18 Wheels of Steel: Extreme Trucker 2 Demo

Trucks are pretty much irresistible for most men out there, which is why trucking games are so popular with the crowds. Even if all you do is drive around at rather slow speeds and delivering lumber between cities, the joy of being behind the wheel of a massive machine is always satisfying. The road itself is part of the fun as well, especially if the game in question gives you plenty to see.

18 Wheels of Steel: Extreme Trucker 2  is not your usual truck simulator, on the other hand, because delivering the goods is only half the challenge. In essence, the road itself is your greatest enemy, because the environments were designed to be as tough as possible. The cargoes are often overweight, oversized and extra sensible, so the road should be that much more fun.

To begin with, you are allowed to pick one of the available zones to start in as a driver, depending on what you are in the mood for. Whether it’s the Arctic or the rainforest, the deliveries are challenging no matter what. You can choose between Australia, Bangladesh, Colorado and a few others, each one of which comes with a variety of missions and maps.

Although you may be used to driving on spacious highways with as many miles per hour as the truck allows you to, things are different here. The roads are usually narrow and busy, not to mention perilous in most situations. However, you still have to respect the time limit, so it’s mandatory to strike a balance between speed and safety. Unfortunately, the game is not very realistic in most regards, so you can basically do anything you like as long as you don’t bump anything.

Speaking of which, the controls and the graphics are absolutely horrific for the current day and age, which is quite sad, considering the fact that the maps seem to have been designed with care. On the other hand, the textures and the non-existent post-processing effects make it difficult to get in the proper mood for driving. Moreover, the controls are horrible and they do not make any sense, either with a keyboard or with a controller.

While 18 Wheels of Steel: Extreme Trucker 2 could have been a very successful game, the lack of ambition displayed by the developers make it very difficult to enjoy it for more than a few minutes. Hence, you might want to stick with the better simulators out there, even if they do not feature extreme conditions.