For many simulation fanatics, the Pro Cycling Manager series needs no introduction. Its robust gameplay and RTS elements help it stand head and shoulders above the rest.
Similar to the Football Manager series, Pro Cycling Manager uses a system that has you managing a cycling team. The core elements from previous releases are still intact, including the ability to micromanage your team. The game still includes the day to day business mechanics as well. Additional tasks involve reading emails, trading players, finding sponsors and tending to injured team members.
Pro Cycling Manager 2014 incorporates a handful of new features. The one that stands out the most is the GUI (Graphical User Interface); it’s more efficient and very easy to use. Everything is either accessible through drop down menus or in front of you on the dashboard. The updated GUI is simple in design and very effective. It eliminates the hassle of searching through endless menus for sponsors and other important features.
Like its predecessors, Pro Cycling Manager 2014‘s gameplay is based on real-time strategy. When it comes time to race, you are given full control over your entire team. The real-time strategy feature allows the player to issue orders to a single team member or an entire group.
This feature gives you control over every maneuver your team executes. You can also queue up multiple orders at any given time. This is a more efficient way of micromanaging; it allows you to focus on additional team members without babysitting just one.
The re-designed cycling system now includes a feature where you can place as many cyclists as you want on Autopilot. What Autopilot essentially does is allow you to watch the entire race without micromanaging any of your cyclists. This feature is brilliant; you can watch the race in its entirety without worrying about any of your cyclists.
There are times when micromanaging seven cyclists can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re new to the Pro Cycling series. Newcomers should start the game by using Autopilot. The Autopilot feature is a great way for the player to evaluate how the game operates.
When Autopilot is disabled, there are a lot of features that you must micromanage – drinking water, setting up relays and infinite relays, and maintaining positions. Even reference levels must be monitored constantly. Plus, you have to juggle your cyclists’ effort levels. Setting this feature too high will cause your team to overexert themselves. In return, this will lower their overall performance and cause them to lose the race.
Knowing when to fetch water and use energy gel can mean the difference between winning and losing a race. Even planning an ‘attack’ on the pack can result in losing valuable time, especially if the tactic is unsuccessful.
Everything you do in Pro Cycling Manager 2014 must be methodically planned out. It may not be obvious at first, but the game requires your undivided attention. By all means, do not be intimidated by the overabundance of features. The game just requires a little bit of play time in order for you to become a decent manager. Not to worry, though — the game comes with an extensive tutorial that explains everything from sponsorships to micromanaging your team.
The only gripe I have is the lack of realistic rosters. But this is easy to fix, as you are able to download realistic rosters and cyclist photos.
Pro Cycling Manager 2014 comes with a plethora of graphical settings that allow you to customize the graphic settings to your liking. The graphics can be rather demanding, depending on the settings being used. These settings can be changed anytime via the Main Menu or during the course of the game. And no matter what kind of gaming rig you have, you are sure to find a setting that fits your specifications.
Aside from having the best single-player campaign of any simulation manager, Pro Cycling Manager 2014 includes an online multiplayer feature where your fantasy team can race against online players. The online competition is fierce, as gamers work hard to prove their skills as a manager.
Pro Cycling Manager 2014 is, by far, the best in the series. It not only does it offer features that have never been seen before in the series, but it’s an improvement over last year’s release.
Fans of the Pro Cycling Manager series will enjoy the improvements made to this year’s release. People new to the series will find the game challenging, but the tutorial will quickly ease them into the manager’s seat. Just remember to stay focused and keep your racers hydrated.
James ‘Daripp3r’ Pittaro
Platform: PC (Available on Steam)
System Requirements
Minimum:
OS: Windows XP SP3/WINDOWS VISTA SP2/WINDOWS 7/WINDOWS 8
Processor: AMD/INTEL DUAL-CORE 2.2 GHZ
Memory: 2048 MB RAM
Graphics: 256 MB 100% DIRECTX 9 AND SHADERS 3.0 COMPATIBLE NVIDIA GEFORCE 7900/ATI RADEON X1600/INTEL HD 2000
Hard Drive: 11 GB available space
Sound Card: DIRECTX 9 COMPATIBLE
Additional Notes: INTERNET CONNECTION REQUIRED FOR GAME ACTIVATION AND ONLINE GAMING
Developer: Cyanide Studio
Publisher: Focus Home Entertainment
ESRB: N/A
Price: $39.99
Pro Cycling Manager 2014’s Official Website
| Review Score | |
|---|---|
| Graphics |  |
| Photorealistic graphics that will take your breath away. | |
| Sound |  |
| A stunning compilation of tranquil music. | |
| Gameplay | |
| The gameplay contains the richness of a real-time strategy game with micromanagement features. | |
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Pro Cycling Manager 2014, and its predecessors, are the best cycling games available on PC today, bar none. | |
