Bus Driver Simulator 2019
- December 4, 2019
- KishMish Games
Bus Driver Simulator 2019 offers a realistic experience of a bus driver, with various routes and schedules to follow while obeying traffic laws. Customize your routes, buses, and decorations, and earn money to upgrade. The game features a variety of buses from different eras and countries, with the freedom to play as you like, including life-like tasks beyond driving.
PC
Playstation 4
PlayStation
Reviews
- The game has a charming atmosphere and captures the essence of driving in small-town Russia with its unique bus models and traffic dynamics.
- Many players find the game enjoyable and relaxing, especially when driving and interacting with passengers.
- The developers are responsive to feedback and have made improvements over time, adding new content and fixing bugs.
- The game suffers from poor graphics and outdated visuals, which detracts from the overall experience.
- Controller and steering wheel support is lacking, making it difficult for players to enjoy the game as intended.
- The AI traffic is problematic, often causing accidents that result in unfair penalties for the player.
- graphics54 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 26 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many users noting that they appear outdated and reminiscent of titles from over a decade ago. While some players appreciate the visual charm and detail in certain aspects, such as bus models and real-world locations, others criticize the overall quality, describing it as poor or even revolting. Despite some improvements in updates, the consensus leans towards the graphics needing significant enhancement to meet modern standards.
“I liked this one instantly a lot more for its nice graphics.”
“The graphics are beautiful even if they seem a little outdated, but the game is worth buying because of its real-world locations - 4 maps with all the DLCs (there are two maps with winter environment options as well but sadly the people are still dressed in summer clothes) and all of its historical buses.”
“Of all the sims - not just bus simulators - this sim 'Bus Driver 2019' has by far the best graphics: crisp, realistic, modern, detailed, vibrant colors, unsurpassed quality... and this is true not only of the normal flat-screen mode but also of the VR mode as well, provided of course you have modern decent hardware.”
“The graphics are over 10 years behind.”
“I could understand if this game were pushing some mind-blowing graphics, but even on the highest settings, they're serviceable at best.”
“The graphics are extremely dated, but the buses are pretty cool in my opinion.”
- gameplay12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally described as satisfying with good mechanics, particularly for a simulator focused on classic Soviet buses. However, some users find it barebones and lacking in depth, with standard driving physics that feel generic. While the ticket-selling and bus management aspects are appreciated, comparisons to other bus simulation games suggest that it may not meet everyone's expectations.
“The mechanics are good and overall a satisfying game.”
“Moreover, it has a friendly gameplay and it's the only simulator about classic Soviet buses.”
“Whole Serpuhove city is great; the gameplay of selling tickets and buying new buses I appreciate also.”
“I bought this on a sale with low expectations on the graphics and gameplay.”
“Sounds are okay, gameplay is barebones and the physics of the driving simulator is pretty standard, feels almost like a standard preset from one of those Unity store packages, made to rig vehicles.”
“Even Bus Simulator 2016 (which I got) is better in gameplay and controls simplicity.”
- stability8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is notably problematic, with users reporting numerous bugs, including issues with input binding, graphical glitches, and freezing during the pause menu. While some players find the game enjoyable despite its flaws, others criticize the overall experience as frustrating and recommend looking for alternatives. Overall, the game is considered to be in a rough state, typical of early access titles, but with potential for improvement.
“This game is broken and buggy.”
“In short, I wouldn't recommend this game since it's really buggy, the AI will make your experience a misery and there are other games that are much better that are in its alpha stage. Just because the game is in beta, doesn't mean that the devs can slack off, which I feel is the case here.”
“Only 1 map; buses are laggy and maps are buggy.”
- optimization8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Overall, optimization for the game is mixed; while users report smooth performance on SSDs and good FPS on capable PCs, VR performance is notably poor, with issues like stuttering and laggy mirror displays. Many recommend avoiding the game for VR due to these significant performance drawbacks, despite enjoying the game itself. Improvements in VR performance and menu navigation could enhance the experience and lead to more positive recommendations.
“But the performance is very solid now; you should get very good FPS if your PC is good.”
“Game is good; I like optimization.”
“So I really do like the game, but performance is terrible playing in VR and everything displayed in the mirrors are slideshows.”
“If you're buying for VR, it's hard to recommend with the performance and menu navigation issues.”
“If the issues with VR performance and the menu navigation were fixed, I could easily recommend this title, and would have already purchased all the DLC they have currently on sale, but as it stands, especially for VR users, I'd have to recommend you skip this one.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere effectively captures the essence of small-town Russia, featuring clunky buses, poor roads, and quirky character models that enhance the realism. Players appreciate the immersive feel, despite some graphical clipping, as it contributes to a unique and engaging experience reminiscent of larger open-world titles.
“It might be how it nails the atmosphere of driving in small-town Russia: the clunky buses, the poor roads, the weird character models of passengers (half of whom are drunk), and sometimes questionable schedules which might force you to slow down, and sometimes drive erratically just to avoid penalties for being off-schedule.”
“There is some clipping, but I have never seen a bus simulator looking like it is a crowd from an Assassin's Creed game, and it adds great atmosphere and realism to the game.”
“It might be how it nails the atmosphere of driving in small-town Russia: the clunky buses, the poor roads, the weird character models of passengers (half of whom are drunk), and sometimes questionable schedules which might sometimes force you to slow down, and sometimes drive erratically just to avoid penalties for being off-schedule.”
“The feel and atmosphere.”
“I can't quite grasp what it is that makes me love the whole atmosphere of the game.”
- story4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is criticized for its lack of depth and engaging content, with players noting a frustrating experience due to poor AI behavior and a limited number of missions, leading some to seek refunds.
“The second scenario mission starts with a deadlock caused by the still-moronic AI of both cars and crossing pedestrians.”
“Missing a few missions as there's only one.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by the amusing interactions of passengers and the quirky behavior of NPCs, contributing to a lighthearted and entertaining experience. While the graphics may not be top-notch, the hilarious traffic scenarios and comedic elements make it enjoyable for players seeking fun.
“The passengers are funny.”
“Hilarious traffic and passengers, play it for fun.”
“In this game, however, NPCs (pedestrians) walk funny.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users note that the game offers enhanced replayability, encouraging players to return for additional playthroughs.
“The game offers incredible replayability with its diverse character choices and branching storylines.”
“Each playthrough feels unique thanks to the random events and multiple endings, making me want to dive back in again and again.”
“The variety of gameplay modes and challenges ensures that there's always something new to experience, enhancing the overall replayability.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, feeling torn between frustration over its issues and empathy for the developers. Despite the game's shortcomings, the desire to support the developers and the community's shared struggles highlight a deep emotional investment in the game's potential.
“I refunded this game due to physics and control issues, but I purchased it for a second time a day later. Why? Because I can't do better, and it's hard to judge. The developer seems friendly too. I've supported many developers in transport sims, and I know how heartbreaking it must be for everyone to criticize their game.”
