Car Mechanic Simulator 2014 Review (Steam Version)

[GoldenRivet]

Car Mechanic Simulator 2014, where gaming titles are concerned, sounds about as boring as watching paint dry but the game is actually quite fun and enjoyable. You dont have to be an expert in the field of automotive maintenance to quickly get a feel for the game either.



You start out in a run down small neighborhood garage, a car will be brought in, a clip board with a complaint or two from the vehicles owner will be written, and tasks you need to perform to get paid for the job will be listed. It can be as easy as a quick oil and filter change to something as complex as changing out a 4 wheel drive transmission or having to inspect numerous parts of the car for defects chasing down an elusive "squeek" or "squeel". You can repair parts, replace parts, test drive the vehicle to help in your diagnostic... and as your experience and skills develop you can even chip tune vehicles.



As the game progresses, you move up to bigger and better garages and begin receiving higher end automobiles from clients, There are some management aspects to the game as well... as in real life parts can be expensive, you might have to scavenge used parts, or repair existing parts to save money while meeting the customer's needs. Additionally, each job is worth a total cash value, if you get too carried away or start repairing every little minor thing on the car you could end up spending $1,500 bucks out of your own pocket to complete a job worth $1,000 so certain repair vs replace aspects have to be kept in mind.



This is not going to be one of those games that keeps you on the hook for months on end like some fast paced shoot em up might... however, I am well into repairing my 50th vehicle and have spent nearly 10 hours playing the game over the last few days as i write this review and i still want to play more, and with the potential for add ons and expansions, the entertainment value is certainly there.

PROS: low learning curve, easy to use, straight forward interface, excellent graphics

CONS: camera movement and clicking icons can feel a bit clunky but it is not really a major distraction

Where i would like to see this title go: supposedly there is a 4x4 Offroad edition in the works. But i think a great direction to take this game would be an expansion for off-road and sporting and performance accessories. in other words a customer comes in not with problems, but wants to have a high performance exhaust and a supercharger installed. Or another customer wants his truck to have a roll bar, off road lights and a lift kit installed or any number of countless modifications. Additionally, i think an expansion for aircraft maintenance would be a great addition... periodic inspections of the airframe and powerplant, overhaul of engines and components, repairs etc.

In the end, Car Mechanic Simulator is a fun title, and a great way to learn a few of the basics of how cars work if you dont have much of an understanding of cars, and it is a great way to kill time if you are a tinkering type