18 Wheels of Steel - Across America

18 Wheels of Steel Across America was released back in 2003 and is the second game in the franchise. It came out in around a year after the original game and despite the quick turnaround, it featured many things that they actually wanted to put in the first game. Trucking games have come along way, but there is something charming about this game so if you like trucking games it is worth taking a closer look at.

I’m A Travelling Man

For years I have had an interest in trucks. I think it dates back to when I was a kid and I would signal for truck drivers to honk their horns. 18 Wheels of Steel Across America is a game that looks like a game from 2003. It would be so easy to say that the game looks bad, but to be fair at the time it was released, these graphics were actually pretty decent. You get to drive through many different parts of the USA and while they are not as detailed or authentic as what you would get in a modern trucking sim, they are diverse and all look different.

So again, do not just look at this game and think it is ugly. It is just an older game and they did the best with what they had. It is a game that is very clearly showing its age. There are plenty of different trucks and other vehicles on the road, but these also look a tad rough by today's standards.

The Joys Of The Open Road

One thing I will say about 18 Wheels of Steel Across America is that the game is still pretty fun to play. It feels far more stripped back than what we have with modern trucking games, but sometimes things being simpler, can make them more fun. You have lots of loads to deliver and you will be going to many different parts of the country. There is a nice amount of diversity here and I like how you can go from having to navigate busy city streets to a more rural area that has smaller and trickier roads. Then you have the large open road sections which are fun and relaxing to drive through.

You do have to watch out for other drivers, going too fast and even problems occurring with your truck. Not to mention, you need to keep an eye on that fuel gauge! The hardest part of the game for me was delivering my loads to a place that has a loading dock. This is way trickier than you would think.

I must admit that when it comes to trucking games, 18 Wheels of Steel Across America is not the best. However, while its sequels are notably better than this. I will say that this game is at the very least better than the one that came before it and that is all you can really ask. Some may think that it looks too old to be fun, but I have to disagree. It is a game that is very rough around the edges, but rather than thinking of it as being old, I like to think it is more old-school!

Pros:

• You have lots of parts of the USA to drive through
• For a game that is this old, the size of the map is impressive
• You have plenty of trucks to drive
• The game is more challenging than you would think
• I liked how basic the game was in comparison to more in-depth trucking sims

Cons:

• The game looks rather rough
• Its sequels are much better games