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While 2023 seemed to be the year companies were competing to make the best RPG, 2024 is the year of survival games, and we are just starting. Since I played Subnautica, I hadn’t seen a game that broke the barriers of the genre until Pacific Drive parked itself in my gaming library. It’s an installment full of the survival elements we love but with a fresh twist. From a mobile base that is the best friend you could wish for to too many meaningful upgrades and a surprisingly intriguing story, this is an almost complete package from start to finish.
Pacific Drive Review
Despite wanting to portray a relaxing road trip vibe, Pacific Drive is a game that doesn’t take survival lightly. You are inside a bizarre map that could be an episode of The Twilight Zone. It’s just you and your little station wagon against a myriad of anomalies looking to ruin your life. And let me tell you, dealing with them is as stressful as getting a flat tire on the way to work. And yet, the game’s loop is so addictive that I never wanted to hit the brakes.
Story: Welcome to the Olympic Exclusion Zone
Explaining the story would be like describing an episode of The X-Files. Many years ago, the government decided to use the Olympic Peninsula as a test site for advanced technology. Of course, like other technology we don’t know about, these tests went wrong. Disappearances, anomalies, and bizarre objects were a few of the things that began to occur. Gradually, the government decided to raise a wall around the zone until it became known as The Olympic Exclusion Zone. This is where our nameless protagonist and their station wagon are sucked into it. With only their car and three people on the radio, it’s up to them to get out of there and discover the mystery of this place.
These three people are Dr. Oppy, Francis, and Tobias. The first one created the technology that led to the collapse of this area and is still inside it after losing a loved one. On the other hand, Francis and Tobias, who are the most friendly towards you, want to help you get out as soon as possible while they investigate the Remnants. Remnants are objects that can drive people to insanity. And guess what? Your car becomes one of them. So, the plot is a race against the clock to get out of this place before you lose your sanity or something worse occurs.
I want to dig deeper into the story but don’t want to spoil the surprise. And frankly, the uncovering of each mystery was what I enjoyed the most. It seems like it’s all a simple accident initially, but is it? How much does the government want to cover up? Why are there still people inside? All of this is revealed in moments that left me speechless. It’s been a long time since I’ve played a survival game like Pacific Drive that made me as interested in its plot as I was in its gameplay.
Gameplay: Pimp My Ride
Speaking of gameplay, there is much to say. Pacific Drive is a survival game, as we’ve established. The difference is how it presents its mechanics. Instead of having you build a base in various locations like in Sons of the Forest, you have your mobile fortress instead: a station wagon. This vehicle is your best friend at all times. It’s your walking inventory, radiation shelter, defense mechanism, and jukebox. What else do you need?
While having such a versatile car sounds interesting, it is expensive to maintain, and I’m not talking about money. Given the survival and roguelite elements of the game, your station wagon is in danger at every turn. You see, Pacific Drive has a very addictive gameplay loop. You prepare your car in the garage with supplies and new parts. Then, select a road in this supernatural zone to explore. Afterward, you get in your car, explore a route to harvest materials with crafted tools, and advance the story. Lastly, you return to your garage to use materials and unlock upgrades to improve your car. It might sound easy to do, but it’s not.
In this installment, the danger does not lie in mutant enemies that attack you at every moment. In fact, there is not even combat. You are a poor protagonist with a set of gizmos that help you open and weld things. Instead, it’s every route you explore that’s dangerous. Pacific Drive has roguelike elements. Each route changes every time you explore it. Its buildings, loot, and anomalies are different. This leads you to prepare your car beforehand. If there are thunderstorms, build a lightning rod. Is there permanent darkness? Bring flares. The preparation of this game is equivalent to that of Monster Hunter: World, although now you can change your Palico for a vehicle.
Although, I do want to say that the exploration can be frustrating at times, and I admit that I partly feel it was my fault. Preparing for a road trip is vital. If you want to take the fast road and put the pedal to the metal, go ahead, but it won’t work. Since I wanted to discover the story that had me hooked, I wanted to move fast. From facing anomalies that electrocuted my car in the first areas, I encountered cracks that threw me through the air and flying tentacles that stole parts from my car in the late game Junctions. Take my defeat as advice and prepare your car before traveling.
Speaking of defeat, it also happens, and it hurts a lot. The change of zones and anomalies is not the only roguelike thing in the game. When you leave a zone, a portal opens, and a Battle Royale-like storm gradually closes in. If you don’t escape it, say goodbye to all your loot, car parts, tools, and more.
However, you can mitigate this. Your garage is more than just a place to park your vehicle. It’s your workstation. You can add machines to decorate your car or repair its parts if you lose some. Heck, there’s even an aquarium. Every upgrade helps you prepare better for a trip and prevent losses. It’s a lot of investment, but fixing the garage up is worth it. And believe me, nothing beats the relief you get when you reach this place after seeing a radioactive storm behind you.
Overall, Pacific Drive offers a very immersive and addictive gameplay at all times. I loved having to realistically start the car and switch the stick to drive every time I wanted to move forward. Having the map inside the vehicle instead of a menu was refreshing. The only thing that annoyed me a bit was using certain tools. Sometimes, some of them didn’t work as they should, and I had to abandon certain activities because of that. According to the developers, this will be fixed before the game’s release, so it should not affect you, but it is important to mention that it was one of the few things that frustrated me while playing.
Graphics & Audio: A One-Of-A-Kind Landscape
Despite the lack of optimization, the graphics are impressive. They are not the most realistic thing, but the fog and lighting effects make each route a marvel. During the review period, it was reported that they were working on optimizing the game further. But let me tell you that the game shines in every aspect, even in medium settings. From the wooded terrains to the swamps filled with empty radio towers and even the arid areas of the game, each one is as enchanting as it is terrifying.
As for the audio, I have no complaints. The voice actors shine with every line of dialogue they deliver. But, what takes the gold medal is the song repertoire. The developers chose specific songs for a road trip. The last time I felt a soundtrack was perfect for a game was in Death Stranding, and here, Ironwood Studios hit the nail on the head with every track. The immersion you feel watching the rain fall on your windshield with slow rock tunes is second to none. Despite the dangers on the road, the soundtrack was always a good excuse to take the car out for a drive.
Conclusion: The Road That Keeps on Giving
As full as 2024 is of survival games, Pacific Drive is the most innovative experience I’ve seen. With so many immersive systems that make you feel like you’re in a real car, this could pass as a car simulator. The survival systems are very well executed and offer a nice loop where you can get lost for hours. While optimization is a problem I suffered from initially, it never stopped me from being entertained. Finding the balance between survival and cozy Sunday drives is tricky, but this Pacific Drives manages to nail it. This is a road I want to travel again without a doubt.
Pacific Drive is available on PS5 and PC (Reviewed).
Review copy given by Publisher.
Pacific Drive (PC Reviewed)
A fantastic new take on the survival genre.
Pros
- Great survival mechanics.
- Immersive traversal systems.
- Addictive gameplay loop.
The Bad
- Confusing and cluttered UI.
- Few performance issues.
