Exploring the Unforgiving World of Pacific Drive: A Survival Game with a Heart

Pacific Drive, developed by Ironwood Studios and published by Kepler Interactive, is a survival game that takes players on a thrilling journey through an abandoned region of the United States. The game’s premise is simple yet captivating: players take on the role of a driver, navigating treacherous roads and landscapes while trying to survive the various anomalies and hazards that lurk around every corner.

The game’s setting is atmospheric and intriguing, with a mysterious and ominous tone that keeps players on the edge of their seats. The abandoned region of the US is home to all manner of strange phenomena, from glowing pink fungal growths to wobbly UFOs, and players must learn to adapt to these quirks if they hope to survive.

One of the most striking aspects of Pacific Drive is the detail that has gone into the old banger players pilot. The car’s fragility is expertly conveyed, with the way it slides and grips, bounces with loose suspension, and chassis screaming under extreme pressure. The car is a character in its own right, and players must look after it if they want to stay on the road and unlock more inventive equipment.

However, Pacific Drive is not without its challenges. As a crafting game, it can be rather unforgiving and laborious, requiring a lot of thankless graft if players want to stay on the road and progress. Each trip players make into the sealed off exclusion zone is divided into maps, and between foraging and close encounters, they must make running repairs. This downtime can be absorbing, but it’s also a bit fiddly and long-winded, with some processes taking a significant amount of time to complete.

Despite these challenges, Pacific Drive is a game that is well worth exploring. The car-based survival sim offers a unique and immersive experience, with a detailed and intriguing world that is full of surprises. The game’s premise of driving and surviving alone is realized in a way that is both thrilling and engaging, and the bond between the player and their car is the core character relationship in the game.

However, Pacific Drive could benefit from some improvements. The game could use more shortcuts, both on the road and in the garage, to keep its qualities front and center without bogging itself down. The loop could also use more self-reinforcing momentum, as it can feel over-stretched at times.

Despite these criticisms, Pacific Drive is a game that is sure to capture the imagination of players who are looking for a unique and challenging survival experience. The game’s atmospheric setting, detailed car mechanics, and engaging gameplay make it a standout title in the survival genre.

So, if you’re looking for a game that will test your skills as a driver and survivalist, and keep you on the edge of your seat with its mysterious and ominous world, then Pacific Drive is definitely worth checking out. Just be prepared for some long hours of repair work and crafting, as the road to survival is never an easy one.