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Pacer (video game)

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Pacer
Re-release cover art
Developer(s)R8 Games
Publisher(s)R8 Games
Director(s)Clive Anderson
Producer(s)Steve Iles
Designer(s)Carlton Gaunt
Programmer(s)Marcus Matusiak
Artist(s)William Goodwill
Composer(s)Tim Wright, Stafford Bawler
Platform(s)
Release
  • 31 May 2017 (Win)
  • 29 October 2020 (PS4, XB)
Genre(s)Racing
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Pacer, originally titled Formula Fusion, is a futuristic racing game by R8 Games. The game was released for the Windows in May 2017. It was ported to the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in October 2020.

Development and release

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The game started as a spiritual successor to the Wipeout series with some of the early R8 Games staff having worked on Wipeout 3 for Psygnosis Leeds.[1] R8 Games founder Andrew Walker was part of the team that were awarded a BAFTA for best design on Wipeout 3 in 1999.[2][3] The Designers Republic, the graphic design studio that designed visual assets and marketing for the first three Wipeout games, has also contributed to the game.[4]

The game uses the Unreal 4 game engine with modifications to the open source code to enhance the feeling of speed.[5]

Formula Fusion was announced in September 2014.[6] A Kickstarter campaign by British studio R8 Games was successful in securing over £79,000 to begin development on the game which was released as an early access version through Steam in August 2015.[7][8] The game was re-branded from Formula Fusion to Pacer in early 2019.[9]

The console versions were initially set to release on September 17, 2020.[10] However, they were delayed until the end of September 2020. On October 19, R8 announced that they would be released on October 29.[11]

Reception

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Formula Fusion received very mixed reviews upon exiting early access. Critics praised the graphics, the sound, and claimed that the game felt very true to the Wipeout series, while heavily criticizing the insubstantial amount of content as well as unforeseen bugs. Many critics claimed that the game felt unfinished and not ready for full release outside of early access.[12]

Pacer opened to more positive reception, receiving "mixed or average" reviews for PC and "generally positive" reviews for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.[13][14][15]

CGM lamented the game's lack of accessibility, online player-base, and controls, while praising the game's soundtrack, graphics, customization, and its ability to live up to the legacy of Wipeout. Hardcore Gamer wrote positively about the game, stating, "Fans of either F-Zero or Wipeout will undeniably and thoroughly enjoy PACER...The game is fast and beautiful and offers more depth with a variety of racing" while criticizing the lack of online functionality and purchasable in-game content. Push Square praised the wide variety of modes and content, and speedy gameplay while criticizing the forgettable racing teams and the UI, calling it "clumsy".

References

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  1. ^ "Formula Fusion - Next-Gen Anti-Gravity Racing Game by R8 Games Ltd » The R8 Games Team — Kickstarter". Kickstarter. Retrieved 19 June 2019.
  2. ^ "BAFTA Awards (1999)". IMDb. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  3. ^ "Formula Fusion slips into 2017, new update releasing this week". Team VVV. 19 July 2016. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  4. ^ "The Designers Republic Sign Up for Formula Fusion". The Sixth Axis. 6 October 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  5. ^ Peel, Jeremy (13 March 2017). "Making it in Unreal: how Formula Fusion nailed the feeling of fast". PC Games News. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  6. ^ Smith, Adam (26 September 2014). "Total Wipeout: Formula Fusion". Rock Paper Shotgun. Gamer Network. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  7. ^ "Formula Fusion - Next-Gen Anti-Gravity Racing Game". Kickstarter. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  8. ^ Walker, Alex (August 2016). "Formula Fusion Has Come A Long, Long Way". Kotaku. Retrieved 13 April 2017.
  9. ^ Hoggins, Tom (4 April 2019). "Battle royale racing? Pacer is Wipeout meets Fortnite". The Telegraph. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  10. ^ @r8games (4 August 2020). "Register" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  11. ^ @R8Games (14 September 2020). "Register" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  12. ^ a b "Formula Fusion". Metacritic. Retrieved 13 June 2024.
  13. ^ a b "Pacer for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  14. ^ a b "Pacer for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  15. ^ a b "Pacer for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  16. ^ Wells, Cory (30 October 2020). "Review: PACER". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  17. ^ Tailby, Stephen (29 October 2020). "Mini Review: Pacer - Anti-Gravity Racer Comes Surprisingly Close to WipEout". Push Square. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
  18. ^ Taylor, Khari (11 November 2020). "PACER (PS4) Review". Computer Game Magazine. Retrieved 27 December 2021.
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