Tiny Teams is here again, and this first game I’m looking at could easily fit into Racing Month. Truckful is a game about delivering things, while discovering the mysteries of the valley and its forest where vehicles never emerge from. Developed by MythicOwl, this demo of the game is short, but introduces the various elements quite nicely. Thanks to Yogscast Games, I got a code to check out Truckful.
Starting just outside the forest, I’m on a road in my pickup truck. Driving forward a bit, I run into Rutti, a courier whose truck has broken down inside the forest. She wants me to take her back to that truck. Accepting the mission, I can then choose where to load her inside the truck. Each thing that needs loading has a size, as does the flatbed of my pickup. So while not a problem with just Rutti, I’m guessing later missions will see a puzzle element to get everything loaded.
Just inside the forest, her truck is found. Along with the parcels she was delivering. With her truck not running, she wants me to help her complete the delivery. Parcels loaded, I take on the winding road through the forest, where something intent on taking me out is encountered. A quick drive away out of the forest, it has gone. The cybercop waiting outside the forest doesn’t believe the story, however. Instead berating us for a broken horn, giving directions to the workshop to get it fixed.
Before continuing, I should say that Truckful uses a fixed camera. As I’m driving along, it will move around to provide the best view. Since the speeds I’m travelling aren’t very fast, it doesn’t cause any issues at all. The truck feels very smooth to drive, though I was perhaps being very cautious on a first run through the demo. Even then, one of the parcels still fell off. It was easy enough to reverse up to it and pick it back up, where it automatically returns to its place on the flatbed.
The workshop, then. Run by Teresa, she is interested in our truck, reminiscing about when the valley was full of vehicles. Now, with the forest scaring everyone off, she’s had little to do. She excited to work on our truck, offering to fit the horn for free. There’s a lot of additions and upgrades that will be in the full game, but in the demo are rather limited. Using what money I had to fit a few additions across engine, steering, and tyres, I continue on my way.
That horn is useful for getting rid of sheep on the road. Continuing my drive through the valley, using the signs to guide me to the hotel, I find the way blocked, with the hotelier in confrontation with the cybercop on using herbicides to get rid of the thorny blockage. The cybercop is adamant that it is against the law, but the hotelier still wants to do it. That is where the demo ends. Short and sweet, but doing enough to get me wanting to continue.
The world is full of bright colours, giving a pleasant vibe. Grassy meadows, wheat fields, and foliage-topped brick walls. Then comes the forest, where the darker colours, while still bold, portray a more eerie tone. As does the run down feel to them. Along with the partial roadblocks and flickering lampposts. From the trailer, there’s a lot more to encounter across this world. Including the village within this valley.
The dialogue does its part in the world building. No-one has come to the valley in years. Only those brave enough to drive through the forest will help its citizens. Or try to. No-one leaves. And I’m certain that cybercop has something to do with the mysteries of the valley. That he doesn’t want to acknowledge the danger from those emerging from the forest, doesn’t want people messing with nature even if it disrupts their livelihood… He has to be in on it.
My time with Truckful might be a short one, but it’s certainly one that has me intrigued. I want to see more of it, more of its world, and see the mysteries unfold. And to know if I’m right about that cybercop. Smooth driving, some fun characters, and what’s sure to be a great war waged on the environment as I continue delivering all across the world of Truckful. I’m ready to declare it an easy recommendation right now, but that will have to wait for when the full game releases.
Truckful is part of this year’s Tiny Teams, a week-long festival of celebrating games from small studios. With sales on games already released, new games releasing and major updates for games releasing, and demos for games yet to release. Running all week from 6-13/August, check the Tiny Teams page on Steam, and maybe you will find a new favourite game from one of many small studios.
Images Taken From:
Truckful | PC
