We tested the new installment of the Runner brand, this time in the cold wilderness of Alaska. SnowRunner makes us survive nature on PS4, Xbox One and PC.
Carriers are the soul of society in the face of natural disasters. Whether in a flood or in the conditions of sanitary crisis in which we are involved, transportation is vital to keep us connected. Hideo Kojima already handled the concept during Death Stranding, of which Saber Interactive has appropriated a little during his promotional campaign.
United We Drive. Drive, transport, deliver. The life cycle of the trucker. Cycle that we take to the extreme with SnowRunner, the new installment of the saga that will take us to embrace the frigid wastelands of Alaska, the hostility of northern Russia and the American classicism of Michigan. After MudRunner, new intrigues in tow await us in the next ditch.
Between the mud and the snow
Contrary to what it might seem, our trucking adventure begins devastated by the flooding of a small town in the State of Michigan. The challenge: rebuilding the bridge that gives access to the farms that live off the exchange. As a tutorial, we are immersed in a couple of hours guided almost by the narrative. A simple cast of logs and steel plates serve as a key to unlock the rest of the map.
For those who do not know what the playable framework of SnowRunner (and MudRunner last 2017) is about, we are facing a game that introduces us to a constant fight against nature. Understanding how the surface we drive on works is everything to keep us from getting stuck. If we go too fast we can create a ditch in the mud. Therefore, from the first moment we are urged to understand the vehicle's gearbox, which changes according to the model we drive.
We are not talking about putting second, third, fourth … No. Just understand that if we put a slow gear it will be less prone to jamming in wet terrain, when to use the fast gear, etc. All of this is linked to our fuel tank, whose consumption varies depending on how much power we give to the engine. Of course, those who want to enjoy it to the fullest can use the complete table, especially for the veteran sector.
In the end, driving is half the experience. The other big part of SnowRunner is managing our chassis appropriately. Not all serve the same company. SUVs are often perfect for exploring the surroundings and unlocking the next lookout station, which allows you to view all of your nearby terrain on the minimap. On the other hand, heavier trailers will have a really hard time crossing flooded areas, although if we do it right we can transport more merchandise in the same trip.
From the moment we complete the bridge and arrive at the first workshop, the game releases us by the hand so that we can take charge of ourselves. Reins that are too scattered. When we open the map we find a submenu full of contracts, whose missions range from delivering 8 logs to the farm to going to the highest point in Michigan and seeing the sights. In exchange for living the experience we will obtain money, necessary to access new vehicles and improvements. Improvements in which it is common to unblock them before meeting them on the map, making exploration more important.
The feel of completing contracts doesn't have the same packaging as when we did the same in the tutorial bridge. Some of them make us spin around for so little reward. There is something missing that will induce us to continue maintaining the same desire to help the city, especially for the neophytes. The reality is that it is very easy to end up immersed in the repetitive spiral of a complex of mechanics that need a little more ambition.
An interactive puzzle
Contracts aside, perhaps the most positive part of SnowRunner's formula is the way he organically places small puzzles. We entered a wooden bridge with more speed than we should, which made us turn to one side. We spent almost 20 minutes trying to reposition the car by using the winches available in the vehicle. We can tie them to logs or elements of the stage to make strength and thus be able to get out of the mess. Despite being able to return to the workshop with the push of a button, losing the journey you were doing is a real toothache. And we can.
At any moment nature turns against us, and that's where the impressive physics engine comes into play. Saber Interactive has created the most refined system of what we carry in the series (counting its origins with Spintires), which takes into account the suspension, weight, position of the axles when moving the steering wheel … It is a simulator, with all the letters.
But beyond how organic it is to navigate, that global puzzle is complemented by the crashed vehicles, which serve as puzzles in which to make the most of everything we have learned in it. They are usually vehicles that due to circumstances have been trapped in a place full of peculiarities; By helping them, we will obtain the possibility of acquiring this model in the workshop.
We will have at our disposal three territories: Michigan, Alaska and Taymir. As different in possibilities as they are similar in size. Playing in the second is the main novelty of this installment. Snow behaves differently from mud, somewhat thicker and difficult to navigate. It uses the usual all-wheel drive, which makes the routes require more management. The chains on the tires are the beginning to overcome obstacles. Ice is another enemy that will force us to be careful not to tip over.
The catalog of available vehicles exceeds thirty, which includes licensed models of the highest brands in the sector: Chevrolet, CAT, Pacific Trucks … among others. Online features remain at the same levels. Up to four simultaneous players can play on the same map. Performance on PS4 Pro usually stays at the target rate. The graphic level performs correctly, especially with the transitions of the day and night cycle in real time. Lighting is everything when the night comes. Manages to transfer the feeling of loneliness.
We miss a little more prominence in snowy environments. We spend more time in Michigan than we do in Alaska itself, simply because the medium-term introduction and progression takes place there. Entering the second territory without having completed a large part of the first contracts is crazy. Better vehicles are required than those you get in the first ten or fifteen hours. We are in SnowRunner, we want to be in the snow and get lost. It gives the feeling of facing a kind of expansion, rather than a sequel in itself.
CONCLUSION
SnowRunner comes as another step on the Saber Interactive simulator scale. The physics engine is more refined than ever, especially when it performs in new snowy environments. The formula works, but it is missing that the repetitive sensations that shortly after leaving the tutorial zone are alleviated. Chaining contracts becomes an almost inconsequential task, without any extra motivation beyond making us stronger for the next zone. It is necessary to give more packaging to the main adventure. Of course, those who enjoyed MudRunner will find a solid result, although it leaves a lot of room for improvement.
THE BEST
- Physics engine refined to the extreme.
- The environment works like a constant puzzle.
- Vehicles licensed and with full first person view.
- Control with well-transferred command, designed for novices and veterans.
WORST
- Repetitive to weariness. Contracts end up being inconsequential tasks.
- Snow is not so protagonist.
- Some ambition is lacking. It gives the feeling of facing an expansion.
Good
It meets the expectations of what is a good game, it has quality and does not have serious flaws, although it lacks elements that could have taken it to higher levels.
