From classic motors of the 60s right through to the modern motoring marvels of today, there’s a little something for everyone to enjoy in 3DClouds new open wheel racer. Initially feeling like more of a light-hearted take on what can sometimes feel quite a dry sporting event, Formula Legends allows you to don the visage of fictional drivers based on real life superstars, whilst blasting around tracks that feature more than a passing nod to iconic real-world raceways.
Races themselves are viewed solely from a third-person perspective, with no option for a cockpit view in sight. Whilst I found this a little off-putting at first, I’ve become used to it over time and have grown to enjoy this nostalgic take of the track, reminiscent of old school classic Micro Machines when viewed at its most zoomed out. It’s a bright and bold representation of the sport that eschews the realistic for a joyful cartoon aesthetic.
Whilst extremely cute and chunky at first glance (each car looking a little like a tiny Tomy toy, with squashed chassis and huge wheels), beneath the bonnet there are hidden depths for those willing to spend time in getting to grips with systems at play including better traction on the racing line, tyre wear with each passing lap or steadily increasing fuel consumption. Whilst this can sound like a lot for novice drivers to take on board, there’s a highly informative, hands-on tutorial that will teach you the basics in just a couple of laps.
The drivers on offer each present individual perks to give you a unique advantage in the pack, be it better tire consumption or a cheeky acceleration boost whilst leading the race, effectively allowing you to tweak the difficulty separate from the racing assists on offer. Fancy more challenge, then drive as “Petrul Tassly”, offering no additional perks for a more realistic racing experience. Struggling with getting ahead? then become “Ferdinando Alphonso”, with increased maximum speed to ensure that you can keep pace with your rivals, lap after lap. I’m sure that these names feel a little familiar…
Pit stops aren’t just hands-off moments of respite but are instead a mini-game in their own right. After choosing your next set of rubber shoes, you’ll have to tap buttons in order of the corresponding on-screen prompts to perform the perfect pit before speeding away with minimal time loss. It’s a simple but effective way of keeping interest in what could have been an otherwise rather dull moment of just choosing fuel levels and tyre types.
Vintage, classic and modern variations of the Ardennes GP track are a thinly veiled take on the Circuit of Spa-Francorchamps that all racing fans know and love, each era offering a different layout and challenge for you to test your mettle against, as well applying an on-screen filter to better replicate the televisual technology of the time.
Whilst you can soon become accustomed to driving in dry conditions, add in dynamic weather and you’ll soon be fighting the wheel to stop yourself spinning out into the gravel. That’s not even to mention the other drivers battling for the lead, each intent on passing you at the earliest available opportunity. The AI on show so far feels dynamic and almost human, not just a parade on the optimal racing line but a genuine battle to gain the upper hand and leave you in the dust.
Formula Legends shows great potential in what is quite a niche area of the market, accessible Formula racing. With 14 tracks to master and 16 unique car models promised in the full release, as well as modding support and fully customisable driving assists, this could well be the game that drags doubters out of the pits and sits them squarely at the front of the pack in P1.
Formula Legends is coming “soon” to PC via Steam, and a demo is playable now.
