Jalopy

Jalopy is a game with an interesting concept and good mechanics behind it. Sadly, poor design, a number of irritating bugs, and a lack of things to do beyond the game's single quest make for a disappointing experience.

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Set during the fall of the Eastern Bloc,travel through each of the socialist fraternal states while maintaining a spluttering 2-stroke car. Jalopy looks to replicate the wild yet philosophical voice of the road found in the great literary experiences such as Robert M. Pirsig's Zen & the Art of Motorcycle.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

78%

Audience ScoreBased on 3,687 reviews

gameplay121 positive mentions

stability372 negative mentions

gameplay
434 mentions
28 % positive mentions
64 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Jalopy" is characterized by a mix of driving, car maintenance, and resource management, which some players find engaging and charming, while others criticize it for being repetitive and plagued by bugs. The mechanics are generally easy to grasp, offering a casual experience, but many users report significant technical issues that detract from the overall enjoyment. Despite its unique setting and potential for storytelling, the gameplay often feels shallow and can lead to frustration due to its reliance on a monotonous loop and frequent glitches.
- “I don't know what it is about this game, whether it's the simplistic gameplay loop, the simple yet satisfying controls, the little upgrades, or just the sheer vibes, but everything about it is absolutely incredible.”
- “Its innovative car maintenance mechanics and atmospheric storytelling are highlights, providing depth and engagement.”
- “The gameplay is sweet and simple enough that anyone can pick it up and play.”
- “The gameplay is extremely mundane, even when things are actually working.”
- “The game is riddled with bugs, is boring, uneventful, relies too much on degradation mechanics to drive the gameplay forward, and in the end really disappoints.”
- “The game is absolutely full of gameplay bugs, visual bugs, physics bugs, audio bugs, UI bugs, etc. Every part of the game feels very unfinished, with a tutorial that wastes a lot of time without actually explaining to you how to play the game, balancing being way off, and the main gameplay loop feeling quite broken in many ways.”
stability
376 mentions
1 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
99 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous players reporting a wide array of bugs and glitches that can severely disrupt gameplay. Many reviews describe the experience as frustratingly unstable, with game-breaking issues such as inability to interact with objects, crashes, and save file problems. While some players find charm in the game's concept and potential, the overwhelming consensus is that it remains too buggy and unfinished to recommend without significant reservations, especially at full price.
- “Runs great.”
- “In particular, the game is pretty solid and relatively bug-free up until you reach the end of the first journey.”
- “But my only complaint is the framerate in the cities; anywhere else runs great, which isn't too bad but it can be annoying.”
- “The game is buggy and takes out the fun when you can't refuel in the station or slightly touch a rock on the side, cracking your entire windows that you can't see, or that the AI car is flipped causing a huge traffic jam that you can't get out of.”
- “I can't recommend anyone get it due to how buggy and frustrating it can be at times, and knowing the game most likely will never be updated again.”
- “An absolute disgrace to video games and buggy to the point of being almost unplayable.”
story
323 mentions
31 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mixed bag, with some players appreciating its emotional depth and nostalgic setting, while others criticize its brevity and lack of a satisfying conclusion. Many reviews highlight the journey with the uncle as a central narrative element, enriched by letters that reveal backstory, but frustrations arise from bugs that disrupt progression and a perceived lack of polish. Overall, while the story has potential and resonates with some players, it often feels incomplete and overshadowed by gameplay issues.
- “It's an amazing story with an ending that will leave you tearing up.”
- “The story is very nice, seeing both the fall of the eastern block governments, as well as the story of the player character (hint: investigate uncle when he's asleep).”
- “The story focuses on your journey towards Turkey with your uncle alongside you.”
- “The story doesn't make sense and turns out to be completely pointless when you reach Turkey (the final destination).”
- “The game has a solid idea and nostalgic story, but is ruined by quality of life fails that make the game unfun to play.”
- “The story stops dead once you reach your final destination and gives you no reason to keep playing, which sucks because 5 hours barely gives you half enough time to explore the customization options for your car or experience what the game has to offer.”
graphics
322 mentions
32 % positive mentions
61 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Jalopy" have received mixed reviews, with many players noting the simplistic, low-poly art style that some find charming while others deem it dull and outdated. While the minimalist visuals contribute to the game's atmosphere and thematic elements, numerous reports of graphical glitches and bugs detract from the overall experience. Overall, the graphics are seen as a stylistic choice that may appeal to some players but leave others wanting more in terms of detail and polish.
- “The art style is visually appealing with simple shapes and flat colors, enhancing the emotional depth of the narrative.”
- “The graphics are minimalist, yet they fit the game's atmosphere perfectly, creating a unique charm.”
- “The low-poly graphics style and the 70's/80's themed music make it a very atmospheric game.”
- “The graphics are awful.”
- “I'm a first generation PC gamer from the 1980s and still enjoy retro games; I'm not usually picky about graphics, but I find these unacceptable.”
- “The graphics and lack of detail out on the road is really boring.”
music
114 mentions
49 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its nostalgic and atmospheric qualities, enhancing the overall experience with a soothing and immersive soundtrack. However, some players express frustration over the inability to adjust or turn off the music, as well as the limited selection on the in-game radio, which can lead to repetitiveness. Overall, the original soundtrack composed by Jeremy Warmsley is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's charm and ambiance.
- “The minimalist graphics and the soothing, sometimes melancholic soundtrack help to build a strong sense of place and time, enhancing the emotional depth of the narrative.”
- “The soundtrack is amazing, I have it recorded on cassette and constantly listen to it.”
- “The atmosphere and art style combined with the soundtrack can give you a feel that can't be replicated.”
- “The one bad thing is you can't adjust the music or turn it off altogether.”
- “I get copyright strikes when I make content on YouTube with game music.”
- “The music is okay, but it will quickly overstay its welcome.”
atmosphere
84 mentions
62 % positive mentions
35 % neutral mentions
4 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique charm and immersive qualities, effectively capturing the essence of a nostalgic journey through Eastern Europe. While some players find the low-poly graphics and occasional glitches detract from the experience, many appreciate the relaxing, contemplative vibe enhanced by the sound design and art style. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered its strongest feature, providing a captivating backdrop for exploration and gameplay.
- “Atmospheric experience: 'Jalopy' excels in creating an atmospheric experience, with sound design and visuals that complement the journey's slow and contemplative pace.”
- “The atmosphere and the art style are the strong points of this game, along with all the references to the history of the Eastern Bloc countries you are traveling through.”
- “The atmosphere of the game gives you ample room to just sit back and enjoy, and in essence it's a perfect game for a mental reset.”
- “I don't mind polygon graphics at all when done well, but in this game they just create a dull monotonous atmosphere for you to drive until your inevitable breakdown.”
- “Cons, if you don't like the atmosphere, it's just a dreary battle of boredom.”
- “The lightning in this game and the atmosphere itself makes me puke.”
replayability
53 mentions
38 % positive mentions
53 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is a mixed bag, with some players finding it enjoyable and worth revisiting due to its unique mechanics and randomized elements, while others criticize it for being repetitive and lacking substantial content after the initial playthrough. Many reviews highlight that although the atmosphere and driving experience are appealing, the overall replay value is limited, with some suggesting that future updates could enhance this aspect. Overall, opinions vary widely, with some players enjoying the game enough to return multiple times, while others feel it lacks the depth needed for sustained engagement.
- “Overall this game has a high replayability which at first feels like repetitiveness, however it keeps getting more fun.”
- “This game has great replay value as well; I completed this game twice, almost four times, but once my battery died and the other time the game glitched. The game is pretty stable and has no major game-breaking bugs, however, there are some tiny ones like not being able to interact with stuff or sometimes I lose everything in my trunk.”
- “Despite the unique concept, fun gameplay, replayability factor, and great soundtrack, Jalopy is about as reliable as the car upon which it's based.”
- “While this game is very relaxing and has a lot of replay value, there's not much else to offer after your first run of the game, which is roughly 4-5 hours.”
- “Most importantly, there isn't any replay value in it, at least not for me.”
- “Jalopy has an interesting and somewhat unique experience to keep players entertained, just a shame it's very short and has little replayability; with the added 'bonus' of bugs present throughout.”
optimization
51 mentions
18 % positive mentions
47 % neutral mentions
35 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is widely criticized, with many players reporting significant performance issues, bugs, and a lack of responsiveness, even on high-end PCs. While some updates have improved performance slightly, the overall experience remains marred by poor optimization and frequent glitches, leading to frustration among users. Many reviewers express hope for future improvements, but currently, the game is deemed unready for release due to its optimization shortcomings.
- “The car upgrades can improve performance or durability, or they can be something as simple as mud flaps to slow the rate that the car gets dirty or a roof rack to store spare tires and some extra stuff.”
- “Punctured tires make a real difference to the handling and you can feel the car's performance rise and fall with the condition of engine parts and how much oil you mix into the fuel of your 2-stroke engine.”
- “Bugs and glitches happen less often and are less severe, frame-rate and general performance have been vastly improved, and grunkle jackass stays home, so you don't have to deal with his dialogue boxes or his perpetual stench of oatmeal and cough syrup.”
- “The game is outright broken and has crap performance on a high-end PC, and after restarting the game for the third time today to fix bugs, I've uninstalled it and will never touch it again.”
- “Despite the low-poly textures, my GTX 980 struggles with this game on the highest settings, which are still, well, 'low-poly.' I smell bad optimization.”
- “Ignoring the fact that it is completely unoptimized, the main issue right now is that it is a buggy mess; there are so many bugs (even game stoppers) I don't even know where to begin.”
grinding
43 mentions
5 % positive mentions
16 % neutral mentions
79 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and frustrating, often describing it as a slog with repetitive tasks and clunky mechanics. While some acknowledge that upgrades can eventually make the experience more enjoyable, many feel that the game lacks sufficient content and variety to justify the extensive grinding required. The consensus suggests that the game may appeal to dedicated players, but it is generally viewed as a chore rather than a rewarding experience.
- “A bit grindy sometimes.”
- “Languid, perhaps, but not tedious.”
- “It's not open world, it's not visually appealing, and it can get tedious.”
- “The driving is tedious and clunky, the locations are repetitive, all the hotels and service stations are identical, and the upgrades don't seem to help much.”
- “Once you notice that the world itself is just a boring setpiece and there is really nothing worthwhile to do outside grinding for new car parts to make driving less of a slog, the whole game just feels pointless.”
humor
29 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in this game is characterized by its dark, satirical take on the dreariness of Eastern Europe during the Cold War, often manifesting through the absurdity of managing a rickety Soviet car on a road trip. Players find the game's glitches and mechanics, such as tires deflating unexpectedly and quirky AI traffic behaviors, to be amusing, contributing to an overall lighthearted and entertaining experience despite some frustrations. The blend of historical context and comedic elements makes it a unique and enjoyable car simulator for fans of the genre.
- “It's so funny that my tires simply gave up, blown up, deflated after going only in-game 1500km, which is like 1-2 kilometers in actual distance.”
- “This is pretty much a dark humor game, as it makes fun of how dreary Eastern Europe was during the Cold War years.”
- “Funny little game about old cars from the Soviet bloc countries being all terrible, and for some reason, you're taking one on a road trip.”
emotional
20 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Jalopy" is highlighted by its poignant narrative centered on the relationship between an uncle and his nephew, enhanced by minimalist graphics and a melancholic soundtrack. Players report feeling a deep connection to the characters, with moments of heartbreak and nostalgia that resonate throughout the journey, despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics. Overall, the game is praised for its touching story and the emotional impact it delivers, making it a memorable experience.
- “Jalopy is a unique driving simulation game that explores the emotional journey of an uncle and his nephew as they traverse through the landscapes of Eastern Europe in an old, dilapidated car.”
- “The minimalist graphics and the soothing, sometimes melancholic soundtrack help to build a strong sense of place and time, enhancing the emotional depth of the narrative.”
- “The story literally made me cry; I don't know why exactly, but if you read the journals (spoiler alert) when your uncle sleeps, you can find them inside the briefcase. They renew every night.”
monetization
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate that the monetization strategy is perceived as a cash grab, with users expressing frustration over the game's unfinished state on PC and concerns that the Xbox version may suffer from similar issues. Overall, there is a strong sentiment that the developers should prioritize fixing existing problems before pursuing additional platforms.
- “Try fixing the PC version before trying to make a cash grab Xbox version, which is likely to be just as broken, if not worse.”
- “Never came out of alpha; it's just a cash grab.”