18 Wheels of Steel: American Long Haul

It blows my mind that 18 Wheels of Steel American Long Haul as I write this is close to 15 years old! Ever since I got into Ice Road Truckers and Shipping Wars, games about being a truck driver have fascinated me. This is part of a series I completed ignored back when it first came out, but I was more than happy to load up and hit the open road.

Be The Man!

The point of the game is that you are no longer “working for the man” instead you are your own man (or lady) and you want to be the best damn trucker in the USA! You do this by hauling as many loads as you can, making your clients happy, and bringing in the big money! It is a game that on paper sounds very simple, but there is something so satisfying about 18 Wheels of Steel American Long Haul that I could not stop playing it.

A Sign Of The Times

As I said in the intro this is a game that is “old” by today's standards. This is a title that was first released in 2007 and from a presentational point of view, it certainly feels like that. I have played some modern trucking games that are just full of detail and keeping your eyes on the road can be tough. This game lacks the finer details that you would find in a modern trucker game. I would not go as far as to say this is an ugly game, but it certainly is showing its age.

Shipping Wars!

I love the show, Shipping Wars and there is a bit of that at play in 18 Wheels of Steel American Long Haul. You are not just handed your hauls! Instead, you need to bid on them and prove your worth. You start off small, but eventually, if you are doing a good job, you will be getting all kinds of contracts to haul huge loads all over the USA.

There are many different kinds of loads for you to transport. This is not a racing game at all. Instead, you need to pay attention to the rules of the road, stop at weigh-ins, and not just get your load there on time, but in the best condition possible. In many ways, this is a very simple game, but it is also the kind of game I feel you can lose hours in because of its simplicity.

Pros:

• The whole game has a relaxing feel
• Tons of different areas to drive through
• Bidding on loads is fun
• The game is very addictive You actually want to be the best trucker around!

Cons:

• The game shows its age in the visual department
• Maybe a tad basic for some compared to modern trucking games

We're In San Francisco still shaken W from our time-based escapades, but with a resolve so stiff you could iron your stinking, salty undergarments on it. Not that we have any intention of laundering our jocks, because it's time to get back into trucker mode, and as we all know, truckers are filthy bastards who do shits in the back of their cab.

Starting out in sunny San Francisco, we set a course for Interstate 80, a road almost 3,000 miles long. That's long enough to completely encircle the United Kingdom and its wise-cracking sidekick, Ireland, and would create a perfect platform to ride menacingly around the islands on a BMX shouting taunts at them through a megaphone.

Our limited funds mean we must avoid breaking laws and incurring fines while here. Of course breaching the law for us is completely inevitable.