Review for Fusion formula. PC game, the video game came out on 01/06/2017
The adventure of R8 Games, a development team that includes developers from large companies such as Sony, Rockstar e Team 17, began in late April 2015 when they launched on Kickstarter a project as ambitious as it is intriguing: Formula Fusion. The game in question, which presented itself as a futuristic racing game based on anti-gravity vehicles, was proposed as the spiritual heir of the famous WipEout saga, then paused by Sony itself due to the dismantling of Liverpool studio. One of the elements that most stood out once Formula Fusion was unveiled was the actual stylistic and sonic similarity with the PlayStation IP, a detail that is anything but casual since R8 Games actually featured people who worked on WipEout.
So, after a Kickstarter campaign, two years of development, I land on Steam Greenlight and numerous early access builds, Formula Fusion is finally ready to officially debut on the market with the sweaty version 1.0: Will the R8 Games creature be able to deliver on the promise made in 2015?
How to start a racing game - Part 1
To create a good racing game you must first think of a driving model appropriate. The WipEout series, as well as F-Zero, has always relied on the intensive use of the dorsal keys for a perfect execution of the curves, mechanics that since the first episode on PlayStation One has shown all its goodness in terms of gameplay. For Formula Fusion, R8 Games wanted to take a significantly different path: the right and left airbrakes assigned to the reciprocal back buttons are also present on this occasion, however, the bulk of the work is done by the analog stick of the controller relegating L2 and R2 (or LT and RT), to real brakes to be used only in case of extreme necessity. This is because the air brakes, rather than correcting the trajectory towards a specific direction, actually slow down the car, helping the lateral sliding in case of sharp bends. Using them inappropriately is therefore not a particularly smart strategy, and this apparent small detail actually makes the Formula Fusion driving model quite different from that of its competitors.
How to start a racing game - Part 2
After the driving model, the other big piece of the puzzle is the track design. Being able to unleash the engines of your racing cars on tracks worthy of the name is one of the greatest satisfactions of any racing game. R8 Games has opted in this sense more to quality than quantity: the basic tracks are in fact only eight, although they are also available in the "night" and "reverse" variants. A bit 'few in fact, fortunately though the care that has been placed in their realization is high to such an extent that it is a pleasure to grind kilometers after kilometers on it. The positioning of speed accelerators, power-ups and support objects has also been carefully studied, and the scenographies that form the backdrop to the adrenaline-pumping Formula Fusion races represent a pleasant side dish just like in the most famous racing games.
Don't call me “Mario Kart”!
The management of power-up in the WipEout series it could actually be associated with that of the Mario Kart series, but with Formula Fusion the developers have decided to change the cards and adopt a very different strategy. The power-ups during the races are still firmly present, but the difference is that there will be only two available and the choice must be made before each race. This is where a whole new dynamic comes into play: vehicle customization. R8 Games has in fact well thought out to give the player the ability to heavily modify the parameters of the spacecraft used by purchasing specific components. Betting on speed, endurance, steering or acceleration is therefore a decision that will be entirely up to you, and power-ups are part of that too. The available selection is very classic, in fact we will find missiles, shock waves, shield regenerators etc., but each of these can in turn be modified in behavior. Finally, it will be nice to know that although they are undoubtedly important, the power-ups won't turn the tide of a race the outcome of which remains largely determined by the skill of the pilot.
For the price at which it is offered, Formula Fusion offers a fair amount of content. At the player's disposal there is first of all one campaign structured in various leagues and difficulty levels that will be unlocked as victories are achieved. These will also lead to obtaining credits indispensable for the improvement of the vehicle which, we remind you, can be customized both from an aesthetic and performance point of view. The campaign is also an excellent tool to learn the basic dynamics of this Fusion Formula, as well as get to know the multiple game modes available. "Endurance" is focused on covering as much distance as possible before the vehicle destroys itself, "Surviving" will eliminate, lap by lap, the last player in the standings, while "Timelaps" is a time trial challenge against the other 9 participants . In addition to the campaign, it will then be possible to face individual races that can be customized at any time through specific parameters or, if you wish, to face opponents from all over the world through the online multiplayer mode. Icing on the cake: future DLCs will be released that will expand the car park and introduce new tracks.
Lights and shadows
Despite the merits, Formula Fusion is still an imperfect title. In fact, the defects can be identified in several sectors, ranging from graphics to artificial intelligence, and this significantly compromises the global gaming experience. Although R8 Games has opted for the versatile U, the performance even on high-end PC configurations leave something to be desired so much that it is difficult to obtain a constant framerate without stuttering; bugs are not lacking too and during our tests we even lost a race because of them. From an aesthetic point of view, however, everything seems to be in its place: the lighting and special effects are more than enjoyable, the good quality textures used and the polygonal models of the vehicles possess a high level of detail. The other element that could make most people turn up their noses is the implementation of artificial intelligence, which often is not very constant during the races, so much so that it goes from total ineptitude to a ruthless skill in the turn of a handful of competitions.
And the multiplayer? We would like to express an opinion on that in a few weeks, when the matches will be easier to find and start: at the moment, in fact, online players are few and we have not been able to complete a sufficient number of games to express an opinion. complete and definitive.
In its version 1.0, this Formula Fusion turns out to be an enjoyable title albeit with numerous defects. Among the greatest advantages there is undoubtedly the excellent soundtrack, the refined visual style, a satisfying driving model and an intelligent track design. However, if we go deeper we will discover how the quantity sometimes leaves something to be desired, bugs abound and artificial intelligence is repeatedly unnerving in its behavior. R8 Games is a young development team but with veterans in it and if you play its cards right during post launch support it could make Formula Fusion a real must have within the independent PC landscape.
► Formula Fusion is a Simulation game developed and published by R8 Games for PC, the video game was released on 01/06/2017
