I am not going to assert Star Trucker was the most effective factor I noticed at Gamescom, per se, however I did come away from my hands-on demo pondering: sure, I perceive precisely what that is, and I want to play extra of it.
It is a trucking recreation, however in area. That is it. That is the pitch.
Within the announcement trailer you get a really feel for the vibe: Diners, nation music, CB radios—an apparent nod to the mythologised trucking tradition of the ’70s. That it is all taking place in deep area means it could be very simple for Star Trucker to lean into the comedy of the self-esteem, however so far as I can inform, that is not what’s taking place right here. Certain, the conversations in your CB radio appear lighthearted in tone, however in any other case the motion is performed straight.
Hauling my cargo, it is clear simply what number of cues Star Trucker is taking from the peerless Euro Truck Simulator 2—all the things from the deadline to get your cargo transported on time, to the unlockable perks that allow you to tackle extra intensive, high-paying jobs. You even must reverse your truck into the area station’s dock, a difficult little bit of manoeuvring that jogged my memory of each time in ETS2 that I attempted to again into a good parking spot in Düsseldorf to unload my cargo.
The foremost distinction, in fact, is that there aren’t any roads in area. Warping into a brand new system to move to the close by area station, although, I see a few choices. I can observe the area freeway—a curving path of floating gates that information me neatly to my vacation spot. Or I can put the area station in my windshield and take the direct path. It is the faster route, however the marked path has been cleared of any area particles. Going off-road may imply a nasty collision with some area rocks.
Any injury you maintain whereas out in your travels will have to be fastened up. In contrast to in ETS2, the place there are precise companies to try this be just right for you, Star Trucker takes a extra DIY method. Right here you’ll be able to depart your seat, climb into an area swimsuit and float across the exterior of your truck looking for holes to patch up your self. It is a neat little interplay that does a very good job of promoting the bottom fantasy of any trucking recreation—you, alone along with your car, working in direction of your vacation spot no matter the price. It would not matter if it is the backroads of Helsinki or the outer reaches of the photo voltaic system, the pleasure is similar.
I notably like how tactile your truck feels. It is not simply the connection you kind as you repair it over a protracted haul flight, however all the opposite methods you work together with it too. There is a lever for unhooking your cargo, a radio you’ll be able to activate and off, and the receiver in your CB radio that you would be able to maintain to pick branching dialogue choices. You possibly can even depart your seat and discover your cab—utilizing the area to retailer any smaller gadgets you would possibly discover in your approach, which will be traded the subsequent time you go to an area station.
Along with the extra authorized choices, you may additionally come throughout contraband in your travels, and—must you choose it up—could should reroute your journey via the much less regulated programs. The builders say there will be round 30 programs to go to within the recreation—a quantity picked as a result of it means there are extra fascinating routes to your vacation spot, together with one-way programs that you’re going to must plan round.
The demo itself was brief—make some repairs, unload some cargo, dock at a station—so I walked away wanting extra. I am to see how massive every vacation spot is, and the way a lot may be lurking away within the quieter elements of area. Broadly, although, I am wanting ahead to a extra accessible, fascinating tackle the truck sim fantasy. The act of flying my truck felt intuitive and pleasing—simply dealt with with a controller. There’s an actual sense of weight to the pitch and yaw, and that the touchstones lean extra within the route of ETS2 than, say, Elite Harmful, means there is a slower, extra thought of tempo of transferring from location to location. Primarily based on what I’ve seen up to now, Star Trucker does justice to its uncommon idea, and I am now left eagerly awaiting its arrival subsequent 12 months.
