Key Highlights
-
Experience the immersive world of 1990s rural Finland, complete with questionable hygiene and a cast of characters who hate you.
-
My Summer Car prides itself on realism, but prepare for frustratingly complex mechanics and zero hand-holding.
-
Building the Satsuma from scratch is an exercise in patience as you navigate a sea of bolts, hoses, and obscure Finnish instructions.
-
Permadeath mode takes the masochism up a notch, turning every beer run into a life-or-death gamble.
-
Don’t expect a relaxing gaming experience; My Summer Car thrives on making you suffer, even simulating the consequences of forgetting to pee.
Introduction
“My Summer Car” is an early access game that has both frustrated and fascinated players since it came out in October 2016. In this game, you get the simple pleasure of fixing up a classic car in the Finnish countryside. However, it offers a mix of tough survival challenges and strange humor. This is not your usual happy summer car game. Instead, it shows how people can handle tough times, all to enjoy the brief thrill of driving a broken car along a dirt road before it crashes into a ditch.
Unpacking the Unique Charm of “My Summer Car”
“Charm” might be too nice a word for this tough digital experience. “My Summer Car” drops you into its harsh world with all the grace of a clumsy uncle pushing you into a cold lake. There are no guides, the controls are hard to understand, and the local people seem eager to make your life harder.
The game’s draw comes from its strict focus on realism, even if it’s a darkly funny take on it. Every part of your car, from the carburetor to the brakes, needs careful attention. If you need to buy parts, get ready for a long journey of driving, waiting, and dealing with the meanest shopkeeper in gaming.
A Deep Dive into Gameplay Mechanics
“My Summer Car” takes simulation to the extreme. You don’t just build a car; you must take care of a human character who is as fragile as a soap bubble in a storm. You need to keep an eye on hunger, thirst, fatigue, and even bladder status. If you don’t, your character might face a funny yet terrible end.
There is also a permadeath mode. This adds more pressure (or boredom?) to the game. One wrong move through the woods or a bad turn on risky dirt roads can send you back to the start. Your carefully built car could end up in ruins at the bottom of a ditch.
The game also loves to surprise you with challenges. Electrical storms can zap you through the phone line. A wrong battery connection might make your car catch fire. Plus, if you forget to put on your seatbelt, the game can toss you out of the windshield with just a small bump.
The Heart and Soul of a Finnish Summer
“My Summer Car” shows a clear and realistic view of rural Finland in the 1990s. The landscape, while well-done, is as exciting as a bus stop in Helsinki during November. The real charm of this virtual Finland is in the small details. You’ll notice the old rotary phones, the constant worry of wasps, and the strong feeling of loneliness in each pixel.
Your summer car is not just a way to get around; it’s a must-have in this empty yet strangely interesting world. Making it ready for the road isn’t just a task; it’s a way to put off the unsettling feeling that hits you when you see you’ve spent three hours pretending to go to the store for sausage and beer.
Evenings in “My Summer Car” are best spent relaxing in your sauna, where you can sweat out the stress of your virtual life. Or you could sit in front of the in-game TV, wondering why you find this digital world so oddly fascinating.
The Realism of Building Your Dream Car from Scratch
The idea of building your dream car, step by step, is very appealing. “My Summer Car” really gets this feeling and takes full advantage of it. Don’t expect easy controls or helpful tips. Get ready to struggle with many parts, unclear diagrams, and a tool for tightening bolts that can leave your hand in pain.
You will learn a lot about how the Satsuma works, but it won’t be a fun process. Instead, you’ll do it while feeling frustrated and annoyed. Every part you manage to install is a win, hard-earned and mixed with frustration.
Challenges and Triumphs of Car Assembly
The Satsuma is a tricky challenge, like a rusty puzzle based on the Datsun 100A. You need to treat it with care and focus. Each nut, hose clamp, and washer must be put in the right spot and tightened. If you don’t do this carefully, your work might shake apart the moment you speed up.
Even with a Haynes Workshop Manual and a lot of patience, putting together the Satsuma is tough. Parts may seem to disappear, bolts might not fit right, and you can really mess things up if you tighten a hose clamp too much.
Still, despite the struggle, there is a bit of joy in it. When you hear the Satsuma’s engine start after many days (or weeks) of hard work, it feels like a win. But then you realize you need to keep this tricky machine running.
Survival Elements: More Than Just a Car Simulator
“My Summer Car” is not just a simple car simulator. It wants to be a funny yet dark look at life. In this game, danger can come at any moment, and even simple tasks turn into big challenges. You are not just a young person on break; you are like Sisyphus, stuck pushing a rusty Satsuma up a long hill of boring tasks and strange survival needs.
Here is a glimpse of what you can expect:
-
Hunger and thirst: You must eat and drink often. If you don’t, you will have blurry vision, lose control, and even face a messy ending.
-
Bladder management: Yes, you have to pee. Ignoring it too long brings discomfort and, yes, possible death.
-
Stress: Your character has a stress level. To handle the stress, you can smoke or drink—both are bad choices in large amounts—or suffer in a Finnish sauna.
“My Summer Car” is less a fun game and more a test of your patience. It feels like a boot camp for people who get bored easily. It makes you think: “How much pointless struggle will you take for a little bit of fun in pretending to fix an old car?”
Conclusion
“My Summer Car” gives players a special and engaging chance to dive into a tough car-building game. You will learn to put together your dream car and deal with the Finnish summer. The game mixes real-life details and humor in a clever way. One great thing about it is the care put into car mechanics and survival tasks. Still, some players might be put off by its limited availability on consoles. Even with this, the game’s charm is in how it takes players into a true-to-life and sometimes harsh world of car building and survival.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Makes “My Summer Car” Stand Out from Other Simulators?
“My Summer Car” stands out in the busy early access market. It offers a tough permadeath option. The game focuses on detailed car simulation. It also tries to show both the beauty and challenges of life in rural Finland during the 1990s.
Can You Play “My Summer Car” on Consoles?
Right now, “My Summer Car” can only be played on PC through Steam. It is unclear if this challenging game about Finland will be available on consoles in the future.
How Does “My Summer Car” Blend Humor with Realism?
The humor in “My Summer Car” comes from mixing ordinary daily tasks, like managing your thirst and needing to use the bathroom, with the silly danger of losing everything if you die from ridiculous situations. For example, you could forget to wear your pants before getting into your car. This strange blend makes the game unique and fun.
Are There Any Plans for a Sequel or Major Updates?
“My Summer Car” has been in early access since October 2016. However, updates for the game have not come often. News about a sequel or big content changes is hard to come by, much like trying to find a working carburetor in rural Finland.
Tips for Beginners: Surviving Your First Summer
To get through the tough challenges in “My Summer Car,” focus on staying alive. Gather enough food, learn how to save (only at toilets, of course), and try not to look at the locals. Good luck; you will need it.