Repixel8's Formula Retro Racing was created as a homage to classic '90s 3D racers such as Virtua Racing and Ridge Racer 64. Released back on Xbox One in 2020 and Sony consoles just last year, the game is finally making its way to the Switch on 15th April.
Joining the likes of Horizon Chase Turbo and Hotshot Racing, Formula Retro Racing is a low-poly racing game complete with a catchy synth soundtrack and beautiful block-colour visuals, right down to the square bystanders. Ohhh those were the days.
Here's a summary of what to expect from the game, straight from the Nintendo store page:
Featuring the fast and exciting gameplay that the genre is known for, Formula Retro Racing captures the essence of old school racing games with low poly graphics, a retro soundtrack and high speed action. This revival of the classic-arcade racer takes advantage of modern hardware with smooth high-frame rate visuals as well as improved car handling and physics.
Race through a diverse range of tracks across multiple game modes and car classes to beat your personal best times and compete in the global online leaderboards!
Features
- Retro arcade-racing action
- 8 unique tracks each with varying difficulty
- Classic arcade checkpoint racing game mode
- New ‘Eliminator’ game mode
- High frame rate and retro visuals
- Destructible cars with crazy crash physics
- Best Lap and Race Time online leaderboards for each track
- Up to 4 player split screen local multiplayer
Our sister site Pure Xbox reviewed the game when it hit Xbox One and gave it a 7 out of 10. That's pretty darn good, especially when you consider that many of the issues were relating to bugs, so hopefully, those have been ironed out, and this Switch release will be the definitive release! Even the trailers back in 2020 made this game look silky smooth, so let's keep our fingers crossed.
Formula Retro Racing will reach the Switch's checkered flag on 15th April, costing £11.99 on the UK eShop, and $14.99 on the US store.
Let us know if you're excited about Formula Retro Racing in the comments below!
Comments 24
INTEREST: PIQUED.
WALLET: ON STAND BY.
Really happy to see a "retro-inspired" racer that is not using Outrun as the template with static backgrounds. This is more my speed personally.
Wow more and more of these arcade style racers are literally heading for Switch nowadays. Definitely would check this out, nothing wrong with more Virtua Racing.
I really enjoyed the Senna DLC in Horizon Chase Turbo - definitely recommend that to anyone looking at this!
I'll check this out too, but not sure I'll get on with the crashing... also sound and visuals are not as strong as HCT, but that's not necessarily a deal breaker if the gameplay holds up.
@ChromaticDracula Have you checked out Hotshot Racing? You might like it!
This is great, absolutely wonderful to see.
Arcade racers, with arcade aesthetics, and modern gameplay sensibilities. Definitely keeping my radar on this one.
It looks like a fine racer, but that Switch version seems a bit expensive compared to the Steam version which costs only 5€ : https://store.steampowered.com/app/1239660/Formula_Retro_Racing
Looks like it plays real well, but just a tad bland. I'm a fan of all these retro racers, and I have a bunch of them so unfortunately perfectly servicable games like this have to compete against Hotshot Racing and Horizon Chase Turbo for my time.
If you appreciate well-balanced racing games I would seriously avoid Hotshot Racing, it's really poor.
Hoping this is much closer to Horizon Chase Turbo or the Virtua Racing port in terms of polish.
I was wondering if this was coming to the Switch or not since it had already been so on other platforms. Good news. Kind of completes the current set of "the main" retro inspired indie racers on the Switch in a way. For now.
Love it. Definitely my weekend game this week.
Used to love the virtual racing arcade soo this is a must have for me.
@Agent069 Did it release on Steam two years ago though?
@CharlieGirl You know, I actually forgot about that one but thanks for reminding me! I read the review on here when it came out and saw the mention of "Rubber-banding" and it sort of turned me off a bit. BUT, I'm reviewing the review now and either way you cut it, it got an 8 so that's outstanding for me.
Thanks for getting it back on my radar — Now I have 2 options to choose from
@Agent069 That's the thing with these late releases. It got multiplatform release two years ago on other last gen platforms then are just now release for Switch but because it's on a newer platform they charge a higher price. It could also be that the game just plain sucks and now the dev are scamming the Switch audience for more money for a game they refuse to fix. The reviews on Steam didn't give confidence either, seems that not everyone like the game that much. Bad control handling, shoddy gameplay, a lack of vehicles to choose, only 8 tracks, and no online play may had been likely reasons for the mix overrall reviews.
Looks interesting.
@6thHorizon
Agreed. I feel the developers got lazy on the harder levels and their way of making it harder was to all of a sudden make your vehicles’ handling turn to *****. Such a shame.
@6thHorizon Also agreed! There is something really lacking in Hotshot Racing. I bought on PS4 at launch and its just not very enjoyable to play. I think I read it was originally supposed to be a combat racer, and to me it does feel more like a kart racer with the weapons removed, than an arcade classic in the style of Daytona USA or OutRun 2.
Got this on Xbox. Its not bad, but the number of laps it makes you do is tedious, it's severely lacking in options.
This looks mighty interesting. I'll stay tuned.
With the growth of Formula One lately, I imagine it's only a matter of time before there's a right proper Formula One racing game made for the Switch. I know the last official F1 Game was for 2021 and came out for PS4 & PS5, but I'm really hoping we'll get something for the Switch sometime soon (regardless of graphics). I think the only thing close to a right proper realistic racing game on the Switch has been GRID? And we're not getting the newest iteration that just released this year on other systems. Of course, though, I still find Mario Kart entirely enjoyable and and consider it to a right proper realistic racing game...
Looks promising, the eShop screenshots looked like there is a Monaco track. But looking at the publishers other titles, must be cautious
I have it on Steam and find it underdeveloped and barebones. Impressive considering its 1 man development but why would you bother when Virtua Racing is such a beautiful port on the Switch.
@sisodinr Can’t see us ever getting the main F1 game on Switch, but a bit surprised Codemasters haven’t tried to port their mobile F1 game (or asked Feral to do it for them) before now.
This is like an upgraded Virtua Racing.. more tracks, crashes, this is great. As long as you can map throttle to the right stick, that is.
You know you've been playing way too much Asphalt 9 when you see a ramming and expect the lead car to blow up and the rammer to continue onward.
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