– Advertisement –
Tour de France 2023 returns to console and PC with a flurry of minor gameplay improvements. However, in truth, it adds little to the franchise. Yet, this won’t discourage hardcore fans and I enjoyed my time in the virtual saddle. Last year I was lucky enough to review Tour de France 2022. Therefore, I leapt at the chance to give this a go.
Developed by Cyanide and published by Nacon, this is an ultra-realistic sports simulation title. Like its peers, this focuses on career options while maintaining a realistic approach. Consequently, it is no walk or ride in the park. Furthermore, players will have to invest hours to improve their rider or team and win every accolade going.
Tour de France 2023 has plenty of gameplay options.
Like its predecessor, Tour de France 2023 has plenty of gameplay options. You can enjoy a standalone race to test each riding style. Alternatively, you can tackle career modes as a team or as a solo rider. On top of this, there is a competitive online mode called Race of the Moment. Whichever mode you pick, the core mechanics remain the same and you must invest a hefty amount of time.
This year, the action focuses on the rider’s key abilities as well as some improved rider behaviours. Alongside this, there is the inclusion of the Grupetto to enhance realism and add more tactical choices. However, fans of last year’s title will notice some familiar mechanics. The usual energy gels, wind resistance, and team tactics all remain. Accordingly, you can jump straight into the action with no problems.
So, what’s new?
Cyanide has done a great job of updating the team and rider roster. Alongside this, they have incorporated 2 new race jerseys to show off your approach. Subsequently, you’ll recognise the normal polka dot and leader attire. However, now there is something for the best team and those that are super combative. These are minor additions, but they make each race easier to follow.
The major improvements focus on rider attributes, handling, and AI. These clear changes push Tour de France 2023 out of its predecessor’s shadow. Furthermore, they make this new iteration much more in-depth. As a consequence, you’ll savour the tactical battles and the pleasure of winning each segment.
Depending on your team/rider attributes, you’ll aim for the stage win, mountain climbs, or intermediate sprints. Each of these elements awards the rider and team a unique number of points. Once the tour is finished and the points are tallied, you’ll see the standings and reap the benefits of your work. This slow but interesting setup made the action incredibly exciting, especially when you battle with the ultra-aggressive AI. Subsequently, the developers have done a great job of adding suspense to an otherwise simple idea.
Tour de France 2023 isn’t the prettiest game.
Tour de France 2023’s gameplay is ultra-realistic, mostly. However, visually it’s a bit of a dog’s dinner. The poor textures and weirdly scaled bikes leave a lot to be desired. Alongside this, the character models are repetitive and plain and the animation is dated. Consequently, during each low point of a race, you highlight the shortcomings and graphical errors.
Some of the downfalls are obvious! You’ll clip bushes and nothing will happen, colliding with fellow riders has little to no impact, and I rode through several supporters. It was a shame as the developers have done a great job with the rest of the game.
Disappointingly, the audio is flawed as well. Though the sound effects are sufficient and the wind noise is excellent, the crowd are repetitive and dull. For unknown reasons, the crowd shouts the same few words repetitively. On top of this, there is no dialogue between the riders and 100s of km can pass without a sound. This was odd, as it vastly reduced the realism.
Hold the “follow” button.
Tour de France 2023 could have been a nightmare to play. However, a thorough and quick tutorial sets you on your way. Additionally, the controller layout is remarkably simple and picking up the basics was easy. Yet, I couldn’t get over the go-to tactic of “follow”. Effectively, you can ride behind everyone else and do nothing if you hold the X button. This stupidly simple tactic undermines the complexities of the game. Yes, there are times when it doesn’t work, but these moments are few and far between. Consequently, you spend much of your time doing very little and this was disappointing.
If you love cycling and the sports genre, then this will hold your attention. Thankfully, there are plenty of game modes and riding styles to try. Moreover, there is online action if that floats your boat. However, if you like to go it alone, the offline gameplay is fantastic. Yes, the controls were dumbed down and this frustrated me. Yet, the tactical choices and team orders mitigate against this shortcoming.
Tour de France 2023 is a worthy successor.
Tour de France 2023 won’t be for everyone. As such, it’ll appeal to a niche audience, and that’s fine. But if you do love cycling and you fancy becoming the leader of your team, then you can’t go wrong with this game. Though its improvements are minor, they do enough to make it stand out from its predecessor. Consequently, it’s a worthy successor and I recommend that you buy it here! Become a cycling champion and never break a sweat. Put on your virtual lycra, pick a team, and dominate the mountains.
