Review – Pacific Drive

Do you remember those trips where you and the family would pile in the station wagon and travel across the country on your family vacation; well, this isn't it! Pacific Drive is fresh a take on the sci-fi survival horror genre, where you drive a beat-up station wagon through the OZE(Olympic Exclusion Zone) as you try to find a way back to normal life. Based in the Pacific northwest, you play a character only referred to as "The Driver", as you are guided by 3 scientists that seem to be stuck in the OZE as well. Pacific Drive is the first game developed by Seattle based studio, Ironwood Studios and published by Kepler Interactive. Let's take a drive to discuss this survival game with roguelike elements, a weird but great story and so much more!

You start off the game being pulled into the OZE by some mysterious force, here is where you first meet your station wagon. From that moment on you and your wagon are tied together. This begins your journey as you complete roguelike loops of going to different areas collecting loot items you use to build up and improve your car; all while getting story beats. While in the OZE you run into different enemies or objects called anomalies, some are there to hurt you and some are just there. You find out quickly which ones are which, but you can't fight them directly. Along with anomalies, you also face increasingly dangerous storms, supernatural traps, radiation and other unexplainable things that can cause you and your car harm.

Your car starts out as a beat-up old station wagon and as you progress it becomes a lesser beat-up station wagon with armor and some tech. The garage is your home base and rest area when not venturing through the OZE. Here is where you get to repair and craft items for your car to prepare for all the things that the OZE throws at you. It kind of turns into a mechanic sim, you are crafting different tires, doors, and other items for your car. When out in the OZE scan everything you can at least once, this will help you unlock blueprints from the fabrication system. As you progress through the game your options like off road tires, paddle tires (for the later areas with water), storage racks, and cool gadgets that help in getting materials.

You don't just upgrade your car; you also upgrade yourself and the garage. You can craft different suits, larger backpacks, boots and more to help survive when not inside the car. You also get blueprints for systems inside the garage. The fabrication station, a matter regenerate, a matter deconstructor and more. You utilize all these tools and systems to make yourself and your car more suitable for the treks into the OZE.

Things I loved

This game is such a great experience, from the story to the gameplay. Going through missions to find out more about your 3 VA scientists and why they decided to stay in the OZE is worth a playthrough. Its possible to complete the story in around 15 - 20 hours but spending more time to unlock more upgrades for your car is the better option. I love the different accessibility and gameplay options; it allows you to customize your experience on how challenging you want it. You can turn on no car damage, faster nights, disable storms and much more to give yourself an easier play through. Just be mindful at turning off certain things will cause you to not get trophies. The music, whether it was coming from the radio, or the background was so nice. I didn't discover the radio and what it had to offer until I was hit by an anomaly that caused the car to short circuit.

Thing I didn't enjoy...

Pacific Drive has a lot of aspects I enjoy but there were some things I didn't like. The gameplay loop can get repetitive, the repair car, go to the OZE escape and come back and do it again did feel a little tiresome at times. There is no save option once you have left the garage and you're back in the OZE. For someone like me that loves to be able to jump in and out of games to complete objectives it was a little difficult. So, expect to spend at least an hour if not more when you sit down for a quick playthrough. Theres not much hand holding in this game, so you will have to figure things out for yourself. When your car develops a quirk and you must use the "Tinkering System Tool", there is no explanation on how to properly use it.

The Last Ride...

Pacific Drive is an amazing game, with at times a beautiful but dangerous setting, great story, and a kick ass station wagon. From the time you're pulled into the OZE until your last drive through that big yellow beam of light, Pacific Drive is a fresh take on the survival horror genre. The increasing challenges, the maps are never the same, the fun crafting, base building and more; make this game a must play.