The endless highways in California mentally drain those who approach them. The empty Gobi Desert on both sides of the road under the scorching sun. With only a few stops along the way allowing you to recover. Each stop is hosted by a new motorcycle gang, laughing, drinking and enjoying each other's company. You on the other hand are undisturbed. Eating a hot dog that you bought this morning and keeping your left hand on the steering wheel. You have no concern over today's road conditions. Although there was heavy rain in Los Angeles last night, it did not affect your driving experience today because, according to the radio, your journey will be filled by a beautiful blue sky.

This setting is common in so many American Western movies and television dramas. The enormous Gobi Desert and freeways of America give the country a sense of freedom and wildness. I believe that if you are a person who loves to drive, the wild scenery of the American West and the roar of the engine will ignite that spark within you. Thanks to video games, we can experience such American roads and drive massive trucks between endless canyons. This is American Truck Simulator.

This setting is common in so many American Western movies and television dramas. The enormous Gobi Desert and freeways of America give the country a sense of freedom and wildness. I believe that if you are a person who loves to drive, the wild scenery of the American West and the roar of the engine will ignite that spark within you. Thanks to video games, we can experience such American roads and drive massive trucks between endless canyons. This is American Truck Simulator.

This series, while nowhere near as beautiful as other racing games, gives players a completely unique experience. Many players often end their busy work day only to return home and immerse themselves in virtual time and space, becoming a dedicated truck driver in the process.

Back to American Truck Simulator, the scenery and journey have changed from the exquisite Europe to the wild North American continent. We'll be driving steel behemoths from well-known automakers like Kenworth and Ford, using a variety of automobiles to transport cargo. The American Trucker experience is at it's finest in this game.

This game is also very different from Euro Truck Simulator when it comes to details. For example having to drive on the other side of the road and even the front of the trucks themselves. The game also shows the interior and exterior details of the car very realistically. The vehicles in American Truck Simulator are more muscular than those in Euro Truck Simulator and this design style is also in line with the characteristics of Americans who love freedom and big trucks. Other details such as rain and mud, will be shown on the exterior of the trucks, making people feel very immersed. Similar to Euro Truck Simulator, the car interiors and dashboards are quite special. If you turn up the picture quality and add a set of peripherals, there may be a false illusion that you are in this vehicle. In addition, some small details in the game are also very perfect, such as the car emblem on the steering wheel, the texture, and so on.

Some other restored items, such as radios, air conditioners, cigarette lighters, etc., are beautiful little additions. These subtleties may seem insignificant to players who are used to racing and drifting racing games, but they are what make these games so intriguing. Even players who enter the game for the first time will think that this is what a real truck should look like. Except for the specific positions of some switches and the layout of each driver, the attention to detail is comparable to the real versions of these vehicles.

It's worth mentioning that, because the background of this work is set on the American continent, we'll gallop on the highway full of wilderness more often than the delicate country roads and low-lying bungalows in Europe. This includes the depictions of each environment. Being in America you will notice how much more desert and larger than life buildings there are compared to Europe. Plus the contrast in weather adding even more scenery differences to the game. Unfortunately, due to the limitations of the AI engine, the classic two-way, eight-lane highways in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and other places in the United States aren't included. In the future, I hope to experience the romance and wildness of American highways to the fullest in the game.

In terms of the urban setting, the city in the game appears prosperous from a distance, with big skyscrapers, however upon closer inspection, they look empty. Except for some gas stations, factories, auto shops, and a few decorations, basically, the vast majority of buildings are separated by empty spaces. Although to the games defense it's not trying to have an open world similar to the Grand Theft Auto games but instead focusing on transport. Fortunately, we can also experience more Mods made by players in the game's creative workshop, adding many missing elements into the game.

Among all of the roads you travel, it must be said that the country roads are the most enjoyable to drive on. Imagine the comfort you'd get when you were driving a muscle truck down the Ohio country road with the Eagles' on the radio in the early 70s. This would put a smile onto many players' faces, especially those who have nostalgia for this band.

There are also a huge variety of tasks and vehicles to play with. The game has been licensed by many well-known truck manufacturers, such as Kenworth, Ford, Stirling and Volvo to name a few. We can accumulate initial capital through bank loans or leasing other vehicles to buy our own trucks. The game also supports the steam workshop. In the workshop, we can also download and use many trucks made by players in the community. In terms of tasks, in addition to some traditional transport items, this game also allows us to transport some more exotic items. This gives players a new test of their driving and route planning skills and also raises the game's replayability to a higher level.

Although there is beautiful scenery, beautiful music, and endless highways, this does not mean that we can act recklessly in the game world. The punishment for traffic violations in this game is quite severe. If you run a red light, you will be fined. If you don't turn on the headlights in the tunnels, you will be fined. Sometimes you might even get distracted by the scenery outside. It will also cause the goods to be damaged due to careless operation, thus deducting money and reducing any other rewards. As you would expect with real life traffic laws, the same ones apply in this game. For example you will get penalized for breaking the speed limit, crashing into vehicles and driving off road. You should also be aware of how much time you have when traveling as your character will need to rest. So in the game, while enjoying the scenery, we must also focus on driving, and we must not lose sight of our goal.

American-style roads are wide and straight, while European-style roads have many challenges. Whether it is delicate and small in Europe, or majestic in North America. As a qualified truck driver, focus and responsibility are essential. Sometimes we stop and admire the surrounding scenery. Maybe in Seattle, we will spot an Eagle flying by. Head south to Clifton, and you'll linger again with the comfort of the ranch and countryside. Whether it's games or life, what we need is the excitement on the road forever, and the beauty and passion that can be felt even within this virtual world. This is the true meaning of simulation in video games.

American Truck Simulator