Pro Cycling Manager

Pro Cycling Manager is a series with a history spanning almost two decades. Distributed annually by Cyanide since 2001, players must manage runners and statistics, and participate in ultra-realistic and immersive real-time races. What is the 2019 vintage worth? Answer in this review.

Pro Cycling Manager 2019 arrives in the hottest period of the season, the Giro d'Italia has just delivered its verdict and the Grande Boucle is coming to an end, accompanied by its traditional video game outings, namely Pro Cycling Manager and Tour from France. For those who do not know the latter, it is a version of PCM in arcade sauce, only available on console (PlayStation 4 and Xbox One). On PC, we can benefit as always from Pro Cycling Manager 2019 and all its managerial experience, accompanied for several years by the “ Pro Cyclist” mode .

Manager or runner?

Beyond the simple races, the heart of the game experience of Pro Cycling Manager 2019 is divided between the classic management mode, where we take charge of a whole team, and the " Pro Cyclist.“, Where we are called to create our own cyclist to bring him to the top of competitions on two wheels. The concept has not changed much compared to the formula of a few years ago: after giving an identity to his character with the youthful face, he must choose his qualities among a number of styles (climber, sprinter, puncheur …). At the start, you also choose which team to join to start competing, keeping in mind that the more famous the team you choose, the less likely it is to show up individually. Conversely, in a secondary team, it is quickly possible to aspire to top positions.

Also read-safari cant establish a secure connection to the server

The real novelty this year for the Pro Cyclist mode is the introduction of a skill system similar to that of a role-playing game, in which we award the points that we get by leveling up in twelve different aspects, related to personality and charisma, athletic skills or behavior in the race. This is an interesting addition, especially since this mode remains for the most part similar to last year's.

Very similar to the Pro Cyclist , the classic career mode, in which, as a manager, we have to take care of the whole team. The menus of the two modes are quite similar to the point that there is little difficulty in switching between the two, although of course it takes a few more minutes in the career to prepare for training and in competitions, trying to prepare for each meeting with the best group and in the best form possible. In this case, the main novelties concern the introduction of an additional element to attract the attention of the cyclists that interest us, thus facilitating discussions with them to conclude contracts with our team. For the rest, let's not forget the multiplayer mode of Pro Cycling Manager 2019, but limited to the organization of tournaments for a number of players of up to sixteen.

Race

Although in my opinion we still have to wait too long, the race loading has been made a bit lighter than in previous years. Once the loading is complete, we can see that everything is similar to what we saw in Pro Cycling Manager 2018, almost identical if we exclude the optimization of the interface of the game. The animation of the cyclists is in fact still perfectible, as well as the presence at the edge of the road of semi-mobile and repetitive spectators.

Beyond the graphic and sound elements, also the same as last year, once on the road, we have the opportunity to give orders to our cyclists (or our cyclist, in the case of the " Pro Cyclist") On how to behave while running, staying in position or trying to attack, until you get to tasks usually reserved for the" clerk "like protecting and supplying canister of water. Artificial intelligence continues to be tweaked as it has in the past two years, especially the attitude of the more aggressive CPU controlled riders in case you try to attack. Problems arise when one gets stuck in the group because of a climb or other regrouping: getting out of it becomes really frustrating and difficult, resulting in the loss of precious moments.

IN CONCLUSION

Pro Cycling Manager

Pro Cycling Manager Season 2019 is certainly not a revolutionary slap. However, some details have been refined, especially in the Pro Cyclist mode (in particular the skill tree system) and at the level of artificial intelligence, which is increasingly reactive from year to year. A good vintage certainly, but TOO MUCH as usual.

Keep reading-cannot establish secure connection iphone