When we first saw Pacific Drive at Sony’s September 2022 State of Play, we were left with more questions than answers. After a short hands-off demo session of the upcoming first person driving survival game with the Ironwood Studios developers, I was intrigued to see how crazy this survival road light game could get.
I sat in the passenger seat while the developers of Pacific Drive got behind the wheel and told me what to expect from this wacky car game. I could see the world and its dangers and most importantly the station wagon. An anomaly-filled version of Pacific Drive, the Pacific Northwest takes you deep into what is called the Olympic Exclusion Zone, filled with all sorts of mysterious phenomena. The goal is to venture across a world across five biomes, each filled with unique anomalies and challenges, in hopes of discovering the mystery at its core. The run is split into various travel legs between checkpoints. At checkpoints you have to collect supplies so that your car can survive in the long run. In each section, look for magical orbs called anchors. This will allow you to head back to the garage and get some rest before starting the next area. If you can’t find an anchor and reach an exit point before running out of gas or power, or your car is damaged and lost, it will consume resources and send you back to the garage.
The anomalies that occur are randomized, so each run is unique, and returning to previously explored locations too quickly increases the level of confusion. As you progress, you find shortcuts that will help you execute in the future, so failure feels like a speed bump rather than a sinkhole. , giant razor blades, and curious little creatures the team called spores. The more obvious dangers of the world were dangerous, but these demonic spores were there to make the drive more complicated. Many times I’ve seen people rip panels, doors, and other parts out of station wagons like they’re tearing away toys they don’t like.
Your only defense against all these anomalies is your trusty station wagon. It doesn’t have the cool voice of his KITT in Knight Rider, but it has pretty much everything you need to survive the Olympic Exclusion zone. But as much as your car keeps you out of harm’s way, it’s up to you to fix it up and keep it in tip-top condition while you’re on the road, using the junk you find on your trip. There are tools that convert wrecked vehicles and other objects into basic resources, so you can create replacements if you lose a door or have a flat tire. And if you can’t find any roadside vehicles that can be rescued, you’ll have to go out on foot to find supplies that can help you extend your journey.
Pacific Drive clearly emphasizes its survival elements. In addition to your own health, you’ll need to manage your car’s fuel and battery, and have enough resources for repairs, such as rubber to create new tires if they’re broken or stolen. Being prepared for everything that can go wrong makes all the difference between a semi-chaotic drive and a disastrous one. Thankfully, if you find yourself running low on supplies after a failed run, there’s a mysterious pile of trash outside your garage that at least has enough resources to get you back on track. For those who don’t mind, the developers have all sorts of accessibility options to customize the experience, so you can enjoy the story any way you like.
In between trips, warp to the garage to make repairs, recharge batteries, resupply resources, and pimp vehicles. As you venture deeper into the Zone, you’ll need to upgrade your vehicle to deal with the heightened chaos. In terms of looks, there’s a lot of paint, bobbleheads, cassette tapes, and more to make your car your own. Over time, you may notice that your vehicle begins to behave erratically. Turning the radio on activates the windshield wipers, and a hard left turn changes the radio station. Anyone who has driven a high mileage car knows that these quirks add to the car’s personality. The music takes the form of cassettes that Pacific finds as he explores the world of drives. So if you want the perfect song for your trip, going off the beaten path will pay for itself.
I’m intrigued by the premise of Pacific Drive and curious to get behind the wheel and see what else the mystical Olympic Excursion Zone has in store. The randomness of the run should keep it fresh when revisiting any of the biomes, and the anomalies we’ve seen so far should wreak havoc on even the most prepared runs. The biggest question left by is how crazy these runs are going to be, and if you can get a (Play) station wagon when you pick up a PS5. It’s still a little too early to tell if this one will scratch the itch for those waiting to take .
Jada Griffin is IGN’s Community Lead. If she’s not engaging users here, she’ll be developing her own games, maxing out her luck stats in her favorite games, and challenging D&D players with intense combat and stunning puzzles. There is a possibility that You can follow her on her Twitter @Jada_Rina.
