Formula Retro Racing: World Tour

It’s hard to sell an arcade game beyond what a trailer might tell you, but Formula Retro Racing – World Tour has a sincere veneer about it that keeps you coming back for more. This isn’t just some random cabinet in a smoky arcade in Glendale, this is a lovingly crafted homage that begs you to try and walk away once you get the hang of it. There’s precision, there’s enjoyment, there’s actually fantastic design that promises a fun time and delivers in spades.

Formula Retro Racing - World Tour is exactly what it sounds like: a sunny arcade that makes simplicity its strong point, yet without sacrificing a fair amount of depth. The world tour promised by the title takes shape in a series of tracks rich in detail, albeit reproduced from crude polygons. The simplicity of the driving model is offset by the presence of muscle cars that introduce drifting, turning the tables and adding a dash of variety. A great game for moments of nostalgia and mood enhancement.

A much improved and expanded second lap for the series, Formula Retro Racing – World Tour is a retro inspired racer that attempts to modernise the Virtual Racing and Outrun formula. It succeeds, to some degree. There’s still unfulfilled potential however, as the game lacks a variety of game play modes and the single player content can be completed in just a few hours.

While it has the look and some of the spirit of retro arcade racers like Daytona, the driving itself is a bit of a letdown