Plane Mechanic Simulator
- February 14, 2024
- Disaster Studio
- 10h median play time
Plane Mechanic Simulator is a game where you step into the role of an RAF ground crew technician during the Battle of Britain, responsible for maintaining and repairing iconic British aircraft such as the Supermarine Spitfire Mk.1, De Havilland Tiger Moth, De Havilland Mosquito, Hawker Hurricane, and Bristol Blenheim. With 81 missions, nearly 800 parts to tinker with, and a unique campaign, the game offers a high level of detail and realism, making your success crucial as your assigned pilot's survival depends on your skills.
Reviews
- The game features detailed and realistic aircraft models, providing an immersive experience for aviation enthusiasts.
- Gameplay is engaging, allowing players to learn about aircraft mechanics while performing various repair tasks.
- The developers are responsive to community feedback and have shown commitment to improving the game.
- The game suffers from repetitive tasks, particularly with refueling and rearming aircraft, which can become tedious over time.
- There are numerous bugs and glitches that can hinder gameplay, including issues with controls and interactions.
- The game has been criticized for a lack of content, with only a few aircraft available and limited progression options.
- gameplay396 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Plane Mechanic Simulator has received mixed reviews, with many players noting its similarity to other mechanic simulators like Car Mechanic Simulator, but with less polish and depth. While some appreciate the attention to detail and the unique setting of WWII aircraft maintenance, others criticize the repetitive tasks, clunky controls, and lack of guidance, leading to frustration. Overall, the game shows potential but is hindered by bugs and a limited scope, making it less enjoyable compared to its more established counterparts.
“The gameplay is more or less identical to car mechanic simulator and its clones (examine parts, disassemble stuff until you reach the faulty component, replace it, reassemble stuff), so if you played that, you know the drill.”
“The basic mechanics of the game are fun; I really enjoyed spending the time as a mechanic and relaxing, doing the work on the planes.”
“Plane mechanic simulator is an interesting game about fixing WWII era planes which can provide you with hours of fun if you’re into the genre.”
“Unlike other restoration games, this one features very annoying gameplay.”
“The gameplay is repetitive, and still interesting.”
“The idea is good, but the execution of gameplay is absolute garbage.”
- story213 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 84 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's story revolves around the player's role as a military aircraft mechanic, tasked with maintaining various planes through a series of missions that reflect the intensity of wartime operations. While the concept of a narrative tied to aircraft repair is intriguing, players frequently criticize the repetitive nature of missions, which often involve tedious tasks like refueling and rearming, leading to a lack of engaging storytelling. Additionally, numerous bugs and mission design flaws detract from the overall experience, leaving many feeling that the game lacks depth and a coherent narrative progression.
“Implementing a timer on the repairs and adding a minor form of 'story' where you are responsible for the condition of the plane as its wartime mechanic was an amazing idea!”
“During the assignment on the Spitfire, you can, even as a mechanic, feel the intensity of the Battle of Britain, as the missions at the beginning were just patrols with random encounters, requiring just refuel and oil check, and suddenly they intensify with time limits, bullet holes, rearming of machine guns, and then they again return more to normal, as the Battle of Britain is over.”
“The 'story mode' is neat in that it gives you the story of each aircraft you work on.”
“The game is interesting to say the least, but it seems like it's the same missions over and over in the beginning.”
“Bugs meant I couldn't complete the first mission, or even quit the game!”
“This simulator is pretty neat, but the pilots need to learn how to refill their own planes or something because it gets really annoying refilling fuel on every single mission.”
- graphics87 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The graphics of Plane Mechanic Simulator receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the detailed aircraft models and immersive environments, while others criticize the visuals as outdated and lacking polish. Many users note that the game feels like a relic from the past, with some even comparing it unfavorably to older titles. Overall, while there are moments of impressive detail, the graphics are often described as inconsistent and in need of significant updates.
“The original first chapter is amazing, the aircraft are detailed both in graphics and what needs taking apart, and care was taken not just in the detailing of the engine, but the rest of the aircraft as well!”
“I'm an ex-military aircraft engineer who's worked on some of these engines and it's like stepping back in time, the graphics are the best I've ever seen and the gameplay is easy to move tools around and get work done.”
“Plane mechanic simulator has stunning graphics, extremely great animations and detail of plane components/parts.”
“However, my enthusiasm nose-dived upon experiencing the outdated graphics and subpar AI.”
“In an era where gaming graphics are constantly evolving, Plane Mechanic Simulator feels like a relic from a bygone era.”
“The visuals here just seem, well, dated.”
- stability52 mentions
- 6 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is widely criticized, with numerous users reporting it as "extremely buggy" and "unfinished," leading to significant gameplay issues such as mission failures and frustrating glitches. Many players express disappointment over the lack of updates and support, indicating that the game feels abandoned in its current state. While some acknowledge potential and enjoyment, the overwhelming sentiment is that the game's stability issues severely detract from the overall experience.
“The game looks beautiful and runs great.”
“I just got the game today and had to review it. I will update when I get more into the game, but for now, I just wanted to leave a positive comment because I am really liking how this game works. Keep in mind this is early access; there are bugs, but this game looks amazing. I run it at 4K high settings, and it plays smoothly. I have a GTX 1080, i7 7700K, and 16 GB RAM, and this game runs great.”
“Running the game ridiculously below minimum specs, and so far it runs great. Currently, it is a little monotonous, but I was able to 100% it in less than 24 hours played.”
“Sadly after over 2 years of development, this game is an extremely buggy and frustrating mess.”
“I just want to let other potential buyers to be warned not to waste your money and your time on this buggy mess of a game.”
“This game has very little content, is buggy, and the controls are terrible.”
- grinding40 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 3 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is frequently described as tedious and repetitive, particularly due to tasks like refueling and repairing engines, which can become monotonous over time. While some players appreciate the detailed simulation and find enjoyment in the meticulous nature of the work, many express frustration with the lack of variety and the slow pace of certain tasks, leading to a sense of grind that can detract from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, some players still find the game rewarding if they are willing to endure the grinding elements.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“I love the concept, but this game gets tedious pretty quickly, and the controls can be clunky and frustrating at times.”
“The absence of educational or explanatory elements makes it a struggle to identify and understand the various components, turning what should be an engaging experience into a tedious ordeal.”
“Tasks get very repetitive and grindy, especially refueling the aircraft, which takes several agonizing steps to accomplish.”
- optimization19 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 26 % neutral mentions
- 42 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization has received significant criticism, with many users reporting poor performance and low framerates that hinder gameplay. While some players acknowledge that other aspects like graphics and stability are satisfactory, the consensus is that optimization needs considerable improvement to enhance the overall experience. Despite these issues, there is optimism for future updates as the game is still in early access.
“This game is awesome; it just needs a bit of optimization.”
“Overall, the game looks great and runs smoothly.”
“The game needs some adjustments related to camera movement and FPS optimization, but it has really nice graphics, has a lot of potential, and will be a great game as it is already good.”
“Awful optimization.”
“FPS - the game has terrible optimization which leads to poor framerate.”
“This game is a nice twist on the normal repair genre, with the small issue of the horrid optimization that makes it near unplayable along with buggy physics that can and will get you stuck, forcing you to restart and a repair system that makes repairs nearly impossible to do.”
- atmosphere7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its immersive qualities, particularly through pilot reports and sound effects that enhance the experience. However, some players find the environment can become dull and repetitive, suggesting that additional dynamic elements, like air raids, could enrich the setting further. Overall, while the atmosphere is strong, there are calls for improvements in audio quality and more varied gameplay elements to maintain engagement.
“The invisible pilot's reports: your pilot writes up 1-2 sentence reports from his missions and this sets up the atmosphere so well.”
“I'm not sure if this is feature incomplete (late alpha) or not, but it's a great game already -- plenty of atmosphere, the tutorial non-random campaign is well designed so far; and there's a randomized career mode once the tutorial has been completed.”
“Parts can be repetitive... refueling and rearming involves just doing the same thing every time but there's kind of cool rhythm to knocking through it and the sound effects create so much atmosphere that I don't mind immersing myself in it.”
“The atmosphere/environment can become a bit dull and repetitive. I couldn't help but notice what looks to be an inaccessible air raid shelter directly behind the work area on the airstrip. It would be cool if air raids occurred every now and then with the use of the British air raid sirens, and triggered an RAF response that you could witness firsthand!”
“I'm not sure what the quality of the original recordings is, but if possible, I highly recommend the devs increase the bitrate on the audio to improve the atmosphere of the game.”
“Parts can be repetitive. Refueling and rearming involves just doing the same thing every time, but there's kind of a cool rhythm to knocking through it, and the sound effects create so much atmosphere that I don't mind immersing myself in it.”
- monetization7 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn criticism for prioritizing advertisements for the publisher's other titles over improving the game itself, leading players to feel it has become a cash grab rather than a polished experience. Users express frustration over the frequent promotional content and the lack of attention to fixing bugs or enhancing gameplay, suggesting the game feels abandoned.
“And on top of that, the game is being used mainly for advertisement of other games released by the publisher.”
“Buyers beware: after over 2 years of development, this game is still buggy, while the developers are moving on to advertising more games they intend to release soon!”
“The game has too many bugs and it's also not polished to run; it seems like a cash grab using early access.”
- music4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The music in the game is limited, with players enjoying the menu screen's soundtrack but expressing disappointment that it doesn't carry over into gameplay. Many found the ambient sound effects, particularly during storms, to be excessively loud, overshadowing any potential musical elements. Overall, the lack of music during gameplay detracted from the experience.
“I liked the music on the menu screen and was disappointed that it was only on the menu screen.”
“The rest of the gameplay didn't have any music, and sometimes the ambient sound effects (i.e. storm) were way too loud.”
“The rest of the gameplay didn't have any music, and sometimes the ambient sound effects (i.e., storm) were way too loud.”
“The only action received was the program crashing with mixed music upon exit.”
- humor4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is noted for its realism, which is ironically amusing given its simulator genre, but some players feel the developers have simplified the experience too much. While there are moments of humor, such as funny bugs, players suggest that the game could benefit from more lighthearted elements, especially in tips and guidance. Overall, the humor is seen as a mixed bag, with potential for improvement.
“Could add a little flavor when sharing tips or some humor.”
“Well worth more than $10; I've played $25 games that made me laugh in disappointment.”
“Funny bugs.”
“The humor in the game often falls flat, relying too much on funny bugs rather than clever writing.”
“I expected a lot more laughs, but the jokes mostly miss the mark and feel forced.”
“The attempts at humor are overshadowed by the game's numerous glitches, making it hard to enjoy the comedic moments.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional response to the game is largely negative, with users expressing disappointment and heartbreak over its execution, particularly due to poor sound effects and clunky gameplay. There is a sense of frustration stemming from unmet expectations and a perceived lack of care from the developers.
“It's heartbreaking to see a game that I was looking forward to being completed just gets dumped by devs that don't care.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Players find the game visually appealing and believe it has significant replayability potential, although they note the absence of achievements as a current limitation. As it is still in early access, there is hope for future updates to enhance replay value.
“From first impressions, the game looks good and seems to have a lot of replayability. It would be nice to see achievements and similar features, but since it's an early access game, I can forgive them for this oversight.”
“There is definitely more replayability in the future.”
“Just so there is some more replayability in the future.”