Washing has never been so much fun, not even in the previous installment.
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With the enormous amount of DLCs that PowerWash Simulator had, even with truly unthinkable sagas like Warhammer, many of us wondered if a second part was really necessary. Having spent countless hours playing this new installment of the saga, I’m in a position to affirm that we needed this new edition, even if we didn’t know it.
The politics and mysteries of Caldera County, which require many washes, will take the player in this instance to cross the borders of Muckingham and explore some jobs in the surrounding areas: Sponge Valley, Power Falls, and Lubri City.
As for the game’s story, while it’s not relevant at all, it’s great that it’s there and takes place a few years after the events of the first title. Those who played it will remember the mission of the triton that shoots a beam from its head after completing the wash; well, that statue and the absence of that beam will be the guiding axes of all the missions.
Let’s get ready with the equipment and detergent; we won’t lack water to rinse off this analysis. Here we go.
Technical Section
It could be said that technically, there’s no supreme qualitative leap compared to the previous title, although it’s worth highlighting that graphically, the title had a facelift, and the designs look much better; even the dirt, without losing those distinctive strokes that move away from realism, although this only applies to the characters and animals that appear in the adventure, mainly the kittens that inhabit the base (yes, they can be petted and even purr).
The sound is relaxing, not only because of the few melodies that appear but also because of the atmosphere generated by the sounds of birds in outdoor jobs and the constant hum of the pressure washer and the impact of water on different surfaces with various intensities. Even so, I think this type of production is more enjoyable with a podcast in the background or playing a favorite band’s album.
The localization allows the interface and dialogues, which are reproduced through text messages, to be completely in Spanish, although only in its Iberian variant. As is often the case with this type of production with a not-so-high budget, the title does not have voices in any language.
Gameplay
The game’s objective remains as simple as direct, just like in the previous installment. The player will have to take charge of numerous cleaning jobs that range from canopies to public bathrooms, passing through extravagant objects like a dog-shaped car used in a movie, among many other things.
Each job has its own complexity, although nothing is impossible, and each section, no matter how small, of the object to be cleaned has a progress bar that shows how much is left to make it spotless and thus complete the task in the best way.
PowerWash Simulator 2 includes a campaign mode that tells the differences between the protagonist and the city’s mayor and their shady businesses, although all this is secondary and never prevents progress towards one mission or another. Additionally, all the jobs completed in the campaign can be replayed in free mode, because cleaning is always a pleasure, right?
If you had already played the first title, in this opportunity, you’ll see that the controls are much more intuitive, whether changing the type of nozzles on the washer or switching between types of washing machines. The novelties also include new tools that facilitate the work, the most notable being a round accessory, like a shower, that allows for much easier cleaning of large surfaces, both in terms of power and the washing area it produces.
More than the new tools, the stars of this sequel are the objects and places that need intense cleaning. What caught my attention the most are jobs like the public bathroom, which has different stages; that is, at first, it’s only possible to wash the ceiling and some exterior parts, but later the structure rises to continue washing other sections, and once that part is complete, it gives way to the interior of the bathroom, which is another spectacle of filth.
Other places also present different stages that can be tackled at any time, for example, in a campsite, you can wash the tables, and the fire sector before the main cabin; the same happens with a giant teapot or when freeing a gas station that seems to have been buried in mud.
Many jobs consist of different height levels, so it will also be necessary to use contraptions that allow reaching seemingly inaccessible sites. For this, there are ladders of various sizes, fixed platforms, a kind of pneumatic elevator that can be commanded according to the exact height required, and even a hanging seat.
Each job generates a good amount of income that reflects points of washing and money. Both currencies allow for the purchase of better tools, cosmetic items for the player’s uniform, the company’s van, the helmet, and other items, as well as buying furniture to decorate the base at will.
From FutureLab, they took note of their players’ needs and included in this new edition the possibility of playing with a colleague in split-screen option, as well as sharing campaign progress in an excellent online mode to share hours and hours of water waste. We know Greta Thunberg won’t be thrilled with the simulator.
Duration
PowerWash Simulator 2 has, by default, 38 jobs plus the DLCs that will be released, but even without them, the amount of time spent washing is absurd. Just for comparison, the original title had 20 locations and 17 additional jobs in career mode. The downloadable content, between free and paid, rose to 39 jobs, at least until the time of writing these lines.
Conclusion
Perhaps it’s excessively continuist, but PowerWash Simulator 2 takes everything that made the first installment a success and improves it with small touches that fans of the original game will appreciate, while being of great use to those who venture into the title.
It’s rare to offer a simulator where the only thing you do is wash large surfaces, but it can’t be emphasized enough how interesting the game is to have a relaxing experience for a few hours, and believe me, that time will increase gradually as the title catches you without hesitation.
The game will hit the market on October 23rd, and remember that it will be part of the GamePass catalog so you can try it without additional cost if you have an active subscription to the service.
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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