Simulator junkies unite. Euro Truck Simulator 2 was Greenlit some time ago and is now available on the Steam Network. Easily one of the most realistic driving simulators available on PC, Euro Truck Simulator 2 can be considered the king of the genre.
You start the game as a lonely delivery truck driver who works for multiple trucking companies trying to earn a living. You have dreams of opening your own company, but accomplishing this dream will not be easy. The game includes multiple ways of completing these tasks. Additionally, the player has complete control over the way it is done.
Once you get a few paychecks under your belt, you will automatically purchase your own warehouse. This is when things become difficult. You can either continue working as a temp driver or borrow start up money from a bank to start your own company. Problem is, your company immediately starts off in debt.
As you continue to make deliveries, you will unlock more options to borrow additional money. Like I stated earlier, you can also choose to continue driving for other companies and earn money the old fashion way.
You can purchase your first truck once you have raised enough capital, but there are a lot of responsibilities involved in owning your own vehicle. This is something the player learns very early on during the game. You have to pay for your own gas, vehicle upgrades and any damage that is inflicted to your vehicle while it’s being driven. When you work for a separate company, everything – including gas and the expenses already mentioned – are completely covered.
But it’s an empowering feeling to own your own company. You have to manage everything from your trucks to workers. To hire workers, you have to visit employment agencies to search for them. Once hired, you have to upgrade your warehouse to accommodate the extra employees. This also includes purchasing new trucks for them to drive. Your finances will quickly disappear, so managing your money becomes a juggling act. Plus, you can’t forget to pay your employees.
Euro Truck Simulator 2 doesn’t limit the driving experience. The player can drive to any city without being restricted. This enhances the gameplay; it allows the player to truly enjoy the game.
The weather physics are fantastic; they can affect the way you drive your truck. There are times when you will face extreme weather such as rain, thunder storms and fog to name a few. The rain looks realistic as it beads down your truck’s windshield. As you learn to deal with the weather, AI controlled drivers will sometimes make the roads just as dangerous. Some drivers are civil, while others can be aggressive and very dangerous.
Speed traps are another problem you need to be concerned about. Being caught speeding usually results in a hefty fine. There are speed cameras all over Europe, and the authorities will catch you breaking the speed limit if you’re not careful. Some deliveries don’t require you to keep a schedule, so you don’t have to rush through your route to be on time (which is when you could find yourself speeding to the drop off location).
As you make deliveries, you will earn experience and money based on how far you have driven and whether your cargo was damaged during the trip. A well-balanced RPG system keeps track of it all. You can also earn additional experience if you park your truck. There is an option to skip the parking segment, but the additional experience is worth it. Parking your truck along with its trailer can be difficult at first, but it can be mastered after a few tries.
As you continue to earn experience, you are given one point per level to increase your attributes in certain categories. These attributes include driving longer distances, the ability to support more valuable cargo and even different certificates to carry certain types of hazardous materials.
One unique feature is the ability to use the radio inside your truck. You have the choice of using internet radio or choosing a private collection from your HDD. Using the internet radio feature is simple, and all you have to do is select ‘Search’. It will come back with a handful of radio stations for you to enjoy.
It feels like you are stepping into a separate reality when you play Euro Truck Simulator 2. As mentioned earlier, it is one of the best truck driving simulators available on the market today. With that said, there are a few things I would like to see in future installments. An online feature of some kind would be a great addition to the series. Even if this online feature didn’t allow gamers to play together, developer SCS Software could implement a chat system that would resemble CB Radio communication.
Implementing restaurants or even a truck stop where you could stop and interact with players would be another great feature. Who wouldn’t enjoy stopping somewhere after a long cargo haul and chatting it up with gamers from around the world?
Aside from the aforementioned suggestions, there is little else you could ask for as far as game features are concerned. Euro Truck Simulator 2 fires on all cylinders with some of the best gameplay ever seen in a simulator.
James ‘Daripp3r’ Pittaro
Platform: PC (Available on Steam)
System Requirements
Minimum:
OS: Windows XP
Processor: Dual core CPU 2.4 GHz
Memory: 2 GB RAM
Graphics: GeForce 7600 GT-class equivalent
DirectX: 9.0c
Hard Drive: 2 GB HD space
Sound: Direct-X compatible
Developer: SCS Software
Publisher: SCS Software
ESRB: N/A
Price: $39.99
| Review Score | |
|---|---|
| Graphics |  |
| The graphics are visually stunning. | |
| Sound | |
| The trucks, traffic and internet radio add to the realism. | |
| Gameplay | |
| An absolute pleasure to play. | |
| Overall | |
|---|---|
| Euro Truck Simulator 2 is the best truck simulator money can buy. | |
