Bus-Simulator 2012

About

In Bus-Simulator 2012, players assume the role of a bus driver in a fictional European city, navigating through traffic, picking up and dropping off passengers at various bus stops. The game features an open-world environment, real-time weather changes, and a day-night cycle. The ultimate goal is to successfully operate the bus line while adhering to traffic rules and maintaining a high level of customer satisfaction.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

35%

Audience ScoreBased on 417 reviews

gameplay6 positive mentions

graphics12 negative mentions

The game offers a high level of realism with detailed bus management and operation.
It provides a unique experience for bus enthusiasts who enjoy complex simulations.
The graphics and environment design, while dated, can still be appreciated for their detail.

The controls are overly complicated and difficult to master, making it frustrating for new players.
The game suffers from severe optimization issues, leading to lag and crashes even on capable hardware.
The tutorial is inadequate, leaving players confused about how to start and operate the bus.

graphics
50 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
54%
24%
The graphics of the game have received largely negative feedback, with many users noting that they appear outdated and simplistic, often resembling a more cartoonish style compared to previous titles. Despite some praise for specific elements like night lighting and weather effects, the overall visual quality is considered poor, with reports of lag and minimal improvement in performance across different settings. Many reviewers suggest that the graphics do not meet modern standards, detracting from the overall experience of the game.
- “One thing I will say is that the graphics were very nice and the night lighting was superb.”
- “Graphics were great, and after 3 hours, I did learn how to drive the bus.”
- “Real traffic rules from Europe, very good graphics, realistic, exact as the buses here in Sweden. I like the game, easy to understand and learn; if you like simulator games, then buy this game!”
- “Very poor graphics, keep your money.”
- “The graphics are a disaster; the controls are terrible and the AI are just stupid.”
- “This game is horrible; it lags, it has horrible graphics, don't even think about purchasing it.”
stability
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game suffers from significant stability issues, with numerous bugs and glitches that render it nearly unplayable for many users. Common complaints include crashes, display problems, and unresponsive controls, leading to frustration and a lack of confidence in the game's reliability. Overall, players feel that the game's current state is unacceptable, especially given its price point.
- “The game is very buggy; for me, unplayable as the display didn't render properly, leaving a black screen with a minimap.”
- “Charging over $14 for a broken/buggy game is unforgivable.”
- “There is just way too many bugs and glitches with it; it shouldn't be on Steam honestly.”
optimization
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
15%
69%
The game's optimization has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many players reporting severe performance issues, bugs, and instability regardless of their hardware specifications. While some users have managed to achieve semi-stable performance through trial and error with settings adjustments, the overall consensus is that the game is poorly optimized and often unplayable.
- “A lot of people have problems with performance and bugs, but with a bit of trial and error and settings adjustments, you can make the game semi-stable on your machine even with low to average hardware.”
- “Admittedly, my specs aren't top notch, but I should be getting better performance than this.”
- “Because of the terrible optimization, the game is unplayable.”
- “The stuttering lag-lag-lag takes any joy from playing this title.”
- “An unoptimized mess.”
gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The gameplay has received mixed to negative feedback, with many users citing significant flaws such as poor controls, unrealistic physics, and frustrating mechanics that detract from the overall experience. While some appreciate the game's graphics and simulation aspects, the lack of smooth and enjoyable gameplay, especially in comparison to other titles like Euro Truck Simulator 2, has led to disappointment among players. Overall, the game struggles to deliver a satisfying gameplay experience, resulting in low ratings and refunds from dissatisfied users.
- “It really needs a quad-core processor for smooth gameplay.”
- “If you get past the initial stage, I'd guess that it has value in the simulator department, but make no mistake, this isn't Euro Truck Simulator 2, which I found very easy to get into and had a good balance of simulator vs intuitive gameplay.”
- “But while it delivers on great looks and realistic ideas, it fails to deliver on a smooth and enjoyable gameplay experience.”
- “But it's a lousy way to control the gameplay if only by keyboard!”
- “Gameplay sucks; the bus flies up in the air if you crash, and signals don't work with sound sometimes.”
- “I am an avid player of simulation games, particularly bus simulators, and for me, this game just didn't hit the right spots. The graphics were very basic even on high settings, and the overall mechanics of the game were rather poor, with the turning sending you 180 degrees into the nearest collidable object.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players consistently praise the game's humor, describing it as incredibly funny and highlighting specific moments, such as getting on the bus, that evoke laughter. Overall, the comedic elements contribute significantly to the enjoyable experience.
- “We found this whole experience incredibly funny.”
- “This game is hilarious.”
- “The feels you get when you get on the bus; this game is just hilarious.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
33%
33%
The reviews highlight a significant disparity in storytelling quality between the current game and its predecessors, with many feeling that the newer titles lack depth and substance, reducing the narrative to a simplistic premise of being just a driver. In contrast, the earlier game is praised for its compelling story, which is seen as a key element that made it stand out.
- “Bought for the compelling story.”
- “The new games lack something special that this one has. This was the one to end all of them, and it's a shame that they went all bubble graphics and story mode when there isn't a story to be told... you're just a driver.”
emotional
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by the ability to create chaos and destruction, such as causing pile-ups and flipping cars with a simple touch, which evokes a sense of power and excitement in players.
grinding
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players of various vehicle simulators, including New York City Bus Simulator, OMSI, and farming sims, often highlight the grinding aspect as a significant part of the gameplay experience, suggesting that it involves repetitive tasks to progress or unlock new content. This can enhance immersion but may also lead to fatigue if not balanced well. Overall, grinding is seen as a double-edged sword, contributing to realism while potentially detracting from enjoyment.
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Players appreciate the variety of bus routes available, which significantly enhances the game's replayability by offering diverse driving experiences.
- “I love the variety of bus routes available to drive; it adds a lot of replayability to the game.”
- “The numerous bus routes provide endless opportunities for replayability, keeping the game fresh and exciting.”
- “With so many different routes to explore, the replayability factor is off the charts!”