Pacific Drive

Release Date: February 22, 2024

Action, FPP, cars, roguelike, post-apocalypse, survival, crafting, singleplayer

84%

Steam

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Pacific Drive is a first-person survival game in which we explore the transformed terrains of the northwestern coast of the USA with our car. Our expeditions are hindered by anomalies, monsters and forces of nature, and the game is enriched by a system of car upgrades.

Originals

February 8, 2024

Games of February 2024 - Last Month of Winter Be HOT!

February can surprise when it comes to high-profile releases. It is no different in 2024, as the month turns out to be full of productions worthy of attention. For many, however, probably the most important will be the one game with seven in the title.

Games of February 2024 - Last Month of Winter Be HOT!

Videos and Screens

[0:51] Pacific Drive Trips and Treasures Update Trailer

[1:35] Pacific Drive Pacific Drive - Drive Your Way Fall 2024 Update

84%

STEAM Score

All Reviews: Very Positive (13,937)

STEAM

User Reviews Summary generated by AI

The main pros of the game

Unique Concept: The game combines driving mechanics with survival elements in a supernatural setting, allowing players to explore a mysterious exclusion zone while managing their vehicle.
Immersive Atmosphere: Many players praised the game's atmosphere, noting it effectively creates tension and a sense of isolation, enhanced by the sound design and environmental storytelling.
Car Customization and Mechanics: The car maintenance and upgrade system received positive feedback. Players enjoyed the depth of customization available for their vehicle, as well as the engaging mechanics tied to managing its parts.
Visuals and Soundtrack: The art style and graphics were appreciated for their aesthetic appeal, and the soundtrack was noted as a highlight that complements the game's vibe.
Engaging Gameplay Loop: The core gameplay loop of scavenging, upgrading, and exploring was seen as enjoyable, with many players finding satisfaction in collecting resources and enhancing their car.

The main cons of the game

Performance Issues: A significant number of reviews highlighted poor optimization, with many players experiencing frame rate drops and crashes, even on capable hardware.
Repetitiveness: Some players felt the gameplay became monotonous after a while, with the same tasks of driving, collecting, and upgrading becoming tedious.
Lack of Checkpoints: The absence of a proper save system or checkpoints was a major point of frustration for many, leading to feelings of wasted time when players had to restart after dying.
Story and Narrative Weaknesses: While some appreciated the story, others found it lacking depth and coherence, feeling that the narrative did not provide a fulfilling experience.

The features or elements that are missing from the game according to users

Improved Save System: Many players expressed a desire for a more forgiving save system that allows for mid-mission saves or checkpoints to alleviate frustration.
More Diverse Content: Some reviews mentioned a wish for larger maps, more varied environments, or additional side missions to enhance exploration and reduce repetitiveness.
Enhanced Storytelling: There were calls for a more engaging and coherent story, with richer character interactions and a more defined narrative arc.
Better UI and Controls: Some users found the user interface clunky and the controls unintuitive, suggesting improvements in these areas would enhance the overall experience.

Summary

Overall, Pacific Drive is seen as a unique and engaging game with a mix of driving and survival elements, but it suffers from performance issues and design choices that can detract from the player experience.

Summary generated on: November 25, 2024

6.2

GAMERS Score

Average score from 73 votes. 10 players anticipated the game.

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Pacific Drive is a post-apocalyptic survival action game. It is the debut game of the Ironwood Studios team.

Plot

The action of the game takes place in the near future on the northwest coast of the USA. As a result of a mysterious cataclysm, the area was destroyed and filled with dangerous anomalies, which forced most people to leave it.

The player takes on the role of a daredevil who, using his car, wants to reach the Olympic Exclusion Zone, located in the heart of these transformed lands, as he believes that there he will finally find out what caused the cataclysm.

Game mechanics

Pacific Drive is a survival action game in which events are observed from a first-person perspective. We spend most of the gameplay in a car, traversing dangerous terrain. We are threatened by both anomalies and various monsters, as well as the usual, but equally dangerous, forces of nature.

The player can also leave the car. This is necessary in situations when it is necessary, for example, to take some items or repair damage to the machine. The car itself can be modified to a large extent, upgrading its parts, adding more and better "armor" and gadgets, as well as adjusting the vehicle to our visual preferences.

All this is enriched by light roguelike elements. The game takes the form of dangerous but relatively short expeditions, between which we return to the garage acting as a base. With each trip, many elements of the world, including resources, monsters and anomalies, are randomly generated to provide us with fresh challenges.

Game modes

The game features a single-player mode only.

Technical aspects

Pacific Drive features attractive 3D graphics, the main advantage of which is a well-designed world. The adventures are enriched by music composed by Wilbert Roget (author of soundtracks for Mortal Kombat 11 and Call of Duty: WWII, among others). His instrumental tracks are accompanied by more than a dozen licensed songs.