TT Isle of Man - Ride on the Edge 2 isn’t a typical motorcycle racing game.
Those who played the game in its first incarnation are attuned to developer KT Racing’s emphasis on creating a realistic simulation. It stands out in an era of flashy, arcade-style games.
Isle of Man TT is the world’s most famous motorcycle racing series. TT stands for “Tourist Trophy” and the event attracts around 45,000 people to the 30-mile long island every year. In addition to being one of the world's most popular motorcycle events, it’s also one of the most dangerous. Since the first race in 1907, the event has claimed at least 146 lives. Perhaps that stat gives clarity as to why this race in particular warrants such an emphasis on realism.
The game, which is a follow-up to 2018's TT Isle of Man - Ride on the Edge, seeks to replicate the experience of racing on the open road. I had the opportunity to demo the forthcoming release from KT Racing and game publisher Nacon, which is part of the BigBen family.
An Improved Racing Game Experience
The previous TT Isle of Man game release was so compelling that in 2018, professional rider Davey Todd mastered the game in order to familiarize himself with the course while preparing for the actual race. He not only ranked second on the game’s leaderboard but in 2019, he earned 6th place in the TT Isle of Man Senior Race. Such enthusiasm led him to collaborate with KT Racing on this release. KT also consulted with TT Isle of Man French circuit record holder Julien Toniutti for the TT Isle of Man - Ride on the Edge 2.
With this release, the development team sought to iterate upon the 2018 title's core gameplay mechanics. To make the game even more realistic than its precursor, its developers enhanced steering precision via improved gyroscopic effects. They also redesigned brakes and shock absorbers. The result is a game that feels incredibly realistic, as players can fully sense every wobble and bump in the road.
Several different modes give players opportunities to explore the terrain, allowing them to test different bikes and racer vantage points on the open road. Players can ride bike models from major brands like Honda and Suzuki, including an array of incredible vintage bikes. The races are long and, in some ways, meditative. Success requires a player’s full attention. Any break in the gamer’s concentration can cause major disruption on the course.
Put It All On The Line In Career Mode
One of the highlights is the game's Career Mode, which proves to be a fresh and welcome addition to the immersive racing experience. The Career Mode plays out as a chronological racing timeline that steadily introduces new tracks and events. New races unlock after successful completion of the previous ones. Upon satisfactorily completing the races in the series, the player can eventually make their way to the TT Isle of Man main event.
Throughout the career journey, players receive sponsorship deals, cash prizes and additional opportunities for gear upgrades and customizations. While a rider can back out of a race if they’re not performing well in it, the final result of any completed race stays for the duration of the Career Mode. This means players who are unhappy with their race times are compelled to re-start the series in its entirety.
Realism Makes For A Wild Ride
The game was fun, but I found myself struggling to control the bike. Ultimately, that's part of the challenge. The game demands a level of precision most people won’t master in a single casual playthrough.
Competitive players will be able to join races online or compete in a turn-based offline format. Between that and the career leaderboards, the game looks to be a challenging experience among its niche player base. Fans who appreciate this style of racing or who are simply dissatisfied with the cartoonishness of other games will enjoy the opportunity for a long and winding race to the finish line.
TT Isle of Man - Ride on the Edge 2 will be available March 19 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC and will release at a later date on Nintendo Switch.