A Scenic, Story-Driven Haul Through Holland
I have always liked it when titles in books, films, and games make the subject matter sound sexy or action-packed, only for the actual content to be something entirely different.
Most famously, the band Oasis was approached to add some music to the iconic 1995 film Trainspotting. However, upon hearing the title, they assumed it was a film about people standing on platforms watching trains go by. Thinking that sounded terribly boring, they declined. Little did they know that the film was actually a gritty masterpiece about crime, drug addiction, and comedy.
Truck Driver: The Dutch Connection falls into a similar category. The title makes it sound like a high-octane heist film that Guy Ritchie might write and direct. But sadly – or perhaps happily for the sim fans out there – it is simply another game in the Truck Driver series, but this time set in the landscapes of Holland. Let’s go trucking once more.
If you have previously played Truck Driver: The American Dream, you will immediately get a solid idea of what type of game this is. It occupies a specific niche; it’s not a heavy, complex simulation game like the Euro Truck Simulator series, but it sits somewhere in between that and an arcade racer. Like the other games, the narrative is surprisingly a big part of the experience.
Here, you play the role of a middle-aged truck driver named Felix, who has left his wife and grown-up children behind to ply his trade in the Netherlands. There is a genuine story of his life emerging as we see him drive around the country, and we get snippets of his ongoing family drama as you go. Later, the perspective shifts, and you get to play as Lucas, a young newcomer to the truck driving business. Through him, you learn about his fatherly relationship with Felix as the game progresses.
Some of the missions also introduce elements of story regarding exactly what you might be delivering and who to. Early in the game, for instance, you deliver a large model of the Titanic for a film company, a task that provides some entertaining chit-chat. Overall, I thought some of the writing was good and entertaining, and I appreciate that the developers are trying to give a driving sim game a bit more narrative depth.
Arcade Handling with Sim Logic
Gameplay-wise, the core loop is exactly what you would expect: it’s a case of picking up the load by attaching it to your rig and then driving from point A to point B to deliver it. Be aware, however, that this isn’t a quick journey, so be prepared to be on the road doing your work for a while. To get the rig moving, you need to switch the engine on manually, and then it’s a case of using the Right Trigger (RT) for acceleration and the Left Trigger (LT) for the brake. Of course, the most important part is the steering. You also need to manage your resources, meaning you must fuel your truck regularly. Here, the game shows a strange bit of strict simulation logic where you must completely switch off the engine to fuel up. Apart from that, the rest of the gameplay feels quite arcade-like.
The driving itself is fine, but you must remember it is a truck, so navigating corners can be tough and requires you to be careful on the accelerator. If you hit something, like a barrier or a car, the truck takes damage and needs to be repaired. Disturbingly, upon impact, our driver lets out the most haunting scream I’ve ever heard in a game. Finding a repair place on the big map is a task in itself as they are few and far between, which I guess is a design choice to stop you playing the game like Grand Theft Auto.
Red Lights and Haunting Screams
You get money for each job completed, but can also be penalised with fines for breaking traffic laws, such as going through red lights or speeding. The driving is okay, and I actually found it quite relaxing when I got the hang of the size of the truck and the load I was carrying. You need to take care of yourself as well, allowing time to rest and eat to keep your energy levels up. And there are two main modes: the Story Mode and a sort of endless mode where you can just do job after job.
Striking Weather and Old-Gen Echoes
Visually, Truck Driver: The Dutch Connection has had an upgrade to Unreal Engine 5, and that really shows in the weather effects; the rain and wind implementation are some of the toughest-looking out there. The lighting sometimes looks incredible, almost like portals from another universe are opening across the sky. However, it’s a mixed bag; sometimes it can look decidedly old-generation with some of its landscapes. Different camera angles are offered, with the view from inside the cab being my favourite. The UI is clean too, though I must admit I still didn’t understand what half the things on it were telling me.
Audio-wise, the game features good effects again in terms of the weather. The engine noise, however, feels a bit one-dimensional and not that dynamic. You have an in-game radio station playing different types of music, but it’s probably better to put on your own playlist or a podcast to while away those driving hours.
A Relaxing Journey That Occasionally Hits a Speed Bump
I have enjoyed spending time with Truck Driver: The Dutch Connection, getting immersed into the narrative as I went. But, at times, driving for long distances, working from A to B and then back to A again, becomes extremely tedious. And it’s then when mistakes start coming in, as excitement is hunted; I found myself picking up speeding fines and ruining my rig, which needs constant repairs.
Others will likely have a more sensible time though, and enjoy Truck Driver: The Dutch Connection more than I did.
Important Links
Truck Driver: The Dutch Connection is OUT NOW – With Full Wheel Support – https://www.thexboxhub.com/truck-driver-the-dutch-connection-is-out-now-with-full-wheel-support/
Truck Driver: The Dutch Connection Hauls the Series to Europe This Autumn – https://www.thexboxhub.com/truck-driver-the-dutch-connection-hauls-the-series-to-europe-this-autumn/
Buy Truck Driver: The Dutch Connection on Xbox – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/truck-driver-the-dutch-connection/9N29Q5L857JV/0010
