Release Date: 29/07/2017
Played On: Win
Available On: Mac / Win
Time Played: 78h 26m
Progress: Max Level
Developer: Red Dot Games
Publisher: PlayWay SA
To this day I'm always amazed at how much I enjoy certain simulator games. Not because I have something against the genre, but the ratio between good and bad simulators has been levelled heavily in favour of the bad for a long time now. In fact, it seems that genuinely decent simulators are rare enough that when one comes along, it should be held aloft for doing things the right way.
I suppose it's a result of current trends where YouTube "personalities" spend their time screaming over footage of terribly broken games. For a while it seemed like everything was going to be given the simulator treatment, if only to provide some more chaff for these irritating videos to be made.
Much to the disappointment of gamers like me, who enjoy a decent simulator and often find it too hard to weed out the good ones from the cynical cash ins. So when I eventually played Car Mechanic Simulator 2015, I knew I'd be paying attention to future iterations. As with other series like the OG Farming Simulator and the Euro Truck games, when I find a decent simulator I'll be checking in on future versions with interest.
Unlike the Farming Simulator games though, the Car Mechanic Simulator series has produced a satisfying level of iteration and progression from one instalment to the next. I've played Car Mechanic Simulator 2015, 2017, and 2018, which have all brought new elements to the format and expanded on each predecessor.
With that in mind, it stands to reason that Car Mechanic Simulator 2018 is the best in the series so far. If you've never played any of these games and want to check them out, always go with the most recent, as it will be the one with the most options and largest range of activities and detail. It might seem like an obvious statement to make, but I've seen the Farming Simulator series go back and forth on their quality between games, and the most recent title in that series is far from the best.
Essentially, Car Mechanic Simulator 2018 contains everything from the previous two games, as well as more additions. There are more cars, more jobs, more space, more systems, and a whole lot more to keep you busy and working away as long as you like.
If you're not familiar with the series, the gameplay is pretty straight forward. You begin as a relatively unskilled mechanic in a small garage with limited tools. Accepting repair jobs will bring you money and experience, but the bigger and better jobs are locked behind a progression system that unlocks options as you level up.
Fixing cars involves a process of diagnosing the issue and fixing or replacing parts. Mechanically speaking, you switch between different modes when looking at a car in order to perform different actions. When you click on a part like a tire, your camera will lock to that point and give you the option of inspecting the part, or removing/adding the part from where it's meant to go.
Of course, most parts on a car are connected to others, so it can become a complex puzzle of removing certain parts just to get to the part you want. Taking off a wheel is as simple as undoing the bolts holding it, while replacing a gearbox or flywheel means removing entire sections to gain access.
In the early game, most jobs will arrive with details about the parts that need to be replaced, but as you level up and gain access to more tools, the diagnosis system comes into play. At this point a lot of jobs will say something like "there's a rattling from the driver's side" or something equally as vague. However, you can apply a number of different tests to properly determine what's going on.
There's a test track to drive around and get a feel for how the suspension, brakes, acceleration, and gears are working. Then there's an indoor straight track and handheld tools that will test things like engine piston pressure, electronic systems, or tyre tread condition. It might seem a little complicated at first, but you unlock each diagnostic system slowly as you progress, so there's plenty of time to get used to how each one works.
Besides, the cars will also show wear and tear visually, with lower-condition parts appearing to be rusted and dirty. It's not always easy to tell which parts are actually broken by simply looking, but you eventually get used to seeing damaged parts and identifying them accurately. Plus, if you have a good vantage point you're able to examine a part, which will highlight it in a colour indicating its condition.
These systems all interact with each other in a way that makes sense and ultimately works to help you feel like you're getting the job done. Of course performing actions like 'examining' a part involve pressing a button and seeing what colour it turns, but at the end of the day that's kind of enough to keep things moving. After all, there's a lot of 'game' in this simulator, but I think that's why I like it after all.
When I played PC Building Simulator, I had a hard time getting used to the fact that a lot of the real-world process was simplified to the point of being incorrect. Building PCs is something I've done for decades, so it felt a little jarring to have the process simplified, even though I know it's a game and it's probably never going to be an exact replica of real-world experience. So as I sing Car Mechanic Simulator 2018's praises, remember that I knew nothing about fixing cars before I loaded up the game.
I feel like I'd have the same reaction to this game if I were an actual mechanic. All the 'game' parts that make it easier for non-experts to play would no doubt feel restrictive and get in the way of me doing what I knew I could do in real life. For instance, there are certain parts in the engine bay of cars in the game that have to be accessed from either above or below, with no choice in the matter. Even though you can clearly see that certain parts are accessible from one side, the game will often force you to come at it from a different angle.
It might not sound like much, but there are other 'gamey' things that no doubt ruin the experience for actual mechanics. For instance, parts like the ABS system aren't actually connected to anything else in the game, they're simply floating in the engine bay. Similarly the radiator and air filters aren't actually connected to any other part of the engine, which seems a little strange and 'unrealistic'.
This is why I kind of gave PC Building Simulator a pass, even though I didn't enjoy it as much as I think I could have. In the same way, I think I might be enjoying Car Mechanic Simulator 2018 a lot more than I would if I knew more about fixing cars. It's an important thing to think about if you're wondering how much you'd enjoy these kind of games, as your own knowledge on the subject will drastically change your experience.
As a total numbskull, I've actually learned a lot from playing Car Mechanic Simulator 2018, that I might not have otherwise known. I never knew most of the parts that went into an engine, even if they're simplified in game, I now know what a 'rocker arm' is. Thankfully I also know a tiny bit to know roughly what each part does as well, but I'm not about to pull my car apart after playing the game either.
I suppose that simulators are also subject to the debate over authenticity versus realism that we can apply to many other gaming genres. Call Of Duty for example, is an authentic military shooter, but it's far from being realistic, as your player character is capable of impossible feats of strength and dexterity. However, this isn't a problem because often the sacrifice in realism is done for the sake of enjoyment and entertaining gameplay.
In a lot of ways, Car Mechanic Simulator 2018 might just be the Call Of Duty of simulators. Maybe I just wanted to write that sentence, but it's not entirely a joke as there are similarities in how each game approaches realism and authenticity. Car Mechanic Simulator 2018 is far from completely realistic, as there are many gameplay systems that exist purely to make life easier for the player. At the same time though, it sticks to authenticity enough to make it feel like you're doing something that has some kind of real-world application.
With that in mind, I often look at simulators as a way to appreciate what it would be like to perform those tasks in the real world. After playing this game I feel like I have more of an appreciation for what my mechanic is doing to my car when I take it to be serviced. I sure as hell don't know enough to tell them how to do their job, but when they hand me the bill I feel like I appreciate the value a little more than I did previously.
Thus, I don't mind if games like Car Mechanic Simulator 2018 aren't all that realistic, or include magical tools and mechanics that make the game more enjoyable to play. It's why I find it hard to have an opinion at all on PC Building Simulator, because I can't appreciate it as a game when I know what's missing from the real process.
Perhaps the point is that we should only play simulator games that focus on fields of expertise that are new to us. There are games out there that attempt to be as realistic as possible, but at the end of the day you're still playing a game and nothing will completely emulate a real life experience. Maybe it's best to stick to the simulators that will teach you something, instead of appearing to be limited because you know more than the game is willing to present.
Either way, I think it's safe to say that in the landscape of simulation games available to us today, Car Mechanic Simulator 2018 is up there with the best on offer. There's a nice balance between realistic depth and engaging gameplay, and this edition of the series is the most detailed yet. Not to mention the fact that the game actually works and was bug-free for all of the hours I put into it.
The real difference with these kind of simulators for me, is how easy it is to get things done. Some of the more 'realistic' versions of games often come with a hefty user interface and complex control schemes that end up doing my head in, but Car Mechanic Simulator is straight forward and makes sense. There's enough obfuscation to make it feel complex at times, but it never gets out of control and it's hard to completely ruin your own progress.
It’s this balance that makes this a good simulator game, even though it still depends on your own knowledge and experience. Suffice to say that as far as simulators go, Car Mechanic Simulator 2018 is worth checking out. The most surprising aspect of the entire genre is still just how compelling it is to perform certain tasks over and over again.
Maybe on top of the gamification of the job, real mechanics would also hate it because it feels like going to work, but for the rest of us it's a fun way to experience a different world. Much like driving trucks around Europe, or farming crops in Scandinavia, there's something about these games that scratch a certain itch I never knew I had.
All simulators need to be approached with scepticism if you're ever going to avoid the trash that makes up the pile, but there are definitely some gems to be found. I'm hoping the next Car Mechanic Simulator iteration will bring in some more detail and new systems, as I feel like it's already established a fine progression system and excellent game mechanics. The only thing that might kill this series for me is just more of the same, or removing features that are already in the game.
I'm looking at you Farming Simulator 19.