It won’t be long until there is a Watch Paint Dry Simulator. There’s a simulator for everything these days, and they sound moronic the more I hear about them. How come they’re so good then? This little write-up is about a certain Euro Truck Simulator 2. Yeah, I’m well aware it’s from 2012, but I’m not allowed to write about games from a while back?
This title from SCS has shown up on my Twitter feeds and YouTube compilations, but I’ve always been snobby about it, thinking that I couldn’t find one single reason for playing it. However, after watching a few Limmy streams, I thought I’d give it a go as it was on sale. 20+ hours and I’ve covered the UK and most Nordic regions, unlocking my fleet and earning a tidy penny. Ahhhh, now I get why people like this.
If you aren’t familiar with Euro Truck Simulator 2, you essentially work as an HGV driver delivering numerous goods throughout Europe. The attention to detail is fantastic. I’ve driven some of these roads IRL, and while you aren’t pointing at all the landmarks, there’s a clear difference logistically. I’m not sure how accurate the maps are, but they’re pretty epic nevertheless.
Using your truck or from the quick job menu, whatever the employer provides for you, you either drive to the pick-up point or travel fast, load up the trailer, and go away. It’s easy to cause your truck damage. A slight tap into another car, central reservation, or underestimating a curb and rolling your goods is possible. Still, the most common risks are speeding fines, traffic offences, running out of fuel and fatigue. It can be overwhelming, and depending on how seriously you take it, it can spoil the fun.
I’ve experimented with the settings (cheated) and turned off speed limits, allowing me to do 85mph with fragile goods on board. It’s far from easy as you can still crash, turn up late, etc. On top of that, while the pay is good, paying staff, maintaining the vehicles, and regularly fuelling them can be costly. There’s the option to get bank loans, but as in real life, Euro Truck Simulator 2 hits the nail on the head and replicates the borrowing process perfectly: you borrow more to pay off the previous debt and live in your overdraft. The solution? Don’t borrow!
Besides the meat and potatoes of driving and the rather tricky reverse parking, Euro Truck Simulator 2 has so many features and settings, making this the ultimate truck management game. Sure there are a few shortcuts here and there, but it’s a game at the end of the day and needs to be fun. For me, a lot of that fun comes from the customisations such as paint jobs, lights and horns, and decking out the dashboard with nodding dogs and half-eaten sandwiches.
While you’ve probably heard of the game by now, and have experience or an opinion of it, but if you haven’t had the chance to give it a go and like driving games with a bit more authenticity than using nitrous and racing with unicorns, check it out. I just loaded this up once again, and while the dolly shots are circling my Scania (sold the Merc as the former has more customisation options), I thought I’d write up a few words. Now I’m done with this, I have to finish my delivery and reach Aberdeen before sundown. If there’s another fuel shortage, I may have to offer my services…
