Console Corner: Tour de France 2018 review
I must start this review by confessing I don’t much much about cycling other than actually being able to physically ride a bike and do wheelies and stuff.
That said I know a fair bit (well I hope I do) about video games and what makes a good video game with 30 years experience.
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Hide AdSo I can only assume that Le Tour de France 2018 - while well presented, polished and licensed up to the eyeballs, is a game very much for cycling enthusiasts and ones with plenty of spare time on their hands.
As I touched on there the game uses its license really well with riders, teams and every stage of the marathon event covered. That in itself is some achievement and a noble effort by Cyanide studio.
Unfortunately, the graphics aren’t as good as you might expect from a next gen era game. There is plenty going on but at the end of the day this is an endurance sport and that means there is a lot of grind before you get to the really interesting sections.
While the graphics aren’t amazing you can tell a lot of time and effort has been put into making the environment and everything around you highly detailed.
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Hide AdThere is loads to customise and extra content which will delight hardcore Tour fans while I really liked the hints and tips and directions provided by the team manager, that works really well.
However, I can’t help but feel this is more a vanity project for Tour superfans who want to emulate their heroes in a virtual sense.
There’s nothing wrong with that and it works well, but it does narrow the audience and customer base somewhat.
If like me you are a newcomer to the game, it is quite a daunting prospect especially if playing time is an issue.
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Hide AdYou won’t be able to do this in dribs and drabs, the game just isn’t setup to accommodate that.
Patience is very much a virtue for this game, particularly if you are not a Tour nut. Tour de France 2018 is a great simulation of the sport its designers clearly have a great passion for and like the Tour itself it is a real test of endurance. I just don’t know if that makes a great video game.