Euro Truck Simulator 2 is a game made available for PC and Mac by SCS Software. The main focus of the game is driving trucks around Europe, so naturally it’s most fun with a steering wheel and pedals.
The game also supports a keyboard with an attached mouse, which will provide some difficulty. The game can be played in first or third person view, but it’s more fun with first person. Euro Truck Simulator 2 has incredibly realistic physics, which make for a very amusing experience when you’re trying to drive in the third world countries (such as Turkey). When playing in the European countries though, it’s much more fast paced and enjoyable.
Euro Truck Simulator 2 is an unassuming game that requires a lot of patience to get through, but it’s also a rewarding and immersive experience from start to finish.
Note: This review will be shorter than most due to the nature of the game.
Euro Truck Simulator 2 is a driving simulator where you drive trucks around the European countryside. It’s not as exciting as it sounds.
In fact, it sounds downright boring, which is exactly why the concept of the game blows people away when they first hear about it.
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Driving around in a truck isn’t something most people would want to do in real life, but here you can do it all day long without any consequences! You’re free to explore different cities and countries (all recreated with amazing detail) without any fear of accidentally crashing into someone or getting pulled over for speeding or running out of gas. Is your rig ready? Because it’s time to hit the open road!
The game has no story or campaign mode—it’s simply you and your truck driving around on your own schedule. There are plenty of places spread throughout Europe that need to be reached by a certain time, so there are plenty of goals to work towards as you play.
The original Euro Truck Simulator
The original Euro Truck Simulator was an indie game that became a sleeper hit in the simulator genre, and its sequel has followed suit.
Euro Truck 2 is the kind of game that you can play for hours without realizing what time it is, or else you might be reminded with a text from your wife or girlfriend that you’ve been playing the game for hours and they’re out to dinner without you. It’s interesting to go back to the original game because it’s not as polished as the sequel, but it also feels more like a “game.”
The driving mechanics are more realistic, with more nuances to keep track of. For instance, if you don’t weigh down your trailer, you may have to re-adjust your steering wheel while driving on an incline; or the truck can only travel so far before it needs to get gas; or when you change lanes on a highway, there’s a moment when the steering wheel shakes very slightly, which takes a little getting used to.
The new trucking sim has some of these elements too (such as having to fill up at gas stations every now and then), but it plays much more like a typical racing game—the turn radius is much smaller and there’s less of an emphasis on momentum.
Graphics and simulation quality
The game takes place in Europe, where players can drive around the continent to pick up and deliver loads of goods in their trucks (up to 53′ long). The game offers a very realistic driving model, so players must be careful to obey the laws of physics for their vehicles. They also must learn how to use a variety of map tools, such as the GPS, truck stop search tool, and route advisor.
—The main menu is easy enough to navigate; players can choose from different game modes like Quick Drive and Career mode. In both modes, players can choose from one of five different trucks using a picker menu. Players can choose from trucks ranging from 25 metric tons all the way up to 50 metric tons (the latter being the biggest vehicle that can be driven on European roads).
—When a player first starts playing ETS2, he or she may have some difficulty navigating around the menus and learning how to drive effectively. However, once players learn how to drive and get used to the interface, they will find that this game is incredibly fun. There are plenty of challenges—like transporting goods between cities and trying not to crash.
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In most games, players drive vehicles across open landscapes. In ETS2, you drive your truck on the actual road network of Europe. You’re not just driving between checkpoints or locations; you’re driving on actual roads, whether they be freeways or two-lane country roads. When you stop at a gas station or diner to sleep for the night, your trucks are parked right by the road like normal trucks would be there. You can jump out to stretch your legs, walk around the truck to inspect it for damage (you can even open any door or hood), or just take a picture of it with your phone like I did:
There’s satisfaction in exploring new routes, seeing new golden been-there-done-that squiggles appearing on the in-game map.
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The game is broken into two parts. The first part is the actual truck driving—you choose which load you want to haul, and then drive it between its origin and destination, moving real-time traffic out of the way while obeying speed limits and getting gas along the way.
The second part is an economic simulation—you buy and sell goods at low or high prices based on how much demand there is for that good in different parts of Europe, which affects how much profit you make at each stop along your route. If you’re smart with your money, though, you can balance your business around these two mechanics so that you’re always making enough cash to pay for repairs or upgrades to your truck when needed.
Euro Truck Simulator 2 is a game that requires patience and the ability to sort information in a logical fashion. It won’t provide any new thrills or experiences, but it will appeal to players who are looking for a simulation of some of the most realistic elements of trucking.
The freedom that the player has to do their job (or not) is also something that helps ES2 stand out from its peers. The career mode can be completed in about 15 hours—including training—but there are still plenty of things to do afterwards, such as improving your driver’s skill level, buying new trucks, and pimping your fleet.
There is also an online multiplayer component which brings more life into the world and adds another reason for you to keep playing the game. If you’re looking for a deep and meaningful experience with Euro Truck Simulator 2, you won’t find it here. But if you want to drive big rigs and get paid for it, you’ve come to the right place.
The Verdict
Euro Truck Simulator 2 is not a game for everyone. The main appeal is the freedom to play it how you want—you can choose to just drive and deliver as many tons of cargo as you can, or you can also choose to spend hours looking at every last detail of your truck and the world around you. If you’re one of those who loves to immerse themselves in a world, ES2 offers more than enough depth to keep you occupied for months.
Many games offer a simulation experience, but few do so with the level of detail and excellence that is found in SCS Software’s Euro Truck Simulator 2. The basics are simple: drive from point A to point B, navigating Europe’s winding highways and byways. It’s perhaps not the most riveting premise, but it’s a cleverly designed one that allows for an incredible amount of freedom in how you approach your goals.
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It goes without saying that the game’s graphics are excellent. This is a world that you’ll want to take your time exploring; there is beauty in every corner of this landscape, whether it’s the majestic snow-capped Alps or the sun-dappled vineyards of France. There are a variety of trucks available to drive in different configurations, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, which can be enhanced as you improve your skills behind the wheel. Driving physics are solid and responsive, making for quite a realistic driving experience.
SCS Software has managed to imbue Euro Truck Simulator 2 with personality very unlike other driving games I’ve played. Despite its vast size, it feels incredibly intimate and personal.
So who would I recommend Euro Truck Simulator 2 to? I’d recommend it to anyone wanting a deeper and richer trucking sim than American Truck Simulator and the like offer, anyone who wants a game that rewards proper planning and not just seat of your pants driving, and anyone who has ever dreamed of owning their own fleet of lorries, hiring drivers and going into business for themselves.
In summary, Euro Truck Simulator 2 is a great game but with a few flaws. While it might not be for everybody because of the slow pace, it is most certainly worth picking up.
It is great for those who like to take the scenic route and enjoy the interaction of the different industries that all form part of the trucking industry, such as buying parts, hiring drivers, creating your own fleet etc . I highly recommend this game to anyone looking for a realistic truck driving simulation game or anyone big on free-roam games and simulation games.