In the Heart of Berlin
Sometimes we take things for granted, assuming they will always be there. But you can be sure that for all the delays, one thing is a certainty – the humble bus. The word originates from the Latin omnibus, which translates to “for everyone,” and that sums it up quite nicely. Buses boast the lowest carbon footprint per passenger globally, are mostly the cheapest form of transport around, and are an excellent way to beat traffic congestion.
The Bus isn’t the first bus simulator game to arrive on the Xbox, but this one certainly hopes to be the best. Set in Berlin and emerging after five years in early access, The Bus takes us through the city’s intricate routes and even puts you in the shoes of a franchise owner. Are you ready?
A New Tier of Simulation
Transport simulation games have carved out a massive niche in the gaming market. Over the years, I feel like I’ve learned how to drive nearly every type of public transport, from trains in Train Sim World to trams. While I have dabbled in bus driving before, this one feels like an entirely new tier of simulation. The Bus is arguably the deepest one I’ve played. However, it can be hard to get started, as the menus and control schemes require a significant amount of patience to get used to.
The biggest attraction of any transport simulation game is the destination. It is often a great opportunity to explore parts of the world you might never otherwise visit. In this game, your driving takes place in Berlin. The massive draw here is that it is a 1:1 accurate recreation of the city. Scaled to real-world dimensions, you will navigate the actual roads, pass famous landmarks, and drive authentic routes. On its own, this is an amazing achievement, considering most games heavily condense their maps. So, what is the best way to tackle the menus and get started?
Choosing Your Path
First, there is Freeplay mode, which offers an easier entry point into the game. Here, you choose your route and decide whether you want an arcade or realistic experience. Arcade is a much more relaxed setting where you simply drive the bus, pick up passengers, drop them off, and take in the city views. In the more realistic mode, it is all about mastering every step, managing the intricate bus controls, and doing the necessary route planning to make your experience as true-to-life as possible.
Freeplay is a great way to nail down the basics. When you get into the bus, you have to log into the main computer by entering your route number and PIN. This took me an absolute age to figure out, as there were no clear instructions on how to do it. While in-game handholding can sometimes be over the top, I genuinely needed to be led here, and the lack of guidance felt quite frustrating at first.
Once you have the systems working, you are ready to go to work. You drive the bus by accelerating and braking in the usual manner, but the game includes some nice touches, such as switching on mirrors so you have a complete view of your surroundings. You must adhere to the timetable and obey all traffic laws. Along the way, you stop at designated bus stops to pick up passengers, which introduces other mechanics like operating the ticket machine so they can pay for their journey.
Building a Transit Empire
For a more detailed experience, there is Economy mode. Here, you start from scratch to build your own bus empire. You spend money on an office, take out a loan, buy a second-hand bus, and then drive your own routes. As you complete routes and earn more money, you can purchase additional buses and hire staff to drive them for you, letting the cash roll in. The main driving loop can get a bit boring after a while – as is typical with these types of games – but Economy mode gives it an extra bite of progression that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Visually, The Bus is pretty impressive, largely thanks to its reconstruction of Berlin. When the dynamic weather kicks in and the rain starts pouring, it looks incredibly realistic. There are frame rate dips here and there, and sometimes the game would freeze on me for a few seconds before sparking back to life, but on the whole, it is fine. Further, the UI is very confusing at first, yet that does get a lot easier to navigate the more you play. The ambient sounds of the bus and the city are authentic too. Interestingly, throughout the game, you seem to be permanently tuned into a German Euro-techno radio station; some will love it, and some will hate it, but I personally liked it.
A Technical Triumph for Simulation Enthusiasts
For simulation fans, there is a lot to love about The Bus. The recreation of Berlin and its routes is a massive technical achievement, and the Economy mode is a highlight that gives you a compelling reason to keep playing. The controls and UI are lacking at times though, and it is a shame that the console version is missing the multiplayer support found on the PC.
But overall, this is an impressive bus simulator that will likely only get better over time.
Important Links
The Bus Rolls Onto PC & Console With A Detailed Drive Through Berlin – https://www.thexboxhub.com/the-bus-rolls-onto-pc-console-with-a-detailed-drive-through-berlin/
Buy from the Xbox Store – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/the-bus/9pj4vb2lml1q
