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Pardon the dust! This page includes some jargon that hasn't been added to the site's glossary yet. I'll be around to fix this later, but sorry for the inconvenience in the meantime. |
Review: Car Mechanic Simulator 2018
At a Glance
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How to Save and Pause:Multiple players can save their progress under their own profiles. There is no autosave however; you need to choose to save your game when you exit. Although it's completely unnecessary, you can pause the game by pressing ESC to bring up the in game menu. Time needed per session:Each job can take anywhere from a few minutes to over an hour to complete, so plan to play for longer periods of time.
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Does this game pose issues for Christian players?
 | No - this is a great game for Christians You won't find anything offensive in this game - unless you count the way some people have treated their cars. On the other hand, it's easy to play for longer than intended, so be sure to watch your time. |
Screenshots
![[view screenshot]](../images/screenshots/car_mechanic_simulator_2018_0.jpg)
![[view screenshot]](../images/screenshots/car_mechanic_simulator_2018_1.jpg)
![[view screenshot]](../images/screenshots/car_mechanic_simulator_2018_2.jpg)
Game Overview
The Car Mechanic Simulator series has continued to improve with its third installment, Car Mechanic Simulator 2018. This version of the game comes with a number of quality of life improvements, as well as several new features that will keep any virtual mechanic entertained.
Right off the bat, the best thing about this edition of the game is that features introduced by Car Mechanic Simulator 2015's DLCs, such as the Auction house, tuning stations, and sandbox mode, are all now part of the core package. This time around, DLCs are just for players who want to work on real world cars. Several new activities have also been added, such as the ability to root through a junkyard or abandoned barns to find old cars or parts. You never know what you'll find in these places, and it's a great way to acquire a few junkheaps for your in game total restoration projects.
While the junkyard is always available once it's unlocked, barns are another story. When you complete an order, there's a chance that the customer will give you a barn map or a case as well as your pay. "Using" a barn map adds the location of the barn to your main map. You can only visit a barn once, so be sure to have room in the garage and lots of money on hand when you go.
Cases, on the other hand, contain three random parts. These will always be in mint condition and of higher quality than parts you can purchase through an in game store, so if you're interested in making a real "hot rod", these are the parts you'll want. Personally, I just sell them for spare cash - especially at the start of a new game, where money is often in short supply.
Another change from the previous titles is a revamp of the control scheme. This time, almost everything is handled through a simple, context-aware menu system. Just right click on something (including thin air) to open an action menu. Which actions are available depends on what you clicked on, but this is how you'll view a car's information, switch between mounting or unmounting parts, check your inventory, or interact with various large tools.
Speaking of the larger tools, more of these become available as your garage expands. When you've unlocked everything, you'll be able to recharge dead batteries, repair most parts, perform interactive suspension testing, paint cars with all sorts of liveries, and even replace the car's seats and other interior pieces! The best tool, in my opinion, is the engine crane. You can take entire engine assemblies out of a vehicle, mount them on a special stand, and work on them without having to dodge the rest of the car. You can also use this tool to swap engines or install an entirely new engine, if that's your thing.
All in all, if you loved the earlier games, you'll love this edition even more. If you haven't tried any of the Car Mechanic Simulator games, definitely start with this one. You'll get your money's worth!
Right off the bat, the best thing about this edition of the game is that features introduced by Car Mechanic Simulator 2015's DLCs, such as the Auction house, tuning stations, and sandbox mode, are all now part of the core package. This time around, DLCs are just for players who want to work on real world cars. Several new activities have also been added, such as the ability to root through a junkyard or abandoned barns to find old cars or parts. You never know what you'll find in these places, and it's a great way to acquire a few junkheaps for your in game total restoration projects.
While the junkyard is always available once it's unlocked, barns are another story. When you complete an order, there's a chance that the customer will give you a barn map or a case as well as your pay. "Using" a barn map adds the location of the barn to your main map. You can only visit a barn once, so be sure to have room in the garage and lots of money on hand when you go.
Cases, on the other hand, contain three random parts. These will always be in mint condition and of higher quality than parts you can purchase through an in game store, so if you're interested in making a real "hot rod", these are the parts you'll want. Personally, I just sell them for spare cash - especially at the start of a new game, where money is often in short supply.
Another change from the previous titles is a revamp of the control scheme. This time, almost everything is handled through a simple, context-aware menu system. Just right click on something (including thin air) to open an action menu. Which actions are available depends on what you clicked on, but this is how you'll view a car's information, switch between mounting or unmounting parts, check your inventory, or interact with various large tools.
Speaking of the larger tools, more of these become available as your garage expands. When you've unlocked everything, you'll be able to recharge dead batteries, repair most parts, perform interactive suspension testing, paint cars with all sorts of liveries, and even replace the car's seats and other interior pieces! The best tool, in my opinion, is the engine crane. You can take entire engine assemblies out of a vehicle, mount them on a special stand, and work on them without having to dodge the rest of the car. You can also use this tool to swap engines or install an entirely new engine, if that's your thing.
All in all, if you loved the earlier games, you'll love this edition even more. If you haven't tried any of the Car Mechanic Simulator games, definitely start with this one. You'll get your money's worth!
Points of Interest
Improved controls
In addition to the simpler right-click menu system, you can also move around the car you're working on more freely than ever before. Previously, you could only orbit the part you had selected. This time, the WASD keys allow you to explore the entire length of the car, making it much easier to spot damaged parts.
Story missions are back
The first Car Mechanic Simulator game primarily had you working on a series of story-driven jobs. The sequel replaced them with randomized jobs, which is more than enough for most players. Car Mechanic Simulator 2018 opted to use both, with story jobs popping up every so often alongside the randomized orders.
DLCs now only add licensed features
The base package contains everything you need to really enjoy this game. DLCs are still present, but they only offer special features - like real world car brands - for the players who want that extra bit of immersion.
Expert and Sandbox modes
If you're not interested in slowly building up your collection via the usual route, you can also play in an expert mode or sandbox mode. Expert mode shows the wear on parts differently and does not highlight interactive objects, making things harder and a little more realistic. Sandbox mode is exactly what it says on the tin - it's a free for all creative mode where you can just do whatever you want.
Steam community features
There's a set of Steam trading cards available for anyone who's interested in them, and a total of 60 achievements that can be earned as you work. Almost all of the achievements are earned by reaching in-game milestones, like fixing a certain number of cars.
There's also some support from the Steam Workshop, which provides you additional content - mainly new cars to work on or collect.
There's also some support from the Steam Workshop, which provides you additional content - mainly new cars to work on or collect.
Concerns and Issues
Cleaner than the garage floor
One of the nice things about games like this is that they're fun and suitable for anyone who wants to play them. There's nothing objectionable to be found here, just a lot of cars that need someone to take 'em apart and put them back together after a good scrub.