TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 3 is first and foremost a simulator, a technical product designed for those who want to invest time and energy in subtracting a second from their lap time. Every action on the superbikes that run at more than 200 kilometers per hour on roads just over 5 meters wide must be precise and deliberate or you will end up tasting the virtual asphalt of the Isle of Mann.
Developed by the Spanish Raceward Studio, this game has a lot in common with another totally Spanish simulator: Assetto Corsa. This is because before its "Competizione" version, the Kunos Simulazioni title also focused on having perfect game physics and impeccable simulation stability. Playing TT3 it becomes clear how much work the developers have done to create a solid product that will please the most scrupulous Tourist Trophy fans. The bad thing is that if the objective is also to reach the general public, there is still a long way to go.
In this Isle of Man TT review: Journey to the limit We'll tell you everything that's been done right in this simulator, the sometimes frustrating inaccuracies you'll have to deal with, and what's missing to make the digital experience of one of the most famous motor races in the world truly accessible. to all.
A question of fundamentals
Raceward Studio has just inherited the TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge saga; This, in fact, is the first game created by them and, like the previous ones, it only has the laser scanning of the Tourist Trophy circuit carried out in collaboration with the Isle of Man government. Everything else was redone from scratch and the differences are noticeable. You need precise inputs, careful analysis of the road in front of you, and non-beginner knowledge of the behavior of a digital motorcycle to avoid falling, and in this game you fall a lot. You'll learn to get used to it, and knowing this, the developers have included an incredible variety of first- and third-person animations precisely to dramatically tell when you hit a wall or curb. All good, except that it's a little disturbing to watch the crowd not react to the falls, especially when the camera stops on a part of the track where there's a spectator cheering and you've just been crushed.
However, these are minutiae, because it is clear that the development priorities were different, that is lay a very solid foundation upon which to build with the next iterations of the series. When we say that this game is difficult we mean that it is also difficult to access for beginners in the world of motorcycle racing who are hypnotized by the adrenaline of the event and eager to try it digitally. The game started there is no tutorial, there is no explanation of the impact of engineering decisions and there is even a lack of a screen that explains how the contest in which you participate works. Many information, such as historical curiosities about the Isle of Man and the genesis of the race, are hidden behind the discovery of some points of interest scattered around the map, a curious choice that, however, has its charm. TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 3 is designed for those who know the series, know the race, know the circuit and want an absolutely unfiltered and hyper-realistic two-wheeled riding experience.
What awaits you on the Isle of Man
TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 3 is an open-road, non-open-world video game in which you can explore the streets of the Isle of Man on your superbike or supercar whose seasons can run simultaneously. There are qualifying events, one-on-one races and other time trials on challenging or fun sections of the historic Tourist Trophy circuit to add variety to the experience. By completing these challenges you will win improvement points with which to improve your motorcycle by taking each of its nine components from level one to level five.
After completing the qualifications, it is time to compete in the great event that gives its name to the video game and we guarantee that it is a total experience. Not only does it take time, but it also requires a lot of concentration because falling even once automatically means finishing last. Of course, if a driver falls at those speeds in the real world, he'll be lucky if he makes it out alive, so we see the developers' logic in making the fall such a impactful factor in the final outcome. this will help you a lot of training even just to complete a lap without falling and even more so to be competitive with artificial intelligence at 40% of its power. The climb to perfectionism is a long one, so Tourist Trophy fans will get their money's worth, especially if they want to throw themselves into the asynchronous multiplayer challenges available each week.
The career line is not convinced
If the lack of introductory elements may be a game design choice, the element that perplexed us the most in TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 3 is the racing line, that is, that line on the track that indicates the trajectory and the appropriate speeds to face a curve in the best way. In TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 3 the trajectory line needs become much more precise. Even the most difficult simulators use the race layout to teach driving, explain a section of the track or have a more relaxed experience. The problem with TT3 is that even when it's green there's no guarantee you'll be able to take the corner without falling. It has happened to us many times that we brake well, we go perfectly on the line, we take a curve and we still fall. This is quite frustrating when doing qualifying and time trials because you are almost never able to push the limit and improve, you are always trying not to crash.
A working pathline is essential to helping even the most skilled players improve, especially if a title has sporting ambitions like TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 3. In fact, we rarely see an element called esports in yes, but TT3. believes in it and wants to focus on online competition. There will be weekly, monthly and seasonal events to top it off the best sim pilots of the digital Tourist Trophy and there's even a visit to the real race in 2024 on the cards. It's clear that this game is designed for hardcore gamers and if you're a fan of motorcycle simulation you'll find something for your money in this experience. Raceward Studio's other game, Rims Racing, was a gem of a simulation and this title lives up to its standards, it's a shame about the lack of comparable component customization (with famous brands and a lot of depth), but we understand the complications that you can bring. these license agreements.
Conclusions
Tested version PlayStation 5 digital delivery Steam, playstation store, Xbox Store, Nintendo eShop Price 49,99 € Holygamerz.com 7.5 Readers (6) 8.0 your voteNow that the foundations are laid and Mann Island racing fans are happy, developers have the opportunity to transform their video game from an arrival point to an entry point into the world of Tourist Trophy. As currently structured, TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 3 is the ideal destination for those who love the race and, after following it live, want to rediscover the same emotions digitally. With the addition of a career mode, a well-structured tutorial or even a story mode (a tribute to sports legend John McGuinness would be perfect), this game could be transformed into a simulation experience open to all digital racing fans and even lead them to pursue the real career in the future. For your sporting ambitions, then, an experience that explains the circuit piece by piece to memorize speed, lean angles, gears and brake management, would be ideal to bring those seeking perfection closer to the mentality necessary to compete. . The potential is there and the foundations (after some adjustments to the trajectory) are solid, now the ball passes to Raceward Studio, which can choose to reiterate a good technical product or expand its user base by inserting methods, sections and explanations for those they want. to discover the world of the most exciting and dangerous motorcycle races in the world.
PRO
- Impeccable physics
- Hyperrealistic design
- Sports ambitions
AGAINST
- Imperfect path line
- Very few guides or game explanations.
