Hello, ToplessGun!
Let's break this down point by point. First of all, I have a complete understanding of the mechanics in MSC, so I immediately caught the massive difference between the two games.
The Pros:
1. A massive generational leap in vehicle design. You did an absolutely incredible job with the driving physics of the Rivett! For comparison, I went back to MSC to take the Satsuma for a spin. It feels like a suicidal motorized shopping cart with zero high-speed stability. The Rivett is exactly what it should be. It’s heavy, it’s big, the engine pulls hard, it actually brakes, and even stock it can hit 200 km/h! Cabin comfort is night and day; in the Satsuma, going over 100 km/h is terrifying due to the deafening cabin noise (feels like the engine is screaming right in your face). The Rivett just purrs in comparison. The physical and generational difference is massive, and it feels completely justified!
2. The assembly process is deeper and more complex. There are significantly more parts now, which is a massive plus if we treat this game specifically as a car mechanic simulator. The engine bay in MWC no longer looks like an empty shoe box, which fits the concept perfectly.
3. Great, realistic winter mechanics.
4. An actual economy. I appreciate the attempt to engage players by introducing permanent jobs, which were practically non-existent in MSC.
Now, let's move on to the Cons:
1. Severe design flaws that turn the game into a simulator of destroying your own nerve cells. xD To be specific, a player who boots up this game to assemble and tune the Rivett has absolutely nothing to do here without checking community forums and guides! For the car to even start, you have to align the timing chain and crankshaft marks to 35 degrees instead of 0. How is a regular person supposed to figure that out on their own? They can't. Period.Furthermore, after full tuning, my Rivett's horsepower remained at a stock level of around 110 hp on a rich fuel mixture—the exact kind of mixture where the high-performance carb in MSC would usually unlock the engine's potential. Only when I leaned it out to a 14.7 AFR did the car finally put out around 210 hp, which feels right. So as of right now, either I am catching some bizarre bugs, or the game is heavily limited in terms of tuning logic, making "just don't touch it if it works" the best tuning strategy.)
2. A complete failure in the implementation of different trim levels and the Historical Inspection (TO). And this isn't just me whining; I have already obtained my historical license plates. What did it cost me? It cost me three ruined evenings and nights of pure frustration while constantly relying on a save editor! How is a player supposed to achieve this completely offline, without forcing the necessary parts to spawn, using nothing but a VIN-number, the mechanic's services, and in-game mechanics? This historical inspection quest completely killed my enthusiasm by the end—so how is a player who isn't even familiar with MSC mechanics or general car logic supposed to enjoy this?
3. Boring, incredibly boring side vehicles. Compared to the legendary Hayosiko van from MSC, the Sorbet and the Ferndale in this game are just tedious. The Sorbet isn't even that spacious, it drives like a stock Satsuma, and it chugs fuel like crazy (I have no idea why you even added a fuel economy gauge—driving this thing efficiently is near impossible, the needle is almost always in the red). The muscle car itself isn’t bad, but its automatic transmission... desperately needs a rework. Driving on "Drive" is a nightmare. The transmission shifts with a massive delay, and it feels completely unnatural. You are forced to manually accelerate using 1st and 2nd gear, or just avoid "D" entirely.
4. The game shifted from a car mechanic simulator with realistic elements into a Finnish winter survival simulator with car mechanic elements. It’s no longer just about managing your hunger and thirst. Now, you are constantly forced to manage body temperature and scrape ice off windshields, which frankly kills the fun. The game became too realistic, losing that classic MSC vibe.
5. A complete lack of any storyline or guidance. At the beginning of MSC, the player at least knew whose car they were assembling and which relatives they had. MWC takes place 4 years after MSC, and we know absolutely NOTHING. Yes, the game is in Early Access, but a game's goal should be to hook the player for as long as possible. It shouldn't feel like a one-day experience; there must be an incentive to boot it up and actually do something. In reality, if you look past the mundane jobs and the constant struggle with winter mechanics, the only engaging thing here is building and tuning the Rivett. Once that is done, there is currently nothing left to do (sure, you can enter the rally, which acts as a "final boss" of sorts).
6. A complete lack of any storyline or guidance. At the beginning of MSC, the player at least knew whose car they were assembling and which relatives they had. MWC takes place 4 years after MSC, and we know absolutely NOTHING. Yes, the game is in Early Access, but a game's goal should be to hook the player for as long as possible. It shouldn't feel like a one-day experience; there must be an incentive to boot it up and actually do something. In reality, if you look past the mundane jobs and the constant struggle with winter mechanics, the only engaging thing here is building and tuning the Rivett. Once that is done, there is currently nothing left to do (sure, you can enter the rally, which acts as a "final boss" of sorts).
I really hope you hear my words! I'm a fan of MSC, but I expected something different from MWC!
