Drug Dealer Simulator 2
- June 20, 2024
- Byterunners
- 16h median play time
Get on Steam"Drug Dealer Simulator 2" is a simulation game where you play as Eddie, a fugitive seeking to make a fortune in the early 2000s on Isla Sombra. The game features improved and new ways of acquiring, processing, and distributing narcotics, with single-player or co-op modes available. The expansive and varied environments, along with enhanced A.I. for NPCs and enemies, provide a challenging and engaging experience.
Reviews
- The game is fun and engaging, especially when played with friends.
- The graphics and overall design of the game have improved significantly compared to the first installment.
- The new mechanics, such as hiring dealers and managing a drug empire, add depth to the gameplay.
- The game is riddled with bugs and performance issues, making it frustrating to play.
- Many quests are broken or unclear, leading to confusion and progress halts.
- The removal of the mixing and cutting mechanics from the first game has disappointed many players.
- gameplay360 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Drug Dealer Simulator 2" has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it engaging yet plagued by bugs and poorly explained mechanics. While some appreciate the addictive core gameplay loop and new features, others criticize the repetitive tasks, lack of depth compared to its predecessor, and a steep learning curve that often requires external guidance. Overall, the game shows potential but needs significant polishing and refinement to fully realize its ambitions.
“The gameplay is incredibly engaging and enjoyable, offering an exhilarating experience that keeps players hooked.”
“The gameplay loop is very addictive and I enjoy the great potential it offers.”
“For 21 euros, you get an incredible amount of playtime and the gameplay never gets boring.”
“The gameplay loop is extremely boring, because half of the tasks you have at the start can be automated.”
“The game feels like a buggy mess, with awkward UI, very poorly explained mechanics, and a dead map that is just inconvenient.”
“The core gameplay loop is just completely flawed, and I'm surprised someone didn't notice this while playtesting the game.”
- story357 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 83 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The story in "Drug Dealer Simulator 2" has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its engaging narrative and character development, while others criticize it for being riddled with bugs that hinder progression. Many users report that quests often break or become uncompletable, leading to frustration and a feeling of disconnection from the storyline. Overall, while the game has potential with its deeper mechanics and improved graphics, the execution of the story and quest system requires significant refinement to enhance player experience.
“The story is great, but some of the quests need a little more clarification.”
“I really do enjoy both the storyline and the processes used to increase the quality of your cartel.”
“With enhanced graphics, deeper mechanics, and a more engaging storyline, this sequel is a worthy successor that both new players and fans of the original will appreciate.”
“The storyline and quests already seem a little stale; I believe I am around halfway through and don't expect to see much more variety, immersion, or interesting developments in terms of gameplay and narrative.”
“Main story missions are bugged, stopping me from progressing through the story.”
“The game is full of bugs, including main story quests that are completely broken, making it impossible to continue.”
- stability152 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous players reporting frequent crashes, freezes, and a plethora of bugs that render it nearly unplayable. Many reviews describe it as a "buggy mess" and express disappointment over its unfinished state, especially given that it was released as a complete product rather than early access. While some players find enjoyment despite the issues, the overwhelming consensus is that the game requires significant polishing and bug fixes before it can be recommended.
“The game is incredibly buggy and feels unfinished.”
“It's a complete buggy mess, which I don't think is appropriate for a fully released game.”
“This game is such a buggy mess, so many not only graphical bugs with the map, but also so many gameplay bugs; I wonder if the devs have even playtested their own game.”
- graphics131 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 69 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players highlighting significant performance issues, including lag and crashes, even on high-end systems. While some appreciate the visual improvements over previous titles, others criticize the overall quality as unpolished, with numerous graphical glitches, clipping, and poor optimization. Overall, the game appears to need substantial work to enhance its graphical fidelity and performance stability.
“The graphics have seen a considerable upgrade, providing a more realistic and visually appealing environment.”
“Great graphics and sound, a lot of quests, and the developers care and try to improve the game.”
“The graphics are absolutely gorgeous and DDS2 is much better optimized than DDS1.”
“The game suffers from poor optimization, leading to the graphics card overheating even more than in Cyberpunk 2077.”
“Even on high graphics settings, the game chugs along like a slideshow.”
“Despite running the game on the highest graphics settings I possibly can, the game looks hideous.”
- optimization105 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with many players reporting severe performance issues such as stuttering, lag, and crashes, regardless of their hardware specifications. Users express frustration over the developers prioritizing new content and DLC over essential performance fixes, leading to an overall unplayable experience for many. While some players with high-end systems report smooth performance, the consensus is that significant optimization work is still needed to make the game accessible and enjoyable for a broader audience.
“I really wish the developers set their efforts on improving performance along with fixing missing or half-finished mechanics instead of focusing on new content and DLCs for now.”
“The graphics, the map, and the characters are great; it needs some optimization for the GPU and CPU usage to be smoother, but I hope the devs will do it.”
“In all seriousness, the gameplay needs a little polish and there's some kinks to work out, but the storyline is there, the engine is great, and the dev got things optimized pretty well already.”
“However, after this last update, it's impossible to get any joy out of this as the constant hang-ups and stuttering render the game unplayable.”
“The game suffers from poor optimization, leading to the graphics card overheating even more than in Cyberpunk 2077.”
“To make matters worse, the optimization is atrocious.”
- grinding60 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 5 % neutral mentions
- 93 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it excessively tedious and repetitive, particularly in the endgame where tasks become monotonous and time-consuming. While some appreciate the challenge and complexity of the grinding mechanics, others feel that the user interface and travel mechanics contribute to a frustrating experience. Overall, the game is characterized as a grind-heavy experience that may appeal to those who enjoy such gameplay, but can also deter players due to its tedious nature.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The endgame is nothing short of the most tedious grind I've encountered in the past two decades, forcing you to undo all the reputation you've painstakingly built by spending in-game weeks pilfering from a select few locations.”
“This got repetitive and grindy very quickly, which is why I didn't end up finishing a couple of the last challenges.”
“Running to and from the bunker takes too long, and makes the game tedious.”
- music36 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising the soundtrack as great and immersive, enhancing the overall atmosphere. However, some players criticize the audio consistency, noting that certain tracks feel out of place or repetitive across different locations. Overall, while the music is a highlight for many, there are concerns about its integration and variety within the game world.
“I still listen to the DDS1 soundtrack regularly, and I feel like DDS2 is going to end up giving me another playlist.”
“The music and atmosphere are great; the different bars and quest areas all have a unique feel.”
“The sound effects and soundtrack complement the visual experience perfectly and add to the intense atmosphere of the game.”
“All locations play music (between 1-3 of the same 20 or so tracks) that generally sucks and doesn't match the vibe of the location, and you can expect to hear the exact same one when you return the following time, regardless of time of day.”
“Some places have music associated with them with no real source or even reason, like a tree.”
“Basically the sound and music of the game world is put together with the same care as the game world itself.”
- humor23 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is described as gritty, eccentric, and often unintentionally hilarious, stemming from its bugs and quirky mechanics. Players find amusement in the absurdity of situations, such as the ineffective police and the janky solutions to game issues, which contribute to a fun multiplayer experience. Despite its flaws, many reviewers appreciate the game's comedic elements, making it an enjoyable, albeit chaotic, experience.
“Gritty, funny, and more than a little strange, or shall we say eccentric.”
“It's buggy, but incredibly fun - you can build hilariously over-engineered lab rooms smaller than broom closets.”
“The map is huge, the gameplay simple but also way more detailed than DDS1, and if you get the hang of it (this can take some hours, just don't give up), it is one of the funniest games ever released on Steam.”
- atmosphere17 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 35 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is praised for its high level of immersion, beautifully designed maps, and effective sound design that enhances the overall experience. While many players appreciate the vibrant and unique environments, some feel that it lacks the depth and challenge of its predecessor, leading to a sense of emptiness. Overall, the atmosphere is described as charming and lively, though opinions vary on its effectiveness compared to earlier installments.
“The game offers a high level of immersion, with a beautifully designed map that enhances the overall atmosphere.”
“The music and atmosphere are great; the different bars and quest areas all have a unique feel.”
“The sound effects and soundtrack complement the visual experience perfectly and add to the intense atmosphere of the game.”
“It has better mechanics and atmosphere than DDS1, but I feel that it's really missing the mixing part; it just feels a little empty with no challenge.”
“Atmosphere and map in part 1 were much better.”
“Where is the dirty and creepy atmosphere of the first one?”
- monetization10 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been heavily criticized, with many users labeling it a "cash grab" that prioritizes profit over quality. Reviewers express frustration over the lack of polish and numerous bugs, suggesting that the developers are more focused on releasing paid content rather than addressing fundamental issues. Overall, players feel that the game's early access status is misleading and indicative of a rushed and incomplete product designed to extract money from consumers.
“It’s a blatant cash grab, designed to milk players for every penny.”
“This 'game' is nothing more than a cash grab.”
“The whole experience feels like a cash grab rather than a labor of love.”
- replayability10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players find it almost infinitely replayable due to customization options and branching paths, others feel it lacks significant replay value and could benefit from further development and bug fixes. The potential for increased enjoyment and replayability exists, particularly if future updates enhance gameplay elements.
“✅ infinitely replayable (or almost)”
“The biggest issue for me is there is very little replay value with this game.”
“Replayability is very important to me, and I'm glad I saw customization options that you could change in-game afterwards.”
“The ability to take different paths and make decisions that influence the course of the game significantly increases the replay value.”
- emotional5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional responses to the game are mixed, with some players feeling a sense of guilt and discomfort due to the dark subject matter and their in-game actions, while others express frustration with gameplay mechanics that detract from their experience. Overall, the emotional impact is overshadowed by technical issues and a lack of optimization, leading to a negative reception for some users.
“Eventually I killed him, but the camera just wouldn't relent on locking onto his corpse, and it just made me feel terrible about becoming this horrible human being that murdered a dude asking me if I needed directions...”
- character development2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is a mixed bag; while some players find it lacking in depth, others appreciate the variety it brings through missions that maintain player engagement.
“The character development and the various missions provide variety and keep the player engaged.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, making each decision feel impactful.”
“The depth of each character's backstory adds layers to the gameplay, making me care about their journeys.”
“Character development is not satisfying enough.”
