[Gamescom 2017] TT Isle of Man - Hands On

What is that TT Isle of Man? Simple, the videogame is based on the most dangerous motorcycle race in the world that takes place on the Isle of Man in Ireland where since 1907, Over 250 pilots died. The reasons for these accidents are a circuit that winds through the island itself, passing houses, sidewalks, cliffs, trees and much more. The route, which is just over 60 km long, has been dubbed by the British 38 miles of terror, a premise that leaves no room for analysis, right? At Gamescom in Cologne we got to know the French development house called Bigben Interactive, which took advantage of the event to show its new game to the public. So here are our impressions after the test.

Everyone on the track

To face the Tourist Trophy, or this very risky race, there are various types of modes: you can compete on limited sections of the route or run the entire circuit for a total duration of 50 minutes. The types of game will be the classic: tackle the entire track alone, against opponents managed by artificial intelligence or, finally, in local or online multiplayer. What we were able to try was a small part of the track, but in any case it seemed enough to have a clear idea of ​​the development point. It was clear from the beginning of the test that the physics and dynamics of the bike, in some ways, are still immature, in fact staying straight on the track required a certain amount of commitment. I personally found it difficult to drive often ending up on the ground, but it must be said that even the developers did some good flights.

The problem was presumably linked to an untruthful braking reaction: relegated to a single button, it blocked, with a certain delay and enthusiasm, first the front wheel and then the rear one, so as to jam the bike and also risk a strong skidding. The driving model must therefore certainly be improved, as well as aids must be implemented to make even less experienced users of the genre understand the correct interpretation of the track., thus also increasing its realism. The developers said that the drivers of this tremendous race prepare for years before they are ready physically and psychologically, but on the other hand, the players do not have the same time to become fully familiar with the gameplay. As for the technical sector, on the other hand, we are at excellent levels of realism, so in some ways you will really feel like you are taking part in such a dangerous race. The sound also seems well cared for, with the noise of the engine that makes even the change of gears stand out perfectly.

In conclusion we can say that TT Isle of Man is a fun title for lovers of the genre. The latter, however, could still find it difficult and, in this case, after having discovered that the release date is expected by the end of the year, we hope that the developers can improve the ride and put some help even for newbies to motorcycles. Despite this we think that the title has potential and that, if exploited properly, this kind of multiplayer circuit could turn into a real war zone for all players. So we just have to wait for the official release.