Gas Station Simulator: Prologue - Early Days
- April 28, 2021
- DRAGO entertainment
- 3h median play time
Get on SteamGas Station Simulator is all about renovating, expanding and running a gas station along a highway in the middle of nowhere USA. This prologue to the game serves as an introduction to the beginnings of it all, where you find an abandoned gas station, buy it and start renovating it in order to be able to service your first customers. That's why we call the prologue "Early Days". You acq…
PC
Windows
Cloud
Reviews
- Engaging gameplay that makes you feel like you're actually running a gas station.
- Fun mini-games and tasks that keep the experience fresh and entertaining.
- Great graphics and atmosphere that enhance the overall experience.
- Dennis, the graffiti kid, can be overly annoying and disrupts gameplay.
- The painting mechanic can feel tedious and the paint wears off too quickly.
- Some bugs and performance issues, particularly with the excavator and customer interactions.
- gameplay66 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
Overall, the gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players enjoying the variety of mechanics such as cleaning, painting, and lock-picking, while others find certain mechanics clunky or tedious. The game offers an engaging loop that can be addicting, but some users expressed disappointment with specific elements like the painting mini-game and the handling of certain tasks. Despite these criticisms, many appreciate the casual vibe and potential for fun within the gameplay experience.
“Addicting gameplay loop, so far.”
“Great game, needs some polish, mechanics work very well and is overall very fun.”
“The gameplay loop is simple and enjoyable, and I like the brief rush there is between serving customers at the fueling station and the cashier - feels immersive.”
“But later on through the gameplay, it disappointed me.”
“Graphics are decent but gameplay is tedious and boring... fast.”
“The only complaint that I have is the painting mechanic.”
- graphics60 mentions
- 53 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics of the game receive a mixed but generally positive reception. Many players praise the visuals as stunning and comparable to recent Hollywood productions, while others note issues such as lag, glitches, and the need for optimization, particularly on lower-end hardware. Despite some technical shortcomings, the aesthetic and atmosphere are frequently highlighted as enjoyable aspects of the gameplay experience.
“The graphics are on another level, being on a level with recent Hollywood blockbusters.”
“Fantastic visuals and ambiance.”
“Gorgeous graphics with a cozy gas station.”
“I recommend the game due to the free roam and you get to run a gas station, but the issues I am having are that the graphics are not very good and the glitches are bad, e.g., the customers' legs are spinning in a circle and the petrol pump glitched.”
“Horrendously laggy, terrible graphics - and trying to 'improve' them made the lag exponentially worse - and too much set-up time involved.”
“I did have to drop my graphic settings down to high instead of the intended epic.”
- story57 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its engaging and interesting narrative that revolves around restoring a gas station and interacting with various characters. However, some users expressed frustration with abrupt endings and a lack of depth in the storytelling, suggesting that while the foundation is strong, there is potential for further development in the full game. Overall, the story is seen as a positive aspect, contributing to the game's charm and gameplay experience.
“Great game and very interesting story line.”
“This game has a good story building up to the game, and to be honest I really cannot wait for the official game to come out!”
“Gas station simulator is from that first imaginary branch of childhood futurism, yet through its tongue-in-cheek mirthful dialogue and environmental storytelling, it still feels playful, magical, possible - a new harvest moon for those of us who dream in the liminal spaces of nowhere-town freeway gas stations.”
“I really dislike putting effort into caring about what's going on and then having my time cut short because of a forced story ending.”
“Utter garbage, boring storyline and pointless. Won't be buying this trash lol.”
“Show a load of features, tease the story, and leave the player hungry for more when bam you see the end of the demo.”
- grinding21 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 10 % neutral mentions
- 86 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and time-consuming, often requiring a significant investment of time to complete repetitive tasks. While some enjoy the satisfaction of these tasks, many feel that the mechanics are clunky and that the gameplay could benefit from reducing the monotony and improving efficiency. Overall, the consensus is that the grinding detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“It's just sad that games that could have been good end up farming for hours of players without any point.”
“It's extremely tedious.”
“Graphics are decent but gameplay is tedious and boring... fast.”
- stability18 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with many users reporting significant bugs and glitches, such as character animations malfunctioning and frequent lag, even on capable hardware. While some players acknowledge the game's potential and express hope for future improvements, the overall experience is marred by the need for optimization and bug fixes, leading to frustration and the necessity of restarting the game in some instances.
“While this game is quite fun, it is incredibly buggy, like customers' legs freaking out and cars not disappearing.”
“The game is way too laggy; it glitches out way too much no matter the settings I put it on. If it wasn't so laggy, I'd play it more often. I see potential in it, but it's just getting on its feet. If the lag gets fixed, I would be willing to try it again, but until further notice, I'll have to pass. 2/10 in my rating score.”
“If the full game is anything like this prologue, then it will be a disjointed, buggy mess.”
- optimization15 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews; while some players report smooth performance and no significant issues, many others highlight the need for improvements, particularly for older hardware. Users have noted that the game can run slowly at times and has some bugs, suggesting that further optimization is necessary to enhance the experience. Many hope that future updates will address these concerns and improve overall performance.
“Fun & optimized game”
“Also, I definitely notice the optimization changes within the game's system.”
“The game has potential, seems to be quite good for a prologue. I've had no problems with performance; the only issue I had was I jumped on a moving car that then flipped over, blocking the petrol station, but overall not bad.”
“Please implement optimization for older CPUs/GPUs.”
“Pretty fun game to spend time on, but there are a lot of things that developers need to upgrade, like optimization.”
“I mean, the game feels like a way less refined and optimized version of House Flipper.”
- humor14 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with players highlighting its quirky scenarios, such as a shady uncle character and absurd situations like flipping cars and dealing with party bus aliens. Many find the comedic elements to be well-integrated, providing a fun and entertaining experience that keeps players engaged. Overall, the game is described as hilarious, with memorable moments that contribute to its charm.
“I like the idea of a shady uncle and it was funny taking a broom into customer cars and being Hulk flipping the car upside down for my bad service they keep complaining about, lol.”
“They've added a good bit of humor to keep it fun and interesting; I mean, well... party bus aliens, need I say more?”
“This game is hilarious and entertaining... I love throwing tires across the road!”
- atmosphere14 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 21 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The game effectively captures a unique and immersive atmosphere, particularly reminiscent of an American roadside gas station and desert themes, enhanced by strong sound design and engaging visuals. Players appreciate the blend of fun and relaxation, with plenty of activities that contribute to the overall ambiance, despite some technical clunkiness. Overall, the atmosphere is consistently praised as a standout feature, making the game enjoyable and original.
“The songs meanwhile build a convincing and intense atmosphere.”
“Fantastic atmosphere and plenty of busy work to do (in a good way).”
“I just finished it and I must say, it is done incredibly well, with good graphics, good controls, enjoyable music and a nice atmosphere.”
“Manages to capture the American roadside gas station atmosphere well but still not quite there.”
“Fun, satisfying game that really delivers the atmosphere of a dust bowl gas station, complete with a shady uncle.”
“I love this game, it has a different atmosphere to it than other games, but Dennis is very annoying.”
- music14 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for creating a convincing and immersive atmosphere, with soothing soundtracks that enhance the overall experience. While many players find the music enjoyable and fitting, some note that it can become repetitive over time, suggesting a desire for more variety, such as the ability to change radio stations. Overall, the soundtrack contributes positively to the game's ambiance, though individual preferences may vary.
“The songs build a convincing and intense atmosphere.”
“The music fits the game and can be listened to easily while playing.”
“The twangy southern guitar soundtrack is nice and soothing while simultaneously giving a sense of being in the middle of nowhere.”
“The music is just a little repetitive; honestly, being able to change stations on the radio would be awesome.”
“Decent soundtrack.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Users generally find the replayability of the game to be low, likening it to a demo experience with minimal incentive to play again.
“The replay value feels like this is just a demo.”
“It doesn't really have much replay value.”
“Replayability: not much to offer.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is polarizing; while some players find the characters and interactions wholesome, others criticize the storyline as boring and lacking depth, leading to a negative overall impression.
“The game beautifully captures the essence of human emotions, making every moment feel deeply personal.”
“I was moved to tears by the character's journey; it felt like I was living their struggles and triumphs.”
“The emotional depth of the story left a lasting impact on me, making me reflect on my own experiences.”
“The storyline is utterly boring and pointless; I won't be buying this trash.”
“I felt no emotional connection to the characters or the plot; it was a complete letdown.”
“The game failed to evoke any feelings; it felt flat and uninspired.”
