The Good
- Strong Developer Support
- Sprawling environment to explore
- Straightforward Gameplay
The Bad
- Free drive could be more flexible
- No official online multiplayer
- Repetitive gameplay
There are a lot of Simulation games out there cov
ering a crazy array of subjects from Farming to Forklift driving. To some extent, some laws regarding video game content in some European countries can be blamed for this trend. It’s also nice to be able to do even simple things that you can’t normally do. A lot of these simulation titles are flat out garbage, with mediocre graphics and very little realism in terms of game play, the few that are decent though really tend to be shinning stars to some extend in the gaming world.
Two of the best example of good Simulation titles are the Farming Simulator and the Euro Truck Simulator titles. What really sets these games apart is the depth they go to simulating not just the basic aspect of doing some job, but also the nuance of running the entire business. Euro Truck Simulator is particularly popular due to just how much of Europe has been recreated in a virtual environment for players to cruise around in delivering their cargo. The creators of Euro Truck Simulator have set their sites on recreating a second continent for Truck Driving, with American Truck Simulator. They have stated that their plan is to do all of the United States in various DLC packs (I’m not sure if they are including Hawaii and Alaska). The base game includes California, Nevada and New Mexico. It’s not a 1:1 experience or anything but the basic idea is there, which is great.
This plan has been put on hold a bit however since the developers are currently working to rescale the world they have created to allow for more accurate interchanges and a better feeling of long range driving. Essentially, they are remaking what they have already put out to make the entire experience better, which just goes to show how dedicated they are to their cause.
There are a ton of little details to help complicate the experience that contribute to the Simulation experience. A low powered truck won’t be able to effectively pull a super heavy load. Over time, you will run out of gas unless you stop to refuel your fuel. You also will grow tired, which causes you to briefly “black out”, unless you stop at a designated rest area to sleep. You lose points (money) for running into other vehicles and walls, if you speed and get caught by the cops you get a ticket, though it’s often possible to speed and not get caught, especially on “the back roads”. When you arrive at the destination you get a chance to earn bonus experience by just dropping off the trailer, or executing a perfect back in maneuver.
The real enjoyment of this game comes from it’s laid back gameplay. There isn’t any real pressure, you aren’t racing against a bunch of other vehicles or having to worry about who will shoot you as you cruise around the world delivering various cargo trailers. Once you’ve earned enough money to buy your own truck you can even free drive at your own leisure.
The free drive mode is nice, though it kind of feels like it could be better. While free driving, you don’t carry a trailer, which kind of makes the Truck part of the game a little less fun. You also still have to worry about the game’s mechanics, such as speeding tickets, refueling, and paying for repairs. This can all add up pretty quick if you are a poor driver. It would be nice to be able to turn all of the game off and just goof around in this expansive world.
It also takes a while to “unlock” free drive mode as well, since you’ll have to save up a hefty chunk of change in order to buy even a cheap truck. Over time though as you earn money you can buy bigger and nicer trucks, as well as trick them out with custom paint and gear. You can eventually start hiring other drivers to run jobs for your company as well, to earn some passive income.
All of this is a little moot though since there isn’t a built in way to play online. There are 3rd party methods but it would be nice to have an official way to cruise around the US with your friends, or even see strangers cruising around in their fancy trucks. I imagine there would be issues with griefing where other players just run around trying to wreck people.
It’s also possible that I’m expecting too much out of this title, it is a Simulation game, it’s not “GTA with Semis”. Also don’t take too much stake in these complaints, they are issues that could be better, but the basic idea and game is pretty fun and it’s a good low pressure experience. If the developers stick to their plan to do the entire US, it could definitely turn into something really interesting, as you could virtually cruise from Los Angeles to New York.
