Pro Cycling Manager 2017
- June 15, 2017
- Cyanide Studio
Get on Steam"Pro Cycling Manager 2017" is a cycling simulation game where you manage a professional cycling team, competing in over 200 races across the world. As the team manager, you'll handle various aspects such as rider scouting, recruitment, staff hiring, contract negotiations, and sponsor management. The game features increased realism with enhanced AI and improved progression system in Pro Cyclist mode. Organize your team in a train formation during races and make strategic decisions to secure the win. Play solo or online with up to 16 players in leagues and clans.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Great graphics and improved animations enhance the cycling experience.
- The Pro Cyclist mode offers depth and allows for strategic management of a rider's career.
- The game provides hours of entertainment for cycling fans, especially with the addition of mods.
- The game is plagued with bugs and crashes, making it frustrating to play.
- AI behavior is inconsistent and often unrealistic, leading to unbalanced gameplay.
- There are minimal improvements over previous editions, making it feel more like a DLC than a new game.
- graphics18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the stunning visuals and improvements over previous versions, especially on capable PCs. However, players have reported significant issues such as clipping, flickering, and objects (like vehicles and spectators) improperly interacting with the environment, detracting from the overall experience. While some users appreciate the graphical enhancements, others find them inconsistent and flawed, indicating a need for further refinement.
“The graphics happen to be stunning too if you have a decent PC - most of the whiners don't have a PC capable of not crashing, hence they write negative reviews.”
“This year they totally improved the game on aspects like: graphics, sound, gameplay, AI, management, rider progress, sponsors, and a lot more cool features.”
“Graphically, the game is astounding!”
“This game is flawed in many ways: it provides complexity without depth, it gives you a lot of tasks, but no real agency and mostly it gives graphics and soundbites instead of information.”
“On-course graphics are fucky (you'll ride straight through vehicles, barriers, and crowds loitering on the course).”
“Graphics engine – especially the lower tier races are sometimes sloppy made so you ride into/through cars, spectators, TV cranes and such.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some players noting significant improvements in various aspects like graphics and AI, while others criticize the mechanics as flawed and lacking compared to previous titles. Although the gameplay can be enjoyable, it suffers from janky animations and issues that detract from the overall experience.
“This year they totally improved the game on aspects like: graphics, sound, gameplay, AI, management, rider progress, sponsors, and a lot more cool features.”
“The gameplay - while fun - is a little janky when it comes to animations.”
“I really wanted to like this game, but the in-game mechanics are busted.”
“This gameplay is not even close to Pro Cycling Manager 2005, which was one of the better PCM games.”
“So I, personally, who have played PCM for 4-5 years, think this game is really bad both AI and gameplay-wise.”
- stability5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game has been widely criticized for its instability, with users reporting numerous bugs that lead to crashes, freezing, and gameplay interruptions. Many players express frustration over the frequent glitches, suggesting that the game feels unfinished and recommending potential buyers to wait for fixes before purchasing. Overall, the stability issues significantly detract from the gaming experience.
“What can I say apart from another overpriced buggy game, which is a shame as it could have been so much better. I have put a few hours into the pro career mode, which was enjoyable to start with training up your rider for the first few seasons and getting good results, bar the bugs where you crash and then can't move or get stuck between race cars and the verge, really.”
“I have had countless times where the game simply freezes and can't be retrieved and doesn't generate a crash report.”
“So buggy and completely random.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the game's optimization requires significant improvement, particularly in the simulation of non-participatory races, which users find tedious. While some aspects, like the pro cyclist game mode, are well-received, there is a consensus that further enhancements are needed for a more streamlined experience.
“Domestic assigning per target instead of full season is a first step in the right direction; it should be continued and optimized.”
“I like the pro cyclist game mode and the overall performance of the game.”
“Simulating races you're not participating in is long and boring and needs some serious optimization.”
“- Domestic assigning per target instead of full season (a first step in the right direction should be continued and optimized).”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by the ironic situation of a team member's unexpected rise in performance despite a lack of significant achievements, showcasing a lighthearted take on the unpredictability of character development.
“A team-filler rider I started on the same team with in the first season at 68 average is now a whopping 76 and climbing. The funny thing is, I looked at his career and he hasn't won anything significant.”
