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Victory: The Age of Racing

Victory: The Age of Racing is a 3D racing MMO that features fully-customizable and upgradable Formula 1 cars. Players take on the role of rebel race car drivers racing across a variety of tracks in a world where racing is outlawed by the tyrannical laws of DriveNet.

Publisher: Vae Victis Games
Playerbase: Medium
Type: Racing
Release Date: February 13, 2016
Pros: +Great graphics and car details. +In-depth car editor. +Solid car handling system. +Challenging tracks.
Cons: -Lacks a tutorial. -Limited game modes. -Cluttered game lobby. 

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Overview

Victory: The Age of Racing Overview

Jump into the driver’s seat of a Formula 1 car and race towards fame and glory in Victory: The Age of Racing. Choose from three car types inspired by the different eras of racing and build your own car from scratch. Control every aspect of your car, from the paint job and decals, to its engine and tires. Earn performance points by upgrading your car which you can use to improve its speed, handling, and how it performs on the track. You can even make last-minute adjustments to steering, downforce, and a host of other elements to help you achieve victory. Race your tuned-up ride against other players in 6-player real-time races or beat their best times in Hot Lap events. Step into the shoes of a race car driver in career mode and see if you can make it big in the business of racing.

Victory: The Age of Racing Key Features:

  • Multiplayer Racing Events – challenge other players in real-time races or go up against their best times in Hot Lap events.
  • Superb Handling System – take control of cars that manages to strike a balance between a racing simulator and an arcade game.
  • Fully-customizable Cars – build your own cars from scratch and customize every aspect to your liking, including how it performs on the track.
  • Unique and Challenging Tracks – race through a variety of closed tracks that range from seaside towns to icy mountains.
  • Team Career – be on your way to become a legendary race car driver with a fun and addictive team career mode.
  • Multiple Control Methods – whether you prefer to use your keyboard, gamepad, or a steering wheel, Victory’s got you covered.

Victory: The Age of Racing Featured Video

Victory: The Age of Racing Teaser 2014

Full Review

Victory: The Age of Racing Review

By, Marc Marasigan

Victory: The Age of Racing is a free-to-play 3D racing MMO that puts players behind the wheel of single-seater Formula 1 cars. Players race across a variety of unique race tracks to achieve fame and glory, and to rebel against the tyrannical DriveNet preventing any form of racing or manual driving. The game features surprisingly great graphics for a free-to-play game as well as incredibly detailed cars right down to animated suspensions, glowing disk brakes when hot, and, by far the most important feature, working side and rearview mirrors. The car sounds are also spot on. But background music is noticeably lacking during races. Not that I need it though. The sound of revving engines, screeching brakes, and the metallic crunch of your opponents hitting the wall at 120 miles per hour are more than enough for me. The game is also properly optimized and runs at 50-60 fps even on the highest graphics settings.

A Race Through History

Victory showcases cars from various periods in Formula 1 racing history, which are divided into three categories: Classic, Legend, and Formula. Classic cars are based on the early models of single-seater race cars and features cars and parts typically seen during the 60’s and 70’s (think Speed Racer). Legend cars are based on those from the 80’s and early 90’s, while the Formula class is based on single-seater race cars from the past decade or so. Cars from a category can only be used in its corresponding racing events. Classic cars, for example, can only be raced in Classic events, and so on.

Each category is also divided into three speed groups with different performance requirements. Players initially get a basic car for each of the categories, a limited-use premium car, and enough Gear Points, the in-game currency, to build a single car in any one of the categories, except for the upper two levels of the Formula class, and probably a basic car in the first. Personally, I ran a few races using the free cars so I could earn enough Gear Points to build a proper car in the Formula class.

Build Your Car

Once players have decided on what class or category to build their cars in, they are then taken to the build screen. Players are given 15 options for each of the car blocks: front, body, and rear. For the Formula class, these blocks will use up all of a player’s initial Gear Points. After players have settled with the look of their car, they are then given the chance to use the game’s comprehensive car editor to paint it, add decals, stickers, textures, and a bunch of other cosmetic items. These cost extra GP’s which is why it’s better to try and earn a few more when building a car in the Formula class. Otherwise, you’re stuck with whatever color car the game randomly gives you until you earn enough for a new paint job. Provided that they have enough GP’s, players can go wild with how their car's look, as long as it’s within limits of the customization options.

No Driver’s Ed

One thing that’s noticeably missing from Victory is a formal tutorial, a feature typically found in most racing games, especially one’s with a bit more complexity than Mario Kart. Players are unceremoniously dumped into the game and left to figure things out on their own. The controls should be easy enough to learn through a quick check of the keybindings list in the options menu. It’s the more advanced features like widgets, performance points, and upgrading that can be quite confusing, especially for new players. Players can eventually figure things out through trial and error but a quick tutorial, or even pop-up help boxes, could easily save them from a whole lot of grief.

The game lobby could also use a bit of work. As it is, new players will probably be overwhelmed with the amount of clutter on-screen. A handy quick match button would have done wonders for the lobby.

Victory gives players the freedom to choose choose from three control types: keyboard, mouse, or steering wheel. For keyboards, the arrow keys are used to accelerate, brake, and turn by default (I prefer the WASD keys so I remapped them). Mouse users, on the other hand, must hold down the LMB to accelerate, the RMB to brake, and the X-axis to turn (this control method absolutely destroys your wrist, by the way). A steering wheel is probably the best way to go.

Drive Like A Pro

Victory features an excellent car handling system that strikes a good balance between a hardcore racing simulator like F1 2015 and an arcade-style racing game like Mario Kart. Players who need help can toggle on driving assistance with a simple click of a button. Driving assistance automatically slows down cars when nearing corners and helps save players from crashing into the walls at full speed.

Aside from driving assist the game also features racing line assist that players can turn on to help them follow the best line around the track, while also providing visual cues on when to slow down around corners. Turning on both the driving and racing line assist will have you driving like a pro in no time. Keep in mind that some maps and game modes restrict the use of these handy features.

Tuning Up

As players complete races they earn Gear Points that they can use to buy new parts for their car such as engines and tires. Engines affect the car’s power, torque, and weight, while tires affect the car’s grip and traction. Players also get Performance points that they can use to distribute across 6 different stats: Power, Brake, Grip, Traction, Weight, and Aerodynamics. Players can allocate up to a maximum of 20 points in each stat allowing them to tweak their cars to their preferred driving styles.

Aside from using Gear Points and Performance Points, players also get the chance to further tune their car’s performance before a race starts. Players get about a minute or so before the race to adjust more advanced car parameters such as downforce, gear ratio, brake bias, and suspensions to meet the track demands. New players will probably struggle with this early in the game and the added pressure of a time limit only makes things worse for them. Once you’ve got the hang of it the time given should be just enough to makes sure that your car is setup just right for the track.

Skill Wins Races

Gear Points are used to buy essentially everything in-game from pre-made cars and paint jobs, to engines and tires. Players a bit short on Gear Points have the option to buy more using real-world cash. This setup, however, doesn’t necessarily make the game pay-to-win. Players must constantly rely on their driving skills, track knowledge, as well as a deep understanding of how to properly setup their cars in order to constantly come out on top. And, as I’ve said countless times before, throwing money around doesn’t do squat in skill-based games. Having the best car in the race doesn’t count for much when you’re constantly crashing into the walls or being penalized for cutting corners.

The Final Verdict – Good

Victory: The Age of Racing is a solid game that hits all the right spots: great graphics, detailed car models, easy to learn gameplay, a superb handling system, not to mention a powerful car editor where you can literally build the car of your dreams. The limited game modes, however, is a bit of a drawback along with the fact that the game’s developers have left the game to fend for itself in favor of another racing game, which they even advertise in Victory’s game laucher. Overall, the game is fun and surprisingly addictive in spite of the mixed reviews it’s received. Recommended for both hardcore racing fans and casual players with even a slight passion for racing.

Screenshots

Victory: The Age of Racing Screenshots

Videos

Victory: The Age of Racing Videos

Victory: The Age of Racing / Features Video

System Requirements

Victory: The Age of Racing System Requirements

Minimum Requirements:

Operating System: Windows XP SP3, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8
CPU: Dual-core 2.0 GHz or Equivalent
Video Card: DirectX 9 Compatible Graphics Card with 512 MB RAM
RAM: 2 GB
DirectX: Version 9.0
Hard Disk Space: 500 MB

Recommended Requirements:

Operating System: Windows 7, Windows 8
CPU: Quad-core 2.4 GHz or Equivalent
Video Card: DirectX(R) 9 Compatible Graphics Card with 1 GB RAM
RAM: 4 GB
DirectX: Version 9.0
Hard Disk Space: 500 MB

Music

Victory: The Age of Racing Music & Soundtrack

Coming Soon!

Additional Info

Victory: The Age of Racing Additional Information

Developer(s): Vae Victis Games
Publisher: GamersFirst.com (Closed Beta) / Vae Victis Games
Distributor: Steam

Game Engine: In-house engine co-developed with Stefano Casillo author of Assetto Corsa

Game engine: Source

Open Beta Date: January 19, 2012

Steam Greenlight: September 21, 2012

Early Access: February 10, 2016
Release Date: February 13, 2016

Development History / Background:

Victory: The Age of Racing is developed and published by Vae Victis Games and is exclusively distributed through the Steam gaming platform. GamersFirst.com initially published the game during its closed beta period which started on August 27, 2011. After the closed beta, the developers decided to self-publish the game which underwent a number of rounds of beta-testing with the first open beta phase opening on January 19, 2012. The game was Greenlit on Steam on September 21, 2012, was released as an Early Access Game on February 10, 2016, and was officially launched on February 13 of the same year.