Tank Mechanic Simulator VR

[h1]Experienced on the Meta Quest 2[/h1] You can view my initial impressions review & gameplay here: https://youtu.be/VcGSA5itvVY I do recommend this game, but it's definitely not for everyone. This is a rather nice title that will only appeal to those gamers who aren't dissuaded by a slow-paced game that requires patience & also some problem-solving. This game does have a tutorial, but it's a rather generic one that doesn't teach you all the game mechanics involved in the game. Once you get into some of the hard difficulty jobs, you will be scratching your head to try to figure out how to do what the game wants you to do. It's just not explained clear enough. I found that to be the most frustrating part about the experience. There were also some bugs, but it wasn't as bad as the negative reviews mention (at least not for me). I did have some issues with the menu, but simply being persistent, I was able to get it to work (getting out of the menu laser and trying it again). I did experience one serious bug where I couldn't climb a ladder (needed to repair tank) or interact with the menu at all, simply moving to the yard and going back to the workshop area solved my issue. Game is running on the Unity Engine. On my RTX 3080, I was getting mostly 90 fps, however, I also experienced some pretty severe frame rate drops at times. I had to lower graphical settings to good, but even then I would have occasional fps drop into the 50s. You do have full locomotion or teleportation available, along with smooth or snap turning. You can play game seated or standing. I did not have any problems reaching stuff, although occasionally I had problems with my tools getting stuck on objects as I walked by cramped areas. Overall, I did have fun playing this game. It is fun once you repair the tank and then take it out for a spin & see your handy work in action. However, it's not always fun fixing the darn thing. It can be very tedious at times. So again, this game isn't for everyone. I think it was easily worth the $14 USD I paid (since I owned previous Play Way titles I got a further discount). [b]Rate 6.5/10.[/b] [quote]If you enjoyed my review, please consider joining my Steam Curator Group. You can join here: https://steamcommunity.com/groups/Oculus_WMR [/quote]

Update: 3/14/2024 STILL NO UPDATES. STILL NO NEW THINGS. STILL NO DEVELOPER COMMENTS. Game has been COMPLETELY abandon with no future updates! - I know the developer will read this so ill just say it straight out lay it out on the table. - I was EXCITED as hell for this game when it hit prologu, I spent hours taking apart, rebuilding, cutting away, and so much more on a single tank excited for the full release...to be so..disappointing. Im sure there are reason's behind it, but this game is so bare bones, I wouldn't even pay 10 bucks for this game, you get the basic tools, a few vehicles and that's it. you can't really drive them around, you can't sell them, or do anything else. its just build, look, repeat. there's no real "repeating" part to this game like some other sims have out there, its honestly a play maybe once or a few times when you're bored and never really pick it up again..they havn't had an update in the game since 2022 except an "art contest" they continue to feed the forums with "we're listening to feedback and suggestions, and we'll aleart you in the appropiate channels when something happens, hope you enjoy the current version of the game! *insert average robotic reply here*" which to me reads "were not gonna be updating the game or releasing any more patches to fix the current bugs, and pretend its a complete game!" while also still having deals, and sales constantly on this game. the music is repetitive as hell, there's no option to change it, so you'll just have to completely turn it off, working in silence or popping your own music on, the workshop itself is..."cool" at best, but that's it, its just "looks" there's not much else you can really do, you can't customize it, you can't change how it looks, how the lay out of the workshop is, nothing..you get the tools on the table, you get two spots for placing/picking up items you either buy or sell and that's it. all the other nifty things in the workshop are all static props you can't really do anything with...so environmentally..very very boring. but refuse to update it or fix anything, even the flatscreen version is far more fun this this lonely thing. its honestly really disappointing, you could be driving tanks, shooting targets, making sales, so many wonderful idea's the community has tried bringing forward to the development team just for them to ignore it completely or give your basic and generic developer response. - I can't really recommend the game in this state, as I picked it up, played it once after I bought it and havn't touched it since. its basic, its bare bones, and..honestly not fun. sorry developers maybe if you'd give the game some more love, updates and actually give feedback instead of your generic robotic responses...MAYBE ill change my review and give the game another chance..but until I see an update that fixes or adds stuff that's equal to the flat screen and were not just "basic" and bare bones. im keeping it as a fat NO to the community looking for it.

Currently the game is a buggy unintuitive mess. Even with polishing of these problems the game as a VR version of the original is just not "VR enough" it doesnt add mechanics that would make sense to a vr title, even worse, it removes mechanics from the original game which make working on a tank in vr much harder, time consuming and frustrating.

EDIT SEPTEMBER 3, 2022 I can only laud the developers swift action in solving the aforementioned bugs. The problems have been largely fixed, and I can now warmly recommend this game. Will change this review to positive as the situation develops: read on. This is a VR version of Tank Mechanic Simulator; if you have played the original, you'll feel right at home. The tanks are the same, and the main difference (so far) is that the tank finding mechanic is automatic and done off screen (you can't dig out the tanks. Everything else seems to be in place, including the paint room and the museum. The price is also good for the experience offered. Or it would be, if not for one major problem. THE BUGS. The menu system in the game is completely bugged. After a while playing, the menu tablet can no longer properly track your finger, which renders the game nearly impossible to play. THIS KILLS THE GAME. You can see the developers did a proper job porting this game to VR. Tool use is fine, and the only problem I ran into (besided the menus) was finicky placement of some parts, especially the wires. Devs, please fix this menu bug as soon as possible. I enjoyed playing, at least when the menus work properly. But said bug is a recurring, endemic issue and absolutely destroys the experience. That said, I am confident that the issue will be resolved, and plan to go back to it as soon as it is. But until then, I can't in good conscience recommend this game.

I am such a tank nerd, I own both versions of the game. If you can buy both, dont. Buy the VR version. Don't argue.

Tank Mechanic Simulator VR by GameFormatic S.A., published by PlayWay S.A., presents an incredibly detailed and immersive simulation that invites players to step into the shoes of a tank restoration expert in a fully virtual reality environment. The game distinguishes itself from typical tank simulators by focusing not on combat, but on the painstaking process of repairing and restoring historic World War II-era armored vehicles. This unique angle offers a slower-paced, methodical gameplay experience that caters to players who appreciate intricate mechanics and historical authenticity. From the moment you don the VR headset, the level of immersion is impressive. The tanks themselves are meticulously modeled, showcasing authentic designs and mechanical complexity that enthusiasts of military history will appreciate. The environments where players find these relics range from abandoned fields to hidden garages, creating a tangible sense of discovery and nostalgia. The VR interface enhances interaction with the tanks — every bolt, hinge, and engine component can be examined, manipulated, and repaired with intuitive hand gestures that mimic real-world mechanics. This attention to detail not only makes the restoration process engaging but also educational, as players learn how these machines were constructed and functioned. The gameplay loop is centered on exploration, disassembly, cleaning, repairing, and reassembling tanks piece by piece. Players start with a rusty, broken-down vehicle and gradually bring it back to life using a variety of tools and techniques. This process requires patience and precision; one must carefully remove parts without damaging them and identify what needs fixing or replacement. The satisfaction of seeing a battered tank restored to working condition is a core highlight, and the game does a great job of rewarding careful work and attention to detail. For fans of simulation games, this hands-on approach provides a refreshing change from more fast-paced or combat-focused titles. Despite its many strengths, Tank Mechanic Simulator VR is not without flaws. Some players have found the user interface to be somewhat clunky, especially in the early stages of the game when learning to navigate menus and select tools. The VR controls, while generally well implemented, occasionally suffer from responsiveness issues that can interrupt the flow of gameplay. Furthermore, although the game offers a respectable roster of tanks to restore, the overall content may feel somewhat limited after extended playtime. A broader range of vehicles and more diverse environments could enhance replayability and keep the experience fresh for longer. On the technical side, the game runs smoothly on compatible VR systems and manages to deliver consistent performance even when interacting with complex mechanical components. The audio design contributes significantly to immersion, with realistic sounds of clanking metal, grinding gears, and tools at work. These details deepen the feeling of actually working in a mechanic’s workshop rather than simply playing a game. Overall, Tank Mechanic Simulator VR stands out as a highly specialized and well-crafted simulation that appeals particularly to history buffs and players who enjoy detailed, methodical gameplay in a virtual reality setting. It offers a rare glimpse into the world of tank restoration, combining educational content with satisfying mechanical puzzles. While improvements in user interface and expanded content could elevate the experience further, the current iteration already provides a compelling and immersive journey for anyone intrigued by the mechanics and history of these iconic war machines. Rating: 7/10

Update on review: Having chatted with a dev its clear they are listening and seem to really care and are planning to fix the issue. amen!! the game is fun and seeing those tanks in vr is pretty awesome. i understand and respect other player reviews and hopefully those reviews will change. lets give them a thumbs up and boost their moral. if you wish to remain negative thats fine but as they push updates and fix issues really consider changing it. if you dont buy this game you are doing yourself a disservice. its relaxing and ADDICTIVE. ******BUGS****** they squashed them xD ******suggestions****** -Add sprint, jump and ability to increase turn speed. (they are considering this)

GG, my only gripes are that there is no clear defined toggle for picking up and dropping tools, after 2 hours my knuckles start to hurt for having to continuously grasp the side button to keep the tool held, and I personally find myself continuously dropping it (vive pro with origional controlers). Also the tool that screws the bolts in does not seem to work in reverse meaning i cant unscrew bolts with it and finally the upgrade you buy that holds your tools does not work in the seated position as the hit box for them is far to low and usually in my seat no matter how many times i adjust it but none the less a good attempt so far.

The game could always be better, it's missing content the original standalone desktop game had. it also has a few minor and a couple large bugs to it. it isn't even developed by the same people. If I could stop myself from buying it, i would. however i will not return it as it could improve and add missing content over the next few months to years that follow this review and purchase. if you are considering buying it, I would wait and read other reviews before buying this game. thank you.

So far playing this game I've had a lot of fun. There is one bug where the stairs break and you can't go up both of them anymore until you restart the game. And sometimes ny progress disappears but I dn't really care because I have a good time fixing the tanks any day. The gameplay is what does it for me. Love the game and I hope it gets an update soon. Its been a year now.