Iron Wood Studios invites us to refurbish a car to survive in a reality where nothing is what it seems.
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Generally speaking, survival games, especially those related to vehicles, are always among my favorites, and since its release on PC, I had been eyeing Pacific Drive. A title that focuses on the relationship between the player and their “haunted” vehicle and a journey that takes place in a closed-off area in the United States in the 1970s.
The player finds themselves trapped in the Olympic exclusion zone, a place surrounded by strange events. Along with three other scientists, the player must follow a narrative that constantly shifts between humorous tones and somewhat more serious or dramatic situations.
Get ready to make a good cross-key and gather some elements, because we’ll need all your courage and mechanical knowledge to survive this four-wheeled ride through strange, otherworldly routes. Let’s go.
Technical Aspect
The graphics create a nearly constant atmosphere of terror, although it’s not explicitly stated. For example, throughout the game, mannequins (called tourists) appear, which don’t move, but their mere presence and appearance cause constant discomfort when near. The scenarios are generally dark or lit in unconventional ways, which, combined with frequent rain, creates a state of alertness in the player.
In terms of sound, the crackling of radio static, the noises from the exclusion zone, and the music that can be selected in the car to accompany the journey were chosen with great precision. I particularly enjoyed driving through the roads without music, but the occasions when I selected different melodies were also very rewarding due to the game’s rhythms.
Pacific Drive is localized in our language and very correctly, although I think the quality control missed a beat, as there are several text chains that were not translated, and even several items and their descriptions remain in English. That being said, not having played the PC version, I’m not sure if this is a problem exclusive to the Xbox Series version I analyzed or if it’s common to all platforms.
Gameplay
The game consists, basically, of making trips to different points on the map with the car. On these adventures, it will be necessary to collect materials to improve the vehicle and even survive within the exclusion zone. The maps, it’s worth noting, are generated randomly, which makes each trip feel different and adds that roguelite element to the equation.
Exploration is key, both inside and outside the vehicle, as well as inventory management, which constantly challenges the player to prioritize certain elements and say goodbye to others, not without some sadness. After obtaining the necessary materials, it will be necessary to return to the base, either by activating portals or returning at full speed with the vehicle, if it’s still in working condition.
Although the game’s formula is simple and limited to what’s described above, we’re not dealing with an easy game, and this can frustrate players at first. The exclusion zone is full of strange phenomena called “anomalies” that can appear at any moment and destroy the car and the player in seconds. If this happens, the player returns to the base but loses most of the collected elements and the car is left in ruins.
Added to these peculiarities, another characteristic that doesn’t make things easier for players is the inability to save the game at any moment, but rather only at the base. While this is something common in roguelites, some trips in Pacific Drive can take several minutes, and losing progress due to a software issue can be very frustrating.
Fortunately, elements can be used to increase resistance and improve many characteristics of the car so that it’s more tolerant of impacts or not affected by electrical discharges. The improvements are also visible, as the vehicle can be painted as elements are collected, and it can be adorned with various stickers that appear during trips.
Everything related to crafting parts doesn’t differ from other games of the same style; that is, certain raw materials are needed to create an element, and from those elements, other possible fabrications will derive. Some items are easier to obtain, while others will require specific searches in certain sectors and even a great deal of luck. To enable other constructions, it will be necessary to visit a specific machine at the base, which, unfortunately, has a large number of menus, making navigation more than cumbersome; even more so if we consider that everything has a 1970s aesthetic, which doesn’t make it very user-friendly, although it does add to the immersion.
One of the things that caught my attention the most is that the people at Iron Wood Studios paid attention to and emphasized small details; for example, that starting the car requires turning the key, or that an important point is to put on the brake when stopping, or remembering to turn off the headlights so that the battery isn’t unnecessarily consumed.
Duration
Completing the main missions of the base game can take at least 30 hours, so we’re talking about a game that offers a lot of content for a price that doesn’t exceed 30 euros in most markets. If you add the DLCs that expand the territory where the adventure takes place, we’re talking about almost double that time, a true beast that’s worth it every minute.
Conclusion
Pacific Drive is an open-world proposal with many interesting elements from other productions and genres. The title arrived on Xbox Series directly by being added to the Game Pass catalog; with the latest version of the game that coincides with the release of the Whispers in the Woods DLC, an addition that takes the player to another part of the exclusion zone where a sect will have the protagonist’s story and incorporates elements that generate advantages and curses.
If you like survival games and cars, this is a game you shouldn’t even think about trying; you should do it right now, although I warn you that it can be a bit frustrating at first, which doesn’t mean it won’t hook you. Quite the contrary.
Translator and video game localiser with a passion for retro titles and simulators. He has never let go of a controller since he was given an Atari 2600. He collaborates with different developers in the localisation of their titles into Spanish through Camelot Translations.
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