Developer: Kylotonn
Publisher: Nacon
Platform: Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One Xbox Series X/S, PC
Tested on: PC
TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 3 – Review
Every few years Kylotonn attempts to make a game that brings the legendary Tourist Trophy Isle of Man to your living room. The first game was bad, the second game saw some slight improvement(s) and this time around it feels like the developers have truly one-upped themselves to bring a decent game to the marketplace. This sudden jump in quality can only be met with positivity but that doesn’t mean that TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 3 is the next RiMS Racing or Ride franchise killer.
Story
Like in all the other TT Isle of Man games, you select a rider to participate in the Tourist Trophy championship. Unlike the previous title where you had to impress a sponsor, this time around you already have your established racing team and are more focused on upgrading your vehicle. Another interesting development is that there are now two separate story modes, one for Supersport and the other for Superbike. Both have their own riders, bikes, and events, and you are free to switch between both active seasons whenever you want. There isn’t much story to follow or unravel as it all revolves around your own path toward success.
Graphics
From a visual standpoint, it is quickly noticeable that Kylotonn tried its absolute best to increase the quality of the graphics. Visually the previous games were mediocre at best, but this time around it feels like this title is really meant to be best enjoyed on PC and next-gen consoles. As the game now takes place in a free-roam environment, you can drive along the many different streets and explore the island at your own pace. The graphics look good even when flying past most places at around 250 km/h. There is reasonable attention to detail as the bikes now become damaged and dirty from crashes. Those who like to play the game realistically from the driver’s viewpoint will also be happy that the dashboards are now easily readable for better immersion.
Sound
Just like the visuals it feels like the sounds have also gotten better over the years. The bikes all have their own unique sounds and the engines sound great going through the rev ranges. To make the experience even better, you have quite the beefy rock soundtrack playing in the background that keeps you pumped for winning the high-speed races.
Gameplay
TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 3 is a motorcycle racing sim where your goal is to take home the world-renowned Tourist Trophy. The game begins with a short tutorial on how to control your bike and what the various buttons do. This is where you can also later adjust the various settings for your driving abilities and find out what kind of simulator levels you want to choose. That being said, even on the easiest settings the game proves to be a very realistic title.
The career mode exists of two different seasonal races, Superbike and Supersport with Supersport being the lower tier one. As you can play both at the same time and switch immediately, it is great to get some experience driving a ‘slower’ bike first before you tackle the high-power ones. You get released into the open world and you are free to get a feeling for your bike before tackling your first race. Getting around the island can be done by either driving to your destination or activating it through the map. In order to qualify for the championship, you’ll have to do a qualification race to set your position in the following race and then prove your worth. After completing eight qualifications and eight races you get to race in the championship.
Winning the races can be quite challenging, as the different simulator settings will mean the difference between having a bit of control during mistakes or being punished for every small error. The bikes handle very realistically and there are much more elements to take into consideration when trying to navigate over the uneven streets while exceeding 250 km/h. Most racing games these days have a rewind function that sets you back a few seconds before your mishap, but in TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 3 crashing your bike mostly means restarting the entire race.
Once you get to terms with the gameplay then it’s time to win some races. The key to becoming the champion is a well-built bike, and to get your hands on one you’ll have to upgrade it yourself. The higher you place in a race the more upgrade points you’ll receive. It’s in your best interest to win races because these upgrades make a serious difference. Even after only a few minor modifications to the bike, we felt more in control, and catching up with opponents becomes easier with the better parts you have installed.
Conclusion
TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 3 is a good title but not that accessible for all types of players. With the game having quite the steep learning curve it can take an already experienced player a few hours to get used to the high-speed races, and because of this newer players might not like how challenging the game is. However, once you get over the initial learning curve, then the game becomes challenging but enjoyable with the ability to switch between two different racing classes in-game. This is then further fleshed out with a great upgrading system for your bikes. On top of that, the game scores well with nice graphics, realistic sound effects, and a soundtrack that get the adrenaline flowing.
TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 3 – Review,
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