TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 2 Review – Thrill Seeking Aplenty – Screen Rant
It can sometimes be easy to forget how dangerous motorsport is. This is particularly true with the ongoing growth of video game adaptations of these high-octane sports, with the simulations rarely capturing how close to the limit competitors go. That can’t be said about TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 2, which certainly lives up to its name.
For the uninitiated, the Isle of Man TT is perhaps the most dangerous motor racing event in the world. A motorcycle time trial that has been running for over 100 years, it’s an ultimate test of skill over the 37 mile Snaefell Mountain course. Attracting riders and motorcycle enthusiasts from across the world, it holds a strong hold in spite of a well-deserved reputation for danger with over 250 deaths between the TT and the amateur Manx Grand Prix.
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The Isle of Man TT has already had one video game adaptation, but TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 2 tries to refine what makes the race such an impressive sporting event. On the whole it succeeds, creating an authentic experience that fans of the TT will no doubt appreciate. It comes at a good time too, since the Isle of Man TT 2020 has not just been postponed like the start of the Formula 1 season, but instead cancelled outright.
The game’s greatest achievement is how it captures the feeling of speed. The Isle of Man TT’s mountain course is notorious for its narrow country lanes, with racers hitting average speeds for the whole course of up to 135 miles per hour. With outrageous cornering while maintaining such speed, TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 2 can feel genuinely stomach-churning as the player tries to maintain control while twitchily repositioning their motorbike on the road.
Visually the game works extremely well, recreating the Isle of Man with care even when it flashes past in a blink of an eye. This is particularly successful when moving into a first person view, although the intensity of the experience can sometimes be a bit overbearing.
When it comes to the basics, TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 2 is a treat. It controls well, straddling the line between simulation and arcade in a way that keeps it open to newcomers and experts alike. On higher difficulty levels and with assists turned off the game takes on a more technical level of trickery, which is something for those F1 and Nascar drivers to enjoy as they find more time to game.
Outside of that, though, TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 2 can feel quite basic. Although it’s visually compelling when everything is going at pace, slower moments or crashes reveal a lack of complexity when put under the microscope, with one example being the lack of a reaction from crowds should the player have a spill. It’s not gamebreaking, but one of those design elements that breaks immersion.
On top of this the game does lack some of the features that other motor racing peers include, with a simplistic multiplayer mode and little to entice the player outside of its core play. As such there would be some issues with longevity down the line. So, although TT Isle of Man: Ride on the Edge 2 gets its tone perfect for the event itself, it’s unlikely to reach the heights of those great racing games of this generation.
For fans of the Isle of Man TT, however, it’s a great adaptation. An exciting emulation of the iconic race, motor racing enthusiasts would be wise to pick this up if they want to experience the thrill of the TT from the comfort of their own homes. Given the growing trend of cancellations over COVID-19, at least this virtual version of the course is available.
TT Isle of Man 2 is available for PC, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One. Screen Rant was provided with a PS4 download code for the purposes of this review.
Source: screenrant.com