Every year, summer goes into sports mode, and one sport in particular comes to the fore. The Olympics may be in the shadows, but the Tour de France, which is just around the corner, is sure to be the talk of the town. And it’s the 2024 version that we’re going to focus on here in this test.
My bike is beautiful.
Tour de France 2024 is, of course, the officially licensed game published once again by Nacon. This version will once again allow us to ride through numerous stages of the Grande Boucle.
However, unlike the 2023 version, this version isn’t all that innovative. In other words, we’ll still be starting with training to get the hang of it. But without changing the original gameplay.
If you’re new to the genre, then don’t worry, you’ll make your mark and learn that cycling isn’t as easy as all that. The title remains very strategic and doesn’t require you to pedal like a maniac to the finish line. You’ll learn how to pedal, manage exhaustion and give orders to your teammates. Yes, this is a team sport after all. But don’t worry, the game will teach you all this at the start, and you’ll soon get the hang of it.
Once you’ve done that, you’ll be ready to take on the races offered by Tour de France 2024. There are several game modes and competitions to choose from. There’s the classic race mode, with official races such as the Tour de France, Paris-Roubaix and many others. But you can also create your own competition.
Other modes include Club Tour, online mode with races of the moment, and Criterium. Suffice to say, you’ll have plenty to do, especially online, where everything is set up to offer you real competition.
It’s beautiful, but it’s a long way off.
Tour de France 2024 is a game for cycling enthusiasts, and does it well. But let’s be honest. The game relies on what it’s already done and doesn’t innovate that much. Especially the graphics, which are once again crude and don’t pay tribute to the sport. If you look at the riders, you’ll notice that they all look the same and have no personality. Other elements are just color swapped without changing. Which is a real shame, since we’re not asking for much, just a little more variety.
You get the feeling that this is the only title of its kind, since Cyanide is offering us a copy of the previous year’s game, with various additions. But none of the mechanics have really been revised. And that’s its biggest flaw.
In the end, even if the title hasn’t evolved much, it’s not bad. It will delight fans of the genre, and that’s the primary aim. But we can also understand the grumbling of those who, every year, hope for an overhaul of their games of the year. While still being a reference in the genre. Perhaps the game engine and mechanics need to be overhauled to finally offer a richer, less generic title. We hope this will be the case for the 2025 version.
