Pacer Review (PlayStation 4)

by Jim Smale · November 3, 2020

FormulaFusion-Win64-Test

PACER is high-octane anti-gravity racing at its most destructive. Customize your craft and weapons then engage in the campaign, a single-player race or compete against your rivals in explosive online multiplayer for the ultimate combat racing experience.

Pros:

Awesome graphics.
15.15gb download size.
Platinum trophy.
Anti Gravity racing gameplay.
An optional tutorial section in career.
Three modes-quick play/career/online.
Online leaderboards with a top 5 leaderboard showing on each track.
Song list-can turn songs on and off.
Pilot stats-full breakdown of everything you have done so far in the game both online and offline.
Garage-3 main areas-cosmetics (base/exhaust/teail/front/side/rear/hood), performance (engine/handling/braking/antigravity/defence) and weapons (left weapon/left mod 1/left mod 2/right weapon/right mod 1/right mod 2).
Each ship has a loadout you can save plus four default load-outs based on performance or weapons.
Online-lobby setup, server list, and matchmaking. You can set to private servers via a password system.
Four-speed classes-FF3000/FF2000/FF1000 and Elite.
Four default ship classes-Drifter, Agility, Defensive and high speed.
Four default weapon classes-Long range, defensive, track control, and disruptive.
Ten teams with unique ships and flags.
Three default load-outs of cards that affect stats.
Wipeout influenced gameplay.
Three driving views-close, far, and cockpit (first person).
Speed boosts and pickups that are both defensive and offensive on the track.
Tech credits-currency to buy upgrades and cosmetics for your ships.
Explosive soundtrack with drum and bass, techno from people like LFO, Squarepusher, Dub FX, and Cold Storage.
Fast-paced hover racing.
Initial flyover of the track.
End of race breakdown on things like overtakes, takedown, etc.
Controls-accelerate, boost, left and right weapons, rearview, air brakes for left and right.
Quickplay modes-race, Time Trial, speed lap, destruction, Elimination, endurance, storm, and flowmentum.
Fast loading times.
Tracks-eight of them with three variations on each of them which are-reverse/night and mirrored.
Eleven weapons to buy and equip.

FormulaFusion-Win64-Test

Cons:

No HDR support.
The tutorial is fine but is just a series of races with a small text pop up.
Can’t rebind controls.
A bit laggy on the menu.
No music controls.
Cheap Ai moves/tactics.
The learning curve with the controls especially air brakes.
Loading games can sometimes hang on the loading screen.
Few cases of the slowdown.

8/10

Graphics - 8/10
10/10

Sound - 10/10
8/10

Accessibility - 8/10
8/10

Length - 8/10
9/10

Fun Factor - 9/10

8.6/10

Summary

Sony has all but given up on the Wipeout license over the years except for that remaster but it’s not new. Indie devs have over the years attempted to bring the genre up to spec but also innovate. It’s been a mixed bag with some real U good ones and some really bad ones. Enter Pacer, a game that I played whilst in its early stages, it nailed the Wipeout feel but introduced cards and upgrades which was alright but very confusing and convoluted, it had a career mode but it was basic and the online was just as bare. Fast forward to now and the game has been completely revamped and updated, gone are the cards and in its place are tech points (currency) that you use to buy cosmetics and upgrades for your ships. Shame it doesn’t go full HDR but it’s still a good-looking game. Online is still not groundbreaking in any way but it does have more options available to you. Gameplay-wise it’s still just as tight and responsive as ever, it’s such a good bit of (almost) nostalgic fun. The level design is far more exotic than anything we had before, the weapons are familiar but tweaked, the Ai is still just as cheap and the speed is nailed on (could be faster) for a good session. Overall Pacer made me very happy and gamers will love the attention to detail, Sony drops the ball and indie devs again pick up the ball and innovate and create worthwhile experiences.