Windows

Bus Driver

Bus Driver is a surprisingly engaging driving simulation that might just give you some insight into the daily lives of real bus drivers around the world. It’s great fun in a non-traditional game setting where you actually feel good about obeying traffic laws and driving safe, rather than running from the police and driving like a madman. I know in my personal life, I am now a lot better about using my turn signal for lane changes, so I can thank Bus Driver for that. My only regret is that this game is confined to the PC, a platform that is quickly slipping away into obscurity when it comes to gaming. Bus Driver is the perfect type of game for the console, specifically, Xbox Live Arcade. The potential for even greater fun with improved analog controls, interesting achievements, and even some multiplayer challenges would make this a fantastic original offering on the Xbox 360.

Still, the game poses a challenge no matter your age, and it’s actually relaxing making routes around town and trying to keep it clean. It only needs some additions and adjustments to give it lasting appeal, but even as it stands now it is a game that’s worth a look.

Unfortunately, there's one aspect of the game that I suspect is also true to real life: once you get the hang of doing it right, there's not much left to challenge you and keep it interesting. While it is the type of game that can be picked up and learned quite easily, it is equally easy to drop once you've mastered it. Keep in mind that this is an observation from a guy that has to drive way too much in the real world, though. Part of the appeal of computer-based simulators is that they allow you to experience things that you probably can't do in real life. While driving a bus around town doesn't seem that exotic and attractive to me, I can easily see how it would appeal to the younger set.

Gra jest wciągająca mimo tylu niedopatrzeń. Miejmy nadzieję, że twórcy wypuszczą jakieś porządne patche i przyjemność z grania będzie jeszcze większa. Dla osób które jeszcze są zainteresowane tym tytułem – bez kierownicy nie macie co nawet do tego podchodzić. Punkty ujemne za hamowania będą Wam lecieć w tysiące. Mi osobiście na kierownicy też było ciężko utrzymać autobus na „granicy bezpieczeństwa”. Ogólnie z czystym sercem mogę polecić ten tytuł wszystkim fanatykom, którzy posiadają kierownice :P

I had fun with Bus Driver despite its flaws and technical shortcomings, because it's a different kind of driving game that focuses more on patience and technique than pure speed. It’s not a must-own by any means, but if you’re a driving fan it’s definitely worth trying out the demo to see if the $30 MSRP is right for you.

The controls aren't that fun, the graphics are dated and the sound isn't really all that tight, but the game has some fun hidden in there when taken in small doses. I think this is the kind of game that will appeal to most, but will ultimately disappoint due to the overall experience.

If it sounds like I’m being harsh on Bus Driver, it’s only because I’ve been recognizing the trend of increasingly complex sim titles (like the recent Ship Simulator 2008) and was expecting something along similar lines. And again, I have nothing against casual edutainment titles that are fun for the whole family, but the marketing behind the game led me to believe I was getting into something more complex. If the developers decide to revisit the concept and expand upon it properly for the future, I’ll be first in line to give it another go.

Samostatnou kapitolou pri Bus Driver je pochopiteľne grafické spracovanie. O nejakom fyzikálnom modeli nemôže byť ani reč, a tak autobus, ktorého vodičom ste vy, vyzerá vcelku obstojne, okolité autá tiež ujdú a ľudí, ktorých som spomenul, by sme ešte prekúsli. Je tu aj okolité prostredie! Neuveriteľné, ale je to tak... Len keby budovy neboli ako požvachlané papierové 2D modely... Čo dodať na záver? Snáď toľko, že ak vám škorce vyžierajú hrozno a nemáte igelit po ruke je Bus Driver ideálnym odplašovačom všemožných škodcov za 299 Sk! No nekúpte to...