When I first played Formula Legends I hoped we were getting a quirky, heartfelt cartoony arcade racer that felt like Micro Machines or Mario Kart—on steroids.
I was immediately disappointed with how vague but on-rails the handling felt, and was also surprised to find that there was no multiplayer component, either online or off. The difficulty level also seemed out of wack, being far too hard in qualifying and unforgiving if doable in races. An update tightened the steering response and loosened the grip level a tad, but there have been no adjustments to the AI, so has it made a difference?
Well...
Starting out in the "Story" mode in 60s cars, things seem okay. You have a choice of cartoon-like cars, no doubt inspired by Jim Bamber's Eff One cartoons and/or Tooned (McLaren's very own cartoon series.) A couple of silly problems I had early on were that the button mapping is unchangeable (prompting me to reluctantly use automatic gears) and although the camera is infinitely customisable, you need to set this for each individual car–for instance; the camera that gave me a perfect cockpit view in a '60s car was stuck in the airbox of a mid '00s car! The selectable preset on-board camera view is, however, perfectly acceptable for players wanting a more realistic driving position.
Another odd thing about Formula Legends is that it's clearly a cute representation of F1 made by enthusiasts, and should have been an arcade racing classic, but with its difficulty level, tough AI and simulation-like brakes, there's not actually much fun to be had–it's all gritted teeth high-concentration racing. I have more fun with Forza, Gran Turismo or F1 25. Playing it on “Very Easy" didn't convince me that younger gamers (what I presumed to be the target audience) would have much joy. Once I'd learned the tracks I was able to get pole positions (you can specify the number of qualifying laps and the length of the race) and started winning races easily, so I had to ‘up’ the difficulty.
The game offers a range of ‘60s & ‘70s V8-engined beasts to the hybrid monsters of today, and 14 reimagined circuits inspired by actual F1 circuits; Riviera Streets is Monaco-ey, Temple of Speed is Monza/San Marino-ish, Mont Royal is Montreal and Dark Forest with its long lap, banked curves and hay bales is undoubtedly Nurburgring-like…
As I mentioned earlier, the main hook is the Story Mode, where you grind through decade-spanning championships, unlocking fictional drivers (names such as Luis Hammerton, Bastien Kettel, Batteri Voltas, Dany Ricchiordi, Miki Kankkunen, Mike & Malf Shoemaker, Nick Hulkendorf, Sergi Jerez, Alan Proust, Jack Stewie, Joachim Drin and my personal favourite, Castor Eldorado will raise a smile from F1 fans young and old) and teams such as McLauden, Ferenzo and Merkseds…
Races blend arcadeyness with sim-lite strategy: manage tire wear, fuel, dynamic weather (rain can start & stop during a race, slicks everything up beautifully and looks very wet and sploshy), and pit stops that feature easy but important quick-time events for that extra edge. Unfortunately the qualifying seems messed up and there's little or no tow effect (slipstreaming) and no virtual "catch-up" when you get spun by an on-rails opponent. We also found that it was always best to give your car at least a "splash" of fuel because if you do run too low to complete the race the game will inform you approximately 6 inches before you zoom past the pit entrance, and then your car starts to smoke and slows right down, undoing all your good work…
Formula Legends is nicely presented with a full tutorial (including pit stops), showroom of unlocked cars, online lap record lists and a photo mode–but disappointingly has no replay mode or multiplayer–not even a split screen mode. The various eras all kind-of reflect the tracks and modifications over time, the changes in rules (refuelling/tyre changing and available tyre compounds) and BRS (Battery Recovery System) and WRS (Wind Reduction System) in the more recent cars.
As much as I like it, I can't help thinking Formula Legends is a wasted opportunity. It could have been a gem–it's charming, content-packed, sensibly-priced (only £16.74 and it's also on Game Pass) and brimming with F1 passion. It would have been perfect for younger gamers and casual fans but for the wonky handling and strangely steep difficulty. Hardcore racers might rage-quit because of the flaws, but at this price (or via Game Pass?), it's worth at least trying for a podium finish–if only for its unique vibe, and let's hope that they tweak the handling and difficulty.
Many thanks to 3D Clouds and PressEngine.