PCM 2018 vs. PCM 2023

[Cesco]

Hello ladies and gents,

I only play Career mode and usually I make my own team incl. maillot and accessoires and sometimes even custom cyclists after adding the DB World database.
Back in 2018 you had a decent training system, scouting was a bit 'meh'. Brakeaways weren't always succesfull either.

With those things in mind.. Is is worthwhile to get the new PCM 2023? The costs don't mean that much to me as long as there have been improvements. If it's still the same old systems and gameplay mechanics; is there a version you recommend when it comes to gameplay? Maybe 21 or 22?

Kind regards and have a nice day!

[pascalou]

if you like to play career mode like me, I recommend the PCM 22! This is the same as the 2023 without all the faults. I think he is the best in the series and we wonder why this one is so bad starting from good bases and having very few changes.

[malichus]

I would stay away from PCM 2023. I've only been playing this game for 6 years, but I think this is the worst version yet. Sadly, it has many really good innovations, that could have made it the best version yet. Unfortunately, overall it's turned out to be a very miserable and frustrating gaming experience.

[Paul]

Originally posted by malichus:

I would stay away from PCM 2023. I've only been playing this game for 6 years, but I think this is the worst version yet. Sadly, it has many really good innovations, that could have made it the best version yet. Unfortunately, overall it's turned out to be a very miserable and frustrating gaming experience.

.. ist not frustrating game expierience .. still the same as years before .. so no need to buy the new one really .. only if you want to get it

[Cesco]

Originally posted by malichus:

I would stay away from PCM 2023. I've only been playing this game for 6 years, but I think this is the worst version yet. Sadly, it has many really good innovations, that could have made it the best version yet. Unfortunately, overall it's turned out to be a very miserable and frustrating gaming experience.

Why is it so miserable and frustrating?

[malichus]

Originally posted by Cesco:

Why is it so miserable and frustrating?

Many small things and a couple of big ones.

1) Pro Cyclist mode lack of fitness peaks while the AI still have them is one major thing that has made it unplayable for me. It really feels like a cheat built into the game to make it more challenging (as Cyanide has said they thought taking away the fitness peak would make it a challenge).

2) I don't think all of the AI riders have to deal with energy management. So far, after 70 hours, I keep seeing some AI riders just have infinite energy. Either that or your riders lose energy faster. I know they changed things a bit so maybe they did not change it for the AI somehow. Or maybe they deliberately left the old system in for the AI as "challenge" since they seem to prefer having the AI cheat to improving the AI.

So, here's one example of many similar experiences that I posted in another thread

I took my team in career mode, a conti-pro team, into a technically flat stage that had a short but hard climb ending 4k from the finish. My sprinter was great during our continental season, 5th in wins that year, but not good at this level. So, I saw this as an opportunity given that he has mid 70's stamina and resistance, and low 70's hill, and 5 of the other 6 riders were good punchers for this level, high 70's in hill and resistance. Most of them had +3 RDC (which is maximum I use) as most were on fitness peaks, which is why this looked like a good shot.

So, set my train up for the final hill, my punchers go HAM up the hill, and I'm seeing no change in the numbers. 180 riders started the hill, 180 riders went up with us. One, two, three punchers down, 180 riders following. Finally, in the last 1k we got some separation. My sprinter hung on, barely. His lead-out man did not, but I didn't expect him to and so he had started the climb at the back of the train.

Slow down a bit on the last flat section so my sprinter can recover a bit, and within 1k the peleton is all together, except, of course, my spent riders. Not one AI rider dropped. Then the sprint trains pass me like I'm standing still, their sprinters take off, easily remaining at a sprint for most of the last k while my sprinter has to wait for the last 500 yards and still runs out of red bar before the line, coming in 11th.

I check the stats of the top 10 on the stage. Not one of them has a green number in stamina or resistance. Not one of them has a hill rating over 60. Despite that, they kept up with my team and must have had more red bar than my punchy sprinter had for the sprint. I did beat the best sprinters at that race, but somehow the 3rd string were better. If I'd been beaten by better riders on the day, I'd have just shrugged and thought, "well, I tried, they were just better", but, they weren't better even if they'd had a +5 RDC.

So, already an overlong post, but I could go on and on. Now, it could just be observational bias. Maybe I missed something that explains these weird things. I love the increased challenge in sprints, they did make the AI better and they are much more fun, and given how primitive the AI is its long overdue. However, overall these kinds of things ruin the game, at least for me, because you're left feeling cheated. Its like you're playing in the doping era and your team is clean.

[Cesco]

Originally posted by malichus:

So, already an overlong post, but I could go on and on.

I read your post and I thank you for your time and explanations.
Point 1 isn't really meant for me since I never touched that play mode, but I fully hear your other points and they sound concerning if playing career mode like I would.

Having an 'unfair' AI during career mode does sound troublesome and if this is the case I think I might hold off on buying this year's version too and stick to PCM 18 for now.

Was/is one of the versions between 18 and 23 that good that you would absolutely recommend by any chance?
Pascalou already recommended PCM 22 and I might look into that one if I hear more positive thing about that version.

Cheers!

[Cosmo 🐲]

Originally posted by malichus:

I would stay away from PCM 2023. I've only been playing this game for 6 years, but I think this is the worst version yet. Sadly, it has many really good innovations, that could have made it the best version yet. Unfortunately, overall it's turned out to be a very miserable and frustrating gaming experience.

Wich one is the best in the series?

[JulesK92]

Originally posted by Cosmo:

Originally posted by malichus:

I would stay away from PCM 2023. I've only been playing this game for 6 years, but I think this is the worst version yet. Sadly, it has many really good innovations, that could have made it the best version yet. Unfortunately, overall it's turned out to be a very miserable and frustrating gaming experience.

Wich one is the best in the series?

i think between 2005 -2010 was the best years of this game

[Benchwarmer]

Is it correct that PCM 2018 doesn't need pylobby account? aka giving the devs your email adress and access to monitor you.

[Cesco]

Originally posted by Benchwarmer:

Is it correct that PCM 2018 doesn't need pylobby account? aka giving the devs your email adress and access to monitor you.

Doesn't need an account for nothing.

[Benchwarmer]

Originally posted by Cesco:

Originally posted by Benchwarmer:

Is it correct that PCM 2018 doesn't need pylobby account? aka giving the devs your email adress and access to monitor you.

Doesn't need an account for nothing.

What about PCM 2023? Is that pylobby account needed for single player or is that only a multiplayer thing?

[Dyllanw]

No, this game gets worse every year. Save your money.

[Benchwarmer]

Originally posted by pascalou:

if you like to play career mode like me, I recommend the PCM 22! This is the same as the 2023 without all the faults. I think he is the best in the series and we wonder why this one is so bad starting from good bases and having very few changes.

What about PCM 2020? I've been reading lot of stuff about versions 2020-2024 and 2020 seems to be the most bug free? Also it's often on sale in different official third party sites.

And when reading PCM Daily, people liked 2022 quite a lot during release year. Though it's same price as 2023 atm on sale.

I'm new to the series so I probably would play in normal difficulty so tough mountains and sprints probably arent tough when playing in normal?

[Chthonic Guardian]

Both 22 and 23 are good. I find 23 easier to schedule fitness peaks, so I like it better, but that is just me.
22 it is easier to win sprints.

Other than that I find them the same.

[Cosmo 🐲]

Originally posted by JulesK92:

Originally posted by Cosmo:

Wich one is the best in the series?

i think between 2005 -2010 was the best years of this game

Thank you