The only annoying part of the sound comes from the passengers. But they’re all different enough to suggest some sort of accuracy. ![]() Unfortunately, I can’t comment on the accuracy of the bus sounds since these particular models aren’t found on American roads. It’s clear that the team at Stillalive Studios did its homework with the buses. There’s also plenty of ambient noise in the game world that varies by time of day as well.Įach of the eight bus models sounds slightly different too. Everything on the buses makes a realistic noise, from the diesel engine to airbags that allow the bus to kneel down. I rather liked the sounds in Bus Simulator 18 for the most part. Obviously, this is similar to real life, but I feel like with some depth they wouldn’t blend into the road. Sometimes the potholes are difficult to see until you’re right on top of them. This only really poses a problem when driving at night. They seem to lack any real depth or height, which detracts slightly from the overall experience. The standing water from puddles looks great, but things like the potholes and speed bumps could be better. I always find it unsettling when an NPC talks without moving their mouth. They also lack facial expressions and they give a goofy grin while talking to you. ![]() While there are several models that range from young students through elderly passengers, they still look pretty generic. There are a couple of downfalls with the graphics. But with varied textures, plentiful details in the vehicles, and several unique items in the world it’s not bad by any means. Since Bus Simulator 18 uses the Unreal Engine 4, it still looks very much like a video game. Overall the graphics are good but don’t expect photorealism. It worked great and setup was fairly straightforward. I mainly played the game with an Xbox One controller, but I did try out my Thrustmaster T150 too. To further enhance the feel, a number of wheels work with Bus Simulator 18 as well. Remember these beasts can weigh upwards of 15 tons, so a little finesse is needed. Just don’t go in expecting Gran Turismo Sport levels of precision. ETS2 and ATS players will probably pick it up really quick. It does take a bit of getting used to how the buses behave. However, upgrade to the more powerful buses and you’ll easily conquer anything the game throws at you. You feel this when trying to pull away from a light or climb a steep hill. Some of the lower tier buses are rather weak in the torque department. Torque is another big plus for the physics. Turn too sharply and you’ll lose control, or worse, flip the whole thing. Slam on the brakes and you feel the air brakes work. The weight is there, which is often the most important part of the physics when it comes to sim like this. Unlike sim racing games this isn’t actually a bad thing.Įach bus feels different as you drive along. Like every game with Steam Workshop integration, adding mods to the game is a cinch. I downloaded a couple of different things to check them out. ![]() There are also a few cheats too if you’re looking for a quick way to make money. In the Steam Workshop alone there are hundreds of buses, skins, textures, and even additional maps. In addition to the online game mode, there’s also a thriving mod community too. This made it way more fun than dealing with the dreaded rammers. The few folks I played with took the game seriously. This isn’t the case with Bus Simulator 18. Drivers speed around and smash into cars virtually everywhere. If you play ETS2 online, you know that not everyone is out for realism. ![]() One thing that rather impressed me though was that most people online are out to play the game as it’s intended. The connection seemed solid and the experience was decently fun. In the few games I joined, I never experienced any issues. There you can drive routes, generate income, and be an “employee” of a digital bus company. It’s relatively simple to jump into an online game where you can join up with someone’s company. While I’m not one for online gaming, Bus Simulator 18 offers a decent multiplayer experience. So you’re looking at a little more than $50 for the full package. The base game is $34.99 and the map expansion will at another $15.99 on top of that. However, it does come at a bit of a cost. These include models with CNG engines, larger coach-style buses, and my personal favorite: the bendy bus.Īll in all it’s a good experience and while on the surface content seems lacking, there’s plenty to do. Once you get to higher levels, specialty buses are unlocked.
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