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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Great Trucking Game with Limitations, January 30, 2010
Fun:3.0 out of 5 stars
This review is from: 18 Wheels of Steel : American Long Haul (Video Game)
There are probably two types of people out there interested in this game: people who've played one of the 18 Wheels series and people who haven't.
If you have played on of these games, skip down a bit.
If you haven't, depending on what sort of simulations you're in to, this game may give you hours of enjoyment or boredom.
The basic tack of the game is, as you'd expect, you get some money, an entry-level rig and a lack of any reputation. Your goal is to grab loads to haul and drive them across the US and to some extent Canada and Mexico. As you haul loads, you'll make more money for upgrades for your rig (or a whole new rig) and you'll gain a reputation. Your success and your reputation lead to your ability to hire on other drivers and expand your trucking empire.
To counteract your success, you'll have to deal with long (and in some cases boring) hauls, police (checking speed, general driving rules, etc), and to some extent, the competition of your fellow truckers. There's also traffic on the roads including other trucks. There used to be a bug in older versions that made traffic hazardous (cars would just randomly hit the brakes like they were trying to cause an accident) but that's gone and traffic will even yield to your turn signal. But, to compensate for this, the devs decided to throw in something else to cause you grief. If you so much as stop one inch beyond the line at a stop light, you'll be flagged as having run a red light (a fine worth up to $9000 in the game!). This and people driving in obvious violation of the law (well, at least in the states I've driven) where they're making right turns across one or more lanes of traffic (thus colliding with you and getting you in trouble with the law again) can mean you'll be dishing out a lot to pay violations. Of course, the silver lining is that you only really pay for violations if you pass within a certain distance of a parked cop car.
The graphics are passable but dated. The graphic engine won't show up on a video games award show any time soon. Cities will have some hints at their landmarks and the like but there is no real attempt to map out the city in anyway. The cities are just small hubs where you'll find services and companies to grab loads from. That said, it does what it needs to do and the rigs themselves are pretty detailed. There are several cameras you can use to check your rig out while driving plus a great top-down cam that's been in the games of the series for a while and for good reason...nothing beats using that to hitch and line up trailers. Even so, the camera can be limited (you can only zoom out so far) and with a long enough (double) trailer, you can't really see beyond about half way down the second trailer. You'll have to rely on mirrors and other camera angles to get that right.
The driving is okay but has the same limitations as any other driving game. Ideally, you'll want to use a wheel or joystick (or gamepad). I don't have any of those so I used the keyboard. The keyboard works but driving can be challenging at times given the lack of a way to "finesse" turns and the like. Even so, you'll largely just be more worried about getting from point A to point B. There are short cuts in places but you're largely constricted to a couple of set highways to get from city to city. Still, you've got to manage your speed (cops), your fuel (only so many gas stations), and your route (watch for those short cuts) so there are things to keep you busy even on a long haul.
Overall, the game can be fun but it's a very specific fun. I personally like business sims and love the idea of running and managing logistics and just trucking loads across America. If you're looking for a fast-paced game or a complicated economic sim, this is not the game for you. But, if you wanted to strap yourself into a rig and drive around the country hauling loads, this is the game for you. And, it also helps that the price is nice and low. This version essentially rolls up all the various updates and changes made throughout the 18 Wheels series so you're getting the best version of the simulation (with the business side as well as the rigs and some of the bug fixes).
Previous 18 Wheels Owners (Start here)
For those of you that have tried an 18 Wheels game before you should know the drill by now. The games are more of a minor evolution than a revolution as you go from game to game. At this point, though, in the series, you're getting all the enhancements that have come down the pike (the more complicated business sim, the fix for the traffic issue, the expanded map with all of North America, etc.). At the same time, if you got Haulin', you likely got most of this anyway.
So, if you haven't updated your original 18 Wheels (across america?) game, you should probably just grab this sucker (it's nice and cheap anyway) and get up to date.
If you got Haulin or are like me and got every version in the series so far, this isn't going to be pushing the envelope for you at all. Still, the map seems to be a bit different and I noticed at least one thing that was fixed (that traffic bug...where cars used to just hit the brakes all the time) and, as I mentioned, it's dirt cheap (at least right now @9.99), it might be worth the pick up just to get some of those minor enhancements. It's your money so you'll know the best approach.
All in all, I like the series despite it's issues. I, like a lot of other fans, keep holding out for that graphics upgrade and some more sophisticated aspects to the business part (and maybe an autopilot for those times when you really just don't want to do that cross-country run again). Maybe one day...
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21 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Nothing New, December 18, 2007
Fun:3.0 out of 5 stars
This review is from: 18 Wheels of Steel : American Long Haul (Video Game)
Valusoft/SCS has created a great series in 18 Wheels of Steel. They've constistantly kept the price [...]) and have made great products. The 18WoS franchise has been a great driving simulator and buisness sim as well as being pretty stable (not counting Convoy).
Unfortunately it seems like the 18WoS series is beginning to get stale and repetitive. The cities need to be lively! Going into cities which seem so familiar and seeing no one walking or people coming out of shops and office buildings just doesn't cut it anymore. The traffic signals even look the same. Turning lanes would be a nice addition because a accident is just waiting to happen, plus when you wait for a clear path making a left turn, you are constantly being honked at. Please, no more cardboard buildings.
In the latest release by Valusoft/SCS American Long Haul has the same graphics as Haulin as well as the same premise. You start off with a truck and haul different types of cargo through the United States, Canada and now Mexico (only a few cities). Mexico was added but it was previously in 18WoS: Pedal to the Medal only. The only thing different in 18WoS: ALH is that you can bid on cargo and their are some shortcuts. There are a few large truckstops but to me it's not a truckstop if you can't get out of your truck, fill up the tank, go to the bathroom, talk to other drivers, or relax in the resturant. You can also be your own boss and hire other drivers just like in Haulin. I think the minor additions to American Long Haul could of very well been a patch for Haulin.
When I saw this on the SCS website, I was looking forward to a new chapter in the 18WoS series however when I played the demo, it's exactly like Haulin. I wasn't expecting American Long Haul to be almost the same as Haulin. Very disappointing!
Sadly, the graphics are getting old and the game itself is beginning to get stale. When you travel the highways, there are barren areas and areas that you wish were barren. The same setup for the cities is again in American Long Haul. What this means is that the cities are devoid off people, the traffic lights are strangely the same in every city, the buildings and scenery are bland and look like pop up books or blocks of cardboard. The only pleasant scenery is the water (bodies of water). What is inexusable are the highways and streets throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada. The developers should of at least done their homework on how the cities are laid out as well as the routes to get to them. I was hoping for the actual suspension bridges that lead to New York City as well as others. What about the tunnels to go from Manhattan into New Jersey? The Deleware River Gap Bridge when you drive on Interstate 80 through New Jersey? I'm not just talking about the New York/New Jersey area, I'm speaking for the whole area that is included in 18WoS: American Long Haul. With games being manufactured on DVD's you can't tell me that there isn't enough space on a DVD. If the budget was too tight maybe split it into several expansions? Use Google Earth if you can't travel all over the United States and take pictures. I also am wondering that thoughout the game, how come there are absolutely no truck stops anywhere. At truckstops, you can relax, have a meal (everyone, come on you know the words....YMCA, gonna stay at the YMCA....sorry couldn't help it! :-), maybe wash your rig, or buy acessories as well (Yes I saw the History Channels Modern Marvels: Truck Stops). At some weigh stations if you make the wrong turn to the parking lot before you "get weighed, you get a ticket! It's also weird to see no one manning the weigh stations. You can't even look through the building's window. What I'm implying is that the realism factor has certainly gone down. The first couple from the 18WoS series it's understandable and I have been amazed as to how 18WoS first came out and matured into a surprising hit as a driving simulation and business sim. If the cities are more realistic instead of empty of any human activity, and the routes to get to and from cities was more accurate, I think I would not mind to pay extra if the coompany raised the price from [...] With todays computers (dual core, quad core) and graphic cards, SCS/Valusoft can certainly put together a 18WoS game that certainly can be deep and wow people. Reading a few reviews when the 18WoS franchise was first started showed that it was a surprise hit and got better with each new release (again not counting Convoy).
I only played the demo (and have AML when I bought Big City Rigs) for a few minutes because it seemed like I was playing Haulin all over again. I enjoy Haulin even though the graphics are making me go blahhhh. If you feel the same way, stick with Haulin because if you buy American Long Haul, its 99.9999999% the same and yes if you don't own Haulin then American Long Haul would be the one to get.
It would be nice if the next title in the 18WoS series would bring live cities: people, more realistic buildings, bridges, traffic, construction, accidents, and toll bridges. Maybe the developers can add car washes and realistic gas and service stations. Can I get out of my truck to pump my own gas? Can I check the oil and engine? Check my tires? Can I buy a snack or a drink? Can I tell the mechanic (depending on the time of the day to check the engine)? Replace the tires? What about truck stops? What about after a long delivery, can I go to a Motel or Hotel (again getting out of my truck) and rest? Talk to other truckers in the lobby? Talk to other truckers in the truckstop? If I am in Las Vegas, can I actually stop off at the casino? If my house is nearby, can I go home and rest? It would be nice if I had a reason for working as a trucker or owning my own business. If I had a house somewhere in the cities or outlining suburbs-I have bills to pay. If I own a company there is got to be other things to do than simply hiring drivers and buying them rigs. How about building an office complete with a truck yard? Take on multiple computer opponents. Finally, since when do you deliver your cargo and there is no one to except it. It would be nice to have a forklift and deliver the goods into the warehouse or place of business that you are deliverying to. If you brought cars, you should be able to drive the cars off your trailer and put them in the dealers lot. Can you give bills/reciepts to show that you had reached your destination. It's weird dropping off cargo and it all of a sidden disapears when you press "T" and you get the money automatically into your bank account. All the companies are completely devoid of people and no other trucks come in but yours.
It's time to polish up the graphics, extend throughout the farthest reaches of North America. Let it become what the Simcity franchise has been known for----neverending and without any "clear goals." You just need to balance your budget. The game could end if you decide to retire, steal from the company and get caught, get arrested and can't pay the court fees and fines and/or jail time or cause such a horrific accident that your license it taken away for good. A good lesson within the game would be if you are in a resturant/bar on your night off or your down time and you drink to much, the police WILL catch you and determine if you were under the influence, arrest you, and this means game over. A realistic police force (an intelligent AI) would be fantastic. Throwing a wrench in this game would be to become the TOP TRUCKING COOMPANY that meets the demands of "its" customers while balancing a budget. If you retire you can have the option of buying an industry or a commerical business that trucking companies do business with so you're still a part of the action if you decide to "take a break." It would be great to have control of building your own warehouse to store whatever your hauling and actually have employees as well yourself removing the cargo. Again the cities in Long Haul as well as the previous 18WoS, are so stale that it seems like no one lives in these cities. All you see are cars and trucks. The wow factor in this game and hopefully this won't be the last one is to release it on a DVD(s) and restore this game as a model of beauty. I think (and I'm not speaking for everyone) people will be willing to shell out a little bit more if this game, company, and franchise go up a level or two and take the Tycoon trophy.
An option for multiplayer would be interesting. People can decide to be a trucker, own, a truck dealership, drive in cars, become a police officer, a customs official (goods coming from abroad and into your warehouse to ship), own/build resturants, car washes, gas stations, industries, the tools for trucks (pipes/hoses for gasoline trailers ect. You could drive a gasoline trailer either to the gas companies refinery and/or the actual gas station and fill up the stations gas tanks for its customers.
I realized that the modest system requirements have allowed the 18WoS franchise to bring a great level of playability and realism. I think it's time to up the system requirements and completely change how a simulation and a tycoon game can be created. With todays computers and computer components as well as their prices, the game can reach another level. I would love to see this game require dual core processors and at least a NVidia 8800 and ATI x1950 or higher video card. Most systems if not all of them out today are at least dual-core systems.
To anyone who's never played the 18WoS games then this is the game for you. For those people who own 18WoS: Haulin, it's pretty much the same game and you might feel disappointed and think, "Hey, I just played this in Haulin.", when you play the demo. I love the 18WoS series and hope new content is added.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Fun Game!, August 27, 2010
Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars
This review is from: 18 Wheels of Steel : American Long Haul (Video Game)
I recently played this game on my newer computer for the first time. I really enjoyed it. I soon liked the graphics, because on my old computer they were not so good. The AI (traffic) has been improved since Haulin, which I also have a review for. No, the traffic isn't perfect, but I want some imperfections because people do not drive perfectly in real life. I like the fact that the bus's color was changed to a nice blue, and that Mexico was added. I recommend installing the patch because there are some noticeable bugs in the original game. Go to [...] to find the patch. I do not trust the other patches from other sites. The patch really does fix the problems. The graphics are not the same as Haulin, no matter what anyone says. They are improved, and the #2 camera view is better in this game. I also like the fact that more gas and service stations were added, as well as some shortcut roads, and two new trucks. The graphics are not as good as UK Truck Simulator and German Truck Simulator, but for the time they are great.
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