Recent reviews by Westheimer

Forcing kernel level anti-cheat for the game months after release, on a game focused around single player no less. Lazy and unnecessary, not to mention breaking Linux support so you can no longer enjoy the game on a deck. There is zero reason for such an invasive anti-cheat on a game like this. Don't support EA who couldn't be bothered to think of a better solution to a problem most don't care about.

This is the biggest, most important, and most enjoyable map expansion to date, but it is not without some flaws that are worth pointing out.

The big cities feel quite sparse in terms of delivery points, and this is the biggest detraction in the expansion. This is the biggest point I would like to see addressed in future updates. Even if it's only one delivery point, having something that goes west of I-35 in Austin, or something along US-59 in Houston before you reach downtown would go a long way to making the big cities feel more like, well, big cities. I feel like this is mainly an effect of the map scale, where SCS simply cannot pack in the gigantic freeways these cities have and still be able to fit in detailed delivery points throughout them. I have lived in Houston in the past, and found it disappointing how quickly US-59 goes from farmland to suddenly downtown without any of the sprawling suburbs in between.

However, I feel this con is outweighed by everything else, especially how high quality and true to life the roads themselves are. The long drives from Houston to El Paso along I-10 feels like a real journey, and the landscape changes along the way are very convincing and high in detail. I have traveled most of the state as of this review, including all four corners, and the high quality is persistent throughout. The road signage is good, and the surrounding nature changes true to life and is very nice to look at as you roll through, which is ultimately the most important thing for a truck sim to get right.

It isn't perfect, and I'm sure the criticisms won't be helped by how hype'd everyone is for this expansion. But this is absolutely the best expansion to date, and for the truck sim market to be as small and niche as it is, we should appreciate that we have a dev of the quality and passion as SCS.

I funded the early access of the original DiRT Rally the day it released on steam and put over 400+ hours into it. Put simply, the title of DiRT Rally 2.0 is an apt name, as it is simply the original title but better in every single way.

I am reviewing this from the perspective of having bought the GOTY edition (which includes ALL DLC) on sale for under 15 EUR. Strictly looking at the game for what it is, it's a masterpiece; the most fun I've had with a racing title since Gran Turismo 4. I have followed Codemasters since their first game (Colin McRae Rally) on PlayStation 1, and this title is them finally putting all the pieces together and delivering the most immersive rally experience I have ever had.

The stages are extremely well done, and the addition of surface degradation ensures that you can play the same stage multiple times and have a completely different experience every time. Heavily degraded gravel will form ruts that will steer the car away from you if you don't place it properly, and your starting location in single player career will affect the quality of your stage.

There is a huge selection of cars, ranging from the original Mini Cooper to modern R5 machines. There are no current WRC cars, but I don't feel this is a big deal considering the sheer variety of other machines available. Added to that, they all behave unique to each other, even within the same class. The fact that I can tell a difference between a Group A Subaru Legacy and a Group A Subaru Impreza is a testament to how much time Codies spent on the driving mechanics. Another huge plus is the sound design, which is easily the best I have ever heard in a racing game.

Some will say that Richard Burns Rally still bears the torch for the rally genre. I frankly don't care how realistic the physics are in RBR, the overall package in Rally 2.0 makes going back to it impossible. This game is realistic, this game is difficult, but it is extremely rewarding and immersive on a level no other game can match.

If you are even remotely interested, just buy it if it's on sale. This is a generational title that will be remembered for a long time.

Euro Truck Simulator 2 is one of the premier titles of all the big simulators, and it deserves that praise. The game features a good, all though not perfect, driving mechanic, easy to navigate menus, a good selection of trucks standard (not to mention the ones you can download as mods), a variety of cargo to haul (again, you can download more as mods), and a huge map. Oh, did I mention mods? There is a slew of good mods out there ranging of custom trucks, accessories for trucks, and extensions to the map adding places such as Scandinavia.

The career mode is the real meat of this game. You'll start out taking deliveries for other companies in trucks provided for you. Before long, you can start your own business with a garage and start building your trucking empire. The business management side of this game isn't too deep, but it a nice addition none the less. You can buy and upgrade garages located in the major cities across Europe, as well as buy additional trucks and hire drivers to drive those trucks for you. Other drivers can be levelled up, as can your own personal driver. These upgrades range from better fuel economy to the ability to drive ADR class hazardeous materials. Hired drivers won't bring in much money from the start, but once you get a few of them upgraded you'll find yourself with more money than you'll be able to spend.

The scenery in ETS2 is a real strong point, but there is room for improvement. Much of the back roads are indistinguishable from one another. There is little to tell you that you're driving through southern France instead of eastern Poland. The actual cities themselves are very simplified, consisting of only a few roads to travel. There is a picture of the city in the background that does feature accurate buildings found in the real city (the Gurken in London for example), but you can't actually drive to those locations. Nevertheless, it's a really enjoyable experience to carry a load from the north of Hungary to Glasgow in Great Britian, passing across thousands of miles and a ferry trip. Driving in the early morning and watching the sun rise, or late in the evening and watching it set, is a great part of the game that really brings out the best of the the graphics.

The game itself plays pretty smoothly. I have an older system running a Radeon HD5800 and I can max this game out and still have a stable framerate. There are rain effects in the game, all though there isn't any seasonal changes (you can get a snow mod however). The weather effects look fantastic, all though it would be nice to get a seasonal cycle where you can get snow. Perhaps we'll see this in a future installment. There is also radio stations to listen to, and these are actual, live internet radio stations. It's a very little detail that really contributes to the overall experience. Driving through Germany listening to Star FM Berlin really makes the game feel real and authentic.

The controls are a real strong point. If you're feeling brave and want to use a keyboard and mouse, you can do that. Have a gamepad and want to use that? Go for it. But the real fun is with a wheel and pedals. I have a Fanatec 911 Turbo S wheel with a 6 speed H pattern shifter, and it really makes the game come alive. You can even use the real 12 speed split gear pattern that the real Scania R Line trucks use. You simply won't find that it another sim.

Overall, ETS2 is a ridiculously good deal. There is lot's of replay value here, even if you're not looking to get into it all the way with a wheel and pedals. I would highly recommend this title to anyone considering it, you won't be disappointed.

Trackmania is known as being one of the most competitve racing games out there, and for good reason. Stadium, like any TM game, has a huge learning curve. While you can definitely hop in and have fun from the start, you won't find yourself competing at the highest level without intense determination and dedication to the game. There are lot's of little details in the game that separates the great from the good. This learning curve might drive some people away from the game, but it is incredibly rewarding when you hop into a server against some of the best drivers as you trade times back and forth, one-upping the other by only a few thousanths of a second.

There is near infinite replay value here. The game features a massive track editor where the only real limitation is your imagination. Even if you're not into creating maps yourself, there is already an incredible selection made by other players. There are different types of tracks, such as mini, tech, circuit (Nascar), dirt, and speed. Each of them requires their own special skill set to master, and each will challenge your abilities.

I would highly recommend this game, but I must give you fair warning of the steep learning curve associated with a TM title. At first, you will find yourself at the back of the pack wondering how the other guys are putting up the times they are. If you stay with it and make efforts to improve though, the game is incredibly rewarding. The single player maps do not do a good job of preparing you for how competitive the multiplayer is, but they will at least give you a way to improve. The game encourages you to try again and shave another half a second off your time. Websites such as maniaexchange allow you to download user created maps that you can play offline. If you're looking to take this game seriously, I would highly recommend doing so. Practice makes perfect may be cliche, but it was never more true.

This is an excellent title, one that you will spend endless hours on, but only if you can get past the steep learning curve.