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0 Developer Kyodai are back with their latest simulator: Truck Driver: The Dutch Connection. The follow-up to 2023’s Truck Driver: The American Dream, this new entry see’s you driving across a fictionalised area of the Netherlands. The game is available now on both PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S for £34.99.
This review is based around the PlayStation 5 version of the game. It’s also worth noting that The Dutch Connection has already had several patches since its release, so props to the developer for pushing out this many updates so soon after launch!
Keep On Truckin’
This will be my first Truck Driver game, and it’s one I’ve been looking forward to! As a fan of practically every type of simulator game (Train Sim World being my true guilty pleasure), I was eager to get behind the wheel of my very own truck. So, it’s time to load up and get behind the wheel, because we’re going on a road trip!
Got any recommendations for fun simulator titles? Perhaps you too have a guilty pleasure game? Let me know in the comments below! But, for now, it’s on with the review!
Gameplay
Our main character, Felix, is relocating from the good ol’ US of A to the Netherlands. Eventually meeting a younger truck driver named Lucas, the two quickly bond over their love of the job. There’s some semblance of a story here, with some low-stakes family drama and the like, but it was never anything that engaging. At least it’s something, though, seeing as the majority of simulator games have little to no story whatsoever.
The Dutch Connection is a simulator title where your objectives are all based around transporting various goods from A to B. If you’ve played the previous games, then this is pretty much identical in terms of gameplay. If you’re a complete newcomer, then the game eases you into some of the mechanics within the opening chapter.
For example, the first thing you’ll do is park up your truck to refuel. Just like in the real world, you’ll need to switch off your engine before filling her up! It’s not just the truck that needs resupplying, though, as Felix himself will need to rest and eat from time to time. The easy-to-understand user interface will always ensure players know exactly how he’s doing, so no falling asleep at the wheel, okay?
There are many aspects of the game that aren’t shown to the player. Things such as how running red lights or hitting other vehicles results in a fine aren’t explained until it’s too late. Sure, this may seem obvious; it’s a simulator game, but if you’re not used to the semi-realistic mechanics, you may be caught by surprise. Don’t worry, the gameplay is actually rather simple, and as long as you’re not playing it as you would Grand Theft Auto, you’ll soon get the hang of watching your speed and using your indicators!
10-4 Good Buddy!
Controlling your rig is easy, and it responds well to controller inputs. There’s a good sense of weightiness when cruising along the roads and cornering, which is nice. The use of the DualSense complements the driving, with trigger resistance for accelerating and braking, and, my personal favourite, the slight pitter-patter of rain on your windscreen. Okay, I admit that I can’t feel the rain vibrating the steering wheel when I’m driving in the real world, but it’s still a neat feature!
The Dutch Connection is comprised of two main modes. The story mode sees you completing specific jobs in order to progress the narrative. Freedom to Roam is the second option, which allows you to tackle a variety of missions as you see fit. Freedom to Roam features short-, medium-, and long-haul jobs, with each one rewarding money and skill points. Skill points are used to unlock things like improved fuel efficiency and cheaper truck upgrades, nothing too fancy.
Graphics & Audio
There are plenty of display settings for players to mess with, from enabling HDR to choosing from several rendering modes. Despite the impressive amount of graphical options available, unfortunately, The Dutch Connection is still pretty rough around the edges. For starters, it looks very oversaturated. When driving in cockpit view, the motion blur (despite the option being turned off) and field of view make it almost unbearable to play. Switching to the third-person camera alleviates this, at least, but it’s a shame since first-person really helps with immersing yourself in simulator games.
Audio is also underwhelming, and despite the voice actors doing an okay job with a poor script, the AI assistant that gives you jobs grated on me constantly. Several radio stations are available, with a range of genres to choose from. Each track is fairly generic, so don’t expect much in the way of licensed music.
It can be quite buggy, too. Text boxes overlaying on top of one another, making it impossible to read either, for example. There were times when I couldn’t access the menu to check the map, although this fixed itself after a minute or two. Frame rate drops are rather frequent, and the game crashed twice on me during my time with it.
Longevity
Although the story mode isn’t too long, there is a good chunk of replayability in Freedom to Roam. The unfortunate reality is that I wasn’t interested in playing it for too long. As a simulator, it feels too stripped back compared to others in the genre.
Final Thoughts
Overall, Truck Driver: The Dutch Connection is a disappointing attempt at a truck simulation game. Sure, it has its moments, but it just isn’t in-depth enough. If you’re looking for something that’s a bit less strict when it comes to playing by the game’s rules, then you may enjoy this. Unfortunately, it’s not a title I can recommend, with so many other great sims already out there.
So, for those reasons, I’ll be giving Truck Driver: The Dutch Connection a Thumb Culture Bronze Award!
Disclaimer: A code was received in order to write this review.
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