Pacer

 PlayStation 4
Metascore
77

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. GamePro Germany
    Nov 2, 2020
    74
    I'm not exactly a Wipeout fan, but I made some friends with Pacer.
  2. PlayStation Country
    Nov 11, 2020
    70
    Pacer delivers a fairly accomplished attempt at a futuristic racer. Whilst I do wish the campaign had some difficulty options, the racing has a good aesthetic and handles responsively. The ease at which you can switch load-outs is a lovely touch and the presentation manages to realise a very corporate super-future. I do wonder if the online options are enough to keep veterans interested but what R8 studios have achieved here is admirable.
  3. Attack of the Fanboy
    Oct 29, 2020
    70
    This fast-paced racer will give you both a rush of nostalgia and adrenaline.
  5. Push Square
    Oct 29, 2020
    70
    The game doesn't get everything right. Menus and UI are a little clumsy, and you're unlikely to feel attached to any of the teams in the career mode. However, it has it where it counts — fun, speedy racing, lots to do, and a CoLD SToRAGE soundtrack. WipEout fans looking for a new entry: this is as close as you'll find.
  6. Video Chums
    Nov 26, 2020
    60
    I wish that Pacer tried to forge its own identity instead of being another WipEout clone because it's simply not as good of a game.

Awards & Rankings

79
#79 Best PS4 Game of 2020
6
#6 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2020

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
5.6

Mixed or average reviews- based on 11 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 11
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 11
  3. Negative: 4 out of 11
  1. MosesChristus
    Mar 5, 2021
    0
    The single components of this WipEout-clone aren't that bad. Tracks are nicely done, the gameplay is ok, the idea of weapon-loadouts feelsThe single components of this WipEout-clone aren't that bad. Tracks are nicely done, the gameplay is ok, the idea of weapon-loadouts feels fresh at the beginning. But the further you play into the campaign, the more you realise those components do not fit together at all. The tracks are too narrow for the maneuvers you'd like to do, the weapons have no real effects on hit gliders (except for the damage towards destruction) the loadout menues are faulty (no renames, mod have to be bought for both sides seperately, and towards the end of career mode the game throws lots of funless events at you, that don't really relate to "racing". It was interesting in the beginning, annoying in the middle and a chore towards the end. This had the potential to be an "ok" WipEout-clone but screwed it in almost every possible way.… Full Review »
  2. kphilli
    Oct 30, 2020
    9
    A great racing game all around, especially for Wipeout and Redout fans! It is an absolute joy to play and in some ways it is better thatA great racing game all around, especially for Wipeout and Redout fans! It is an absolute joy to play and in some ways it is better that Wipeout Omega imo. I am going to keep this simple:

    Pros:
    -graphics, aesthetics and effects, this game is fasssstttt.
    -smooth gameplay physics and really fun modes. Love the KERS and weapon systems
    -amazing soundtrack and sound effects
    -weapons are fun and customizable loadouts add to deeper gameplay
    -the ships look great
    -tracks are beautiful and have character, night and day and reverse and mirror modes

    Cons:
    -clunky menus and menu sound effects
    -lacking a large array of customizable aesthetic options for the ships?    … Full Review »
  3. handler
    Nov 8, 2020
    9
    AG racing is probably a highly specialized type of game overall, but this is a must-play for Wipeout fans.

    Pros: - Nails the fundamental    AG racing is probably a highly specialized type of game overall, but this is a must-play for Wipeout fans.

    Pros:
    - Nails the fundamental gameplay -- fast and fun control that is quite addictive.
    - Great art direction. Lighting, texturing, and reflection mapping really shine here, day or night. For old-schoolers, this is somewhat reminiscent of the the XL/2096 style, but hugely updated for modern capabilities (which a dream come true for me). The prior modern Wipeout games tended toward a more plastic-y visual style, but this has a special combination of gritty textures and vivid lighting effects.
    - A really wide variety of courses/locations, bursting with ideas that are both distinct and fresh (plus added variety from the reverse/mirror modes).
    - Great sense of elevation changes and banking. At low-mid speed classes, great sense of velocity as well.
    - Still tough, but actually much more accessible than its Studio Liverpool predecessors.

    Cons:
    - Menus are a bit clunky. Besides awkward overall flow, it tends to remember things I want it to forget (weapons disabled on the craft whenever coming from a mode that doesn't use them, leaving you a sitting duck), and vice versa (weapons always default to "on" for normal races, even if you turned them off manually just prior).
    - Has a bad habit of hiding useful information (exact effect of craft mods, the number of races in a tournament, etc.).
    - Audio mix is just plain odd in surround. This improved somewhat with the last update, but the music is still recessed and strangely processed (musical soundtrack definitely lacks volume/bass/punch).
    - Not totally stable at the moment, crashes frequently.
    - No distinct visual treatments for Flowmentum mode.
    - Highest speed classes somehow seem like cartoonishly sped-up versions of the slower classes (rather than giving a sense of racing with much higher physical velocity).
    - Cityscapes don't have the sense of hyper-detail achieved even by WOHD on the PS3. However, this reduced detail may be in service of other rendering goals, so it is probably a worthwhile sacrifice.
    - Lacks particle weather, track cameras/jumbotron feeds, crowds in stands, and some of the other little in-world details that grounded the old games in a sort of physical reality.

    Totally subjective stuff:
    - The transparent white shader for the ghost car is kind of lame. compared to the prior hologram (and projector drone). Similarly, the "blink" effect for your car after it returns from being destroyed is rather basic.
    - Strange focus on the USA, with the majority of the tracks being set here. On that note, while it's fun to see my home city of Seattle included (and AT is a neat circuit), it's generic in the sense that there's nothing that calls back to the northwest in any real way, and it would work just as well if it were said to be in London. By contrast, Mannahatta really has an NYC feel, and of course some of the further flung tracks capture international flavor/culture very nicely.
    - It's also disappointing to see nothing from East Asia. Seems like a missed opportunity not to include Japan, China, or maybe someplace new from that general region.
    - I personally like many of the alternate play modes much less than the core racing experience, but this is no different than the other WO games.
    - Similarly, some typical weapons balance issues are present.
    - Craft designs aren't as compelling to me as the prior WO games, but the visual customization is fun.
    - R8 somehow licensed the angryman character, which is awesome. They may as well have acquired Curly and the Wipeout name, at that point. :)    … Full Review »
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