18 Wheels of Steel: Across America
- August 26, 2016
- Sunstorm Interactive
- 30h median play time
Get on Steam"18 Wheels of Steel: Across America" is a trucking simulation game that allows players to haul freight across the continental United States. Players must manage their money, choose their loads, and navigate various challenges while driving across the country. The game features a realistic driving experience with accurate physics and a wide variety of customizable trucks.
Reviews
- The game is nostalgic and brings back fond childhood memories for many players.
- It features a large map, a variety of trucks, and simple yet engaging gameplay.
- Players appreciate the ability to interact with AI truckers and the game's decent soundtrack.
- The AI traffic is poorly programmed, often causing frustrating collisions and hindering gameplay.
- The game suffers from outdated graphics and clunky controls, which can detract from the experience.
- Many players have reported technical issues, including crashes and installation errors.
- graphics6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as dated and unrealistic, reflecting its age of over 20 years. While some players appreciate the nostalgic charm and find the visuals acceptable for an older title, others note that the graphics may not meet modern standards. Overall, the visuals are seen as a significant drawback, but they do not detract from the game's overall enjoyment for long-time fans.
“Honestly, a cool old gem in the SCS series. Sure, it's old and the graphics look poor compared to today's standards, but if you look past those glaring issues, you will find a decent game. Nostalgia really captures your attention, and if you played this during your childhood, I promise you won't have a bad time playing it.”
“I remember playing this when it was first launched and clocked up many hours on it. Yes, this may be an old game, but it was and still is an amazing game to play. The graphics are dated, but it's well worth the money and will also run on most laptops.”
“Quite good graphics for an old game.”
“Honestly, a cool old gem in the SCS series. Sure, it's old and the graphics look terrible compared to today's standards. Look past all those glaring issues, and you, my friend, will have a decent game. Nostalgia really gets your attention, and if you played this during your childhood, I promise you, on top of the above things, you won't have a bad time playing this.”
“Graphics are outdated and unrealistic. Don't expect much from a 14-year-old game.”
“Dated graphics.”
- gameplay4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity and variety, offering multiple modes and interactive features such as NPC interactions and first-person indicators. While the game includes challenges like traffic obstacles, players can enjoy a fun experience with easy controls and additional functionalities like side mirrors.
“The gameplay is simple yet engaging.”
“There are variable gameplay modes that keep things interesting.”
“You can have a lot of fun in this game, with features like adding side mirrors with an F key, interacting with NPC truckers, noticeable indicators in first-person mode, and very easy gameplay!”
“Traffic is programmed exclusively to destroy your truck, cargo, and gameplay.”
“Simple gameplay.”
“Variable gameplay mode.”
- music3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's music features a great soundtrack, including a jukebox with fitting royalty-free metal and rock songs that enhance the overall vibe. Players have noted that the music can create a relaxing atmosphere, sometimes leading to humorous situations, such as dozing off while driving.
“Great soundtrack.”
“There's a jukebox that has some royalty-free metal and rock songs that fit the vibe perfectly.”
“I used to drive the truck while listening to soft music, getting sleepy and becoming a dangerous driver, lol.”
“The music in this game is so forgettable that I often find myself turning it off completely.”
“The soundtrack feels repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“The background music is overly simplistic and doesn't match the intensity of the gameplay.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is best experienced on a 4:3 or 5:4 screen ratio, which enhances the field of view and performance, though overall AI performance is lacking. Despite these issues, the nostalgic value and low price of $9.99 lead to a more favorable rating.
“A 4:3 or 5:4 screen ratio with black bars is ideal, since you get the full horizontal field of view, more vertical field of view, and better performance.”
“I should rate it a 4/10 due to the poor AI performance, but with nostalgia and the generous price of $9.99, I give it a 6/10.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the humor in the game's quirky AI traffic behavior, which often leads to amusing and unexpected situations while driving high-speed trucks. The combination of serious trucking simulation with lighthearted moments contributes to an enjoyable and entertaining experience.
“This is the first ever game that got me into trucking and driving. I played this every now and then, and looking back, it feels strange. The high-class trucks are like rockets; they'll just launch off, and you won't be able to stop in time unless you pay close attention. The AI traffic is very noob and very funny. I play it because I want to roam across America.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is nostalgic and reminiscent of earlier titles in the 18 Wheels of Steel series, evoking fond childhood memories despite not being as realistic as newer entries.
“This game is one of the best from the 18 Wheels of Steel series. It's not as realistic as the newer ones, but it still has that nostalgic atmosphere I remember from my childhood.”
