I recall my initial encounter with Bus Simulator 21, where skepticism loomed large as I wondered, “How could this possibly be entertaining?” To my surprise, it turned out to be quite enjoyable. Now, as anticipation builds, a new iteration, Bus Simulator 27, is set to launch later this year, and a free demo is currently available as part of Steam Next Fest.
Having not navigated the virtual streets for a few years, I decided to revisit the experience. The demo can be accessed on Steam until June 22, offering a chance for others to join in as well.
Performance Insights
In comparison, Forza Horizon 6 presents itself with significantly lower system requirements, raising concerns about its optimization. The demo of Bus Simulator 27 lacks support for DLSS or FSR, and during my testing at 1440p on high settings with an RTX 5090, I observed frame rates hovering between 70-80 FPS, occasionally dipping into frustrating drops. However, there remains ample time for developers to refine these aspects in the months leading up to the release, and one can only hope they seize the opportunity.
One of the more exasperating elements is the AI, which leaves much to be desired. The traffic behaves erratically, often stopping abruptly in front of you, adhering to speed limits inconsistently, or even blocking intersections. In instances where they collide with your bus, the penalties fall squarely on your shoulders. Pedestrians, too, contribute to the chaos; I found myself in a peculiar situation where a pedestrian at a bus stop walked directly into my bus as I attempted to pull away.
The voice acting adds another layer of distraction. While there is an apparent narrative woven into the gameplay, the incessant chatter from AI characters can be grating. Just when you think you’re cruising along smoothly, an irrelevant comment interrupts the flow, detracting from the immersive experience.
It’s important to remember that a demo is merely a snapshot of a game months ahead of its full release. While there are clear areas in need of improvement, there is also potential for growth. Priced at a modest for the base game, with additional content available for purchase, it presents itself as an accessible simulation title, striking a balance between casual enjoyment and engaging gameplay.
However, it’s crucial for Astragon to focus on optimization and refine the AI traffic dynamics, as the current state could quickly become tiresome for players.
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