4PGP

4PGP is a new arcade racing game inspired by titles from the 90s developed by Vision Reele studio.

Let's start with the gameplay, which is very fun. If you love racing games, I think you'll spend quite a few hours with this game as it offers several different modes. Championship puts us in three races that take place on different tracks, and through them, we collect points for the overall victory. Quick Race is a competition on just one track of our choosing, while the Time Attack mode is where we try to achieve our best time, measured in seconds.

The game features 12 tracks inspired by real F1 locations, so we can race in Belgium, Brazil, Germany, and other countries. The formula models are also interesting and have that retro charm. There are about 10 different cars available from the start, while some models are unlocked only after achieving a few consecutive victories.

The driving control is good but also quite challenging. For example, if we go off the track onto grass or gravel, it slows us down, and opponents immediately take advantage of that. Honestly, that annoyed me a bit, but the game does need some kind of challenge. One thing I also liked is that if we finish a race in fifth place, we start the next race from that position, which shows how the game closely follows the rules of the sport it is based on.

The AI here is quite challenging in my opinion, and I liked the competitiveness displayed by the other drivers. If you drive alongside them, they will try to push you off the track, and if you make even the slightest mistake in a corner, they will be right on your tail. That can sometimes be irritating, but I believe the thrill of competition is very well executed and that formula fans will appreciate it.

The difference in difficulty is also noticeable. I tried the rookie and novice levels, while veteran and expert are also available. Rookie is a bit tricky at first until you get the hang of the controls, but later everything flows much easier. Novice has a noticeable jump in difficulty, so I recommend practicing on the rookie level first as it will be easier for you later.

When we talk about graphics, they are solid as they have that retro vibe. Of course, it's not on the level of major racing games like Forza Horizon or Gran Turismo, but in a way, that's a good thing because such a graphic style brings a dose of nostalgia for a different time. The appearance of the tracks and the environment around them is also solid, although very few people will be looking at the mountain visible in the distance on the horizon during a race, so I don't think that's crucial here.

In formula and racing games, sound is also quite important, specifically how the engine and tires sound. In my opinion, the sound is very well done. For example, when we accelerate or brake, the difference is clearly audible, but since I'm not a fan of F1 as a sport, I can't accurately compare how realistic it sounds compared to real cars. I also have to say that the game runs without any bugs or crashes, which pleasantly surprised me.

In conclusion, I have to say that this game surprised and entertained me more than I expected. It practically pushed me to play it for several hours straight, which is a big plus since I'm not a big fan of racing games, but after this, I might become one. I would recommend it to fans of racing games as I believe they will appreciate and love its retro style. In today's time, such design is not very popular, which I think is a shame because such things bring a dose of freshness to gaming and take us back to a different time.

A copy of the PC version of the game for review purposes was provided by the publisher 株式会社3goo