The Cyclist: Tactics
- July 28, 2021
- Camshaft Software Ltd
- 20h median play time
Get on Steam"The Cyclist: Tactics" is a turn-based strategy game that simulates competitive cycling. Players must manage their team, plan routes, and employ tactics to win races across various terrains and weather conditions. With in-depth statistics, detailed graphics, and realistic physics, it offers a unique and challenging experience for cycling enthusiasts and strategy game lovers alike.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The Cyclist: Tactics offers a deep and engaging tactical experience that effectively simulates the complexities of cycling races, making it enjoyable for both cycling fans and strategy enthusiasts.
- The game features a well-structured career mode that allows players to build and manage their own cycling team, with significant depth in team management and rider development.
- The developers are highly responsive to community feedback and continue to improve the game with regular updates, enhancing the overall experience.
- The game suffers from a lack of polish in its presentation, with minimal graphics and UI elements that can feel amateurish and detract from the overall immersion.
- Some players have reported issues with the AI behavior during races, particularly regarding breakaways and peloton dynamics, which can lead to unrealistic race outcomes.
- The tutorial, while helpful, may not cover all mechanics in depth, leaving some players confused about certain aspects of gameplay and strategy.
- gameplay29 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The gameplay is praised for its engaging and strategic simulation of road cycling tactics, utilizing simple yet deep mechanics that encourage thoughtful decision-making. Players appreciate the well-designed tutorials that help navigate the complexities of the game, leading to an addictive "just one more race" loop. While some mechanics may need refinement, the overall experience is described as enjoyable and rewarding, making it accessible even for those unfamiliar with cycling.
“What's surprising is how well it simulates road cycling tactics with such a simple and abstract turn-based game mechanic.”
“The gameplay loop is engaging; the seasons are fast, since each season is 9 months, and in each month you can pick an event, which range from 1-day races to 21 stages.”
“The mechanics are simple, but elegant, and have an incredible amount of depth, from positioning riders to high-level decisions on how to build your team for specific tours.”
“Only played 1.0, that had a lot of potential but also a few wonky mechanics.”
“In its current state it still feels like a beta version to me: the excellent core gameplay is there but it needs to be refined on the edges to make it a great game.”
“The tutorials are excellent, though it could really use a manual explaining all the mechanics in-depth.”
- graphics12 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The graphics in the game are simplistic and boardgame-like, focusing on functionality rather than high production values. While they effectively support the gameplay experience, they lack animations, cutscenes, and a polished aesthetic, giving them an amateurish feel. Overall, the visuals are adequate for the tactical sports genre, prioritizing gameplay over graphical complexity.
“While the production values are of course not at the level of a AAA game, it is very well designed and balanced, has well-crafted artwork, enjoyable mechanics, and a great background soundtrack.”
“The visuals and audio effects suit the board game-esque feel well.”
“The graphics are board game-like; you see a part of the track, but you can scroll to plan your moves.”
“There are no in-race graphics where you see your riders battling for position, no cutscenes or flashy victory screens to reward your progress, and basically not even any animations, be it in the races or menus.”
“I don't mind the simplistic graphics; the problems lie more in the way the information is delivered to the player.”
- story5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is noted for its innovative and rich narrative potential, allowing players to create their own experiences through gameplay mechanics. However, there is a desire for deeper storytelling elements, enhanced world-building, and more presentation to fully explore the backstory and lore of the fictional universe.
“The game is remarkably innovative and well-designed, and it is also remarkably story rich.”
“But you make your own story, using its versatility and your wits.”
“I wish there was a little bit more in terms of presentation and storytelling.”
“I'm sure there's more backstory and lore about this fictional universe that'd be great to uncover.”
“I'd love to see a sequel that expands on the fundamental mechanics of the game, adds additional features, an enhanced cyclist creator, perks, a bigger sandbox, expanded career progression, hall of fame/world records, story elements, world-building, etc.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's optimization features are well-implemented, providing a detailed performance chart that allows players to see the impact of changes made to their bikers. Helpful tutorials guide users through the mechanics, emphasizing the importance of strategic planning over casual play to achieve optimal results. Players must carefully manage their team's performance over a 9-month season to satisfy sponsors and maximize success.
“A chart shows what changes in your biker's performance compared to others when you change something on him.”
“The tutorials are nice and helpful, and that's lucky, since it is not a game to be played carelessly, without first grasping the mechanics, unless good performance is of no interest to you.”
“You plan a season of 9 months for a team of up to 6 riders, sending them to the terrain they like best and adding peak performance to that so you can make the sponsor happy.”
“The optimization system is confusing and lacks clear guidance on how to improve performance effectively.”
“I often find that the changes I make to my biker's setup have little to no impact on performance, making the optimization feel pointless.”
“The optimization options are overwhelming and poorly explained, leading to frustration rather than enhancement of gameplay.”
- music3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely appreciated for its quality and cheerful tone, enhancing the overall experience. While it may not match AAA production values, the well-designed soundtrack and vibrant artwork contribute positively to the game's atmosphere.
“The music is liked by all those sharing the same room; that's a real plus.”
“Sound is great, music is great, and the color palette used is bright and cheerful.”
“While the production values are of course not at the level of a AAA game, it is very well designed and balanced, has well-crafted artwork, enjoyable mechanics, and a great background soundtrack.”
