some severe performance issues on my system (i7-4770k, 16GB, GTX 1080 Ti, Windows 10 Pro v1703 at 2560x1440 epic settings) but the latest patch, as of 3rd June, has significantly improved things such that it now runs 99.9% of the time at 60 FPS plus the developers promise more updates to optimize it further.”
- “Balance between ships and loadouts is phenomenal, adding an interesting layer to weapons and performance; it's been polished since early access and makes more sense now.”
- “The patch made no discernible difference to performance - frame rate frequently falls through the floor on a rig that will comfortably run 2015-2017 AAA titles at high/ultra settings.”
- “Performance issues are a major, serious problem with this game.”
- “The only intolerable problem is that it is pretty badly optimized. I am running an i5 and a 1070 with 32 gigs of RAM and I set the graphics to medium, and the framerate just wouldn't keep steady.”
story
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
60%
20%
The game's story is described as entertaining but lacking depth and world-building, with players expressing frustration over repetitive missions and a lack of engaging narrative elements. While the introduction of mechanics through the story mode is appreciated, many reviewers feel that the overall storytelling and mission design need significant improvement to enhance immersion and enjoyment.
- “Entertaining story that introduces the mechanics to you.”
- “In the end, I'm at least thankful this project materialized into something, unlike most games that start out with the same kind of story beats.”
- “It would be a lot more immersive if there is a story behind each vehicle/team.”
- “If I could single out one main area that needs improvement, it's the story and world-building, or lack thereof.”
- “This seems to be a story of mismanagement.”
- “I wonder what the story behind some of the areas of this game are.”
stability
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
Overall, the game's stability is a mixed bag; while it runs well on low-end PCs and maintains good performance at high settings, users report various bugs and glitches, particularly in the menus and during gameplay. Some players experience minor freezes and issues with the AI and weapon systems, but these do not significantly detract from the overall experience. Despite these problems, many find the game playable and enjoyable, though improvements are needed in certain areas.
- “Runs great even on low-end PCs.”
- “Runs great.”
- “Game runs great on AMD Crossfire or NVIDIA GPU.”
- “The game still has some minor performance issues, like little freezes every now and then; it might be just down to my specs, but it's not a game breaker.”
- “Still a little buggy though and stops playing sometimes during a race.”
- “The UI has improved but is still buggy at some points and somewhat awkward to navigate.”
atmosphere
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
14%
43%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its stunning visuals, immersive music, and sound effects, creating a vibrant and engaging dystopian future setting. Players appreciate the combination of track design and environmental elements that enhance the racing experience, reminiscent of classic titles like Wipeout. However, some feel that it lacks the unique atmosphere that defined earlier entries in the genre, despite the overall intense and futuristic vibe.
- “Great handling, gorgeous atmosphere via visuals, music, and sound effects.”
- “Lighting is bright and luminous, popping from the screen, all adding to the atmosphere in this dystopian future setting.”
- “The soundtrack added hugely to the experience, and altogether, you had an incredible, atmospheric, futuristic, intense racing game.”
- “The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth and immersion I expected from a game set in a dystopian future.”
- “Despite the interesting layout of tracks, the overall atmosphere feels lifeless and fails to engage the player.”
- “While the game has potential, the atmosphere is overshadowed by repetitive environments that don't evoke any real sense of excitement.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game frustrating, as many tracks feature narrow turns and snaking paths that lead to frequent collisions with walls, making it difficult to complete clean laps. The process of setting up new races is also seen as tedious, and the lack of clear information hampers the learning experience, contributing to an overall sense of dissatisfaction.
- “Most tracks just don't feel fun; oftentimes there are narrow turns or snaking paths that have you grinding on the rails frequently.”
- “Requiring players to go back to the main menu to set up another race is tedious.”
- “Despite ships handling quite snappily, at those speeds it's impossible to run a clean lap without hitting and grinding against walls.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players express a sense of frustration and heartbreak regarding the emotional stakes of the race, highlighting the overwhelming challenge of maintaining health points while navigating strict objectives. The combination of high difficulty and the pressure to meet specific goals creates a poignant experience that resonates with feelings of defeat and disappointment.
- “Heartbreaking, really.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
While some users find limited replay value in certain games, "Pacer" stands out with its high replayability due to its adrenaline-fueled racing experience and extensive customization options that enhance each playthrough.
- “Pacer is an adrenaline-fueled racer with tons of replayability, and plenty of customization options to make each win count.”
- “Score attack lacks replay value.”
- “Please, do yourself a favor and try something more playable like Ballistic.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is noted to be somewhat unintentional, with players finding amusement in the game's shortcomings, such as its interface and performance issues. Despite these flaws, some users still find enjoyment in the gameplay, particularly on the limited racing tracks available.
- “The funny thing is, lowering the settings seemed to make it worse.”
- “The interface is still rather light, hinting that the previous Wipeout game itself would be laughing at it.”
- “At this point, it's genuinely funny to play, especially with three good racing tracks available.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The monetization strategy is well-received, with players appreciating the absence of microtransactions for core content and the promise of free DLC and add-ons. Future plans include a "Rocket League model," where essential updates are free, while aesthetic items will be available for purchase as microtransactions.
- “Good job, guys! Work hard on finishing the game and no microtransactions—yay for free DLC and addons! That's a smart move, and I will be supporting you in the future!”
- “Plans for a 'Rocket League model' DLC will be implemented to always provide ship/track and card mods for free, while aesthetic DLC will be microtransactions.”
- “The monetization strategy feels exploitative, as essential content is locked behind paywalls, making it frustrating for players who don't want to spend extra money.”
- “It's disappointing to see that the game relies heavily on microtransactions, which detracts from the overall experience and enjoyment.”