Happily Ever After

The latest "special pack" for PowerWash Simulator features locations from a perennial favorite--the Shrek franchise.  It's one of numerous additional content packs from my favorite (and really the only) powerwashing simulator.  But is it worth spending another $7.99?

What is it?

The latest additional content features 5 locations from the Shrek movies.  Like all the "special packs" it also adds in a new player skin and washer skin (knight themed).  If you're hoping for new attachments...wish more.

Pros:

+ I love Shrek and I think there are a lot of people out there who are also fans.  Some of their other "special packs" felt like somewhat odd choices (Back to the Future is definitely one that will appeal to older gamers...which, I'm guessing is their target demographic).  There are 5 new locations to clean and they tend to fall in the range of the first and second films (the third one was a bit of a dud, so no loss there).

Each map is sprinkled with cute little details like the ogre doll.

The 5 locations are:

1.) Duloc--a large map with lots of Lord Farquad related details.  The famous Duloc information board is featured (but sadly, it doesn't play the song).

2.) Hansel's Hideaway--the location of Shrek and Fiona's honeymoon.  It's a smaller map, but there are tons of cute candy details on the cabin.  The best part--you get to wash the onion carriage!

3.) Fairy Godmother's potion factory.  This is a large map that has a ton of moving machinery (that can be stopped) and small details (the potions have fun names from the movies).  I'm fairly certain it took me the longest to clean.

4.) Shrek's Swamp.  This is a medium sized map, but is a signature location from the films.  Rather than being simply mucky, it features fun layers of different colored glitter (which is surprisingly enjoyable to clean).  All the little details from the movie are present--the jar of eyeballs that Shrek is snacking on, the bucket shower in the swamp, and all the warning signs.

Dragon's Cookbook for "Knightly Treats"

5.) Dragon's Lair.  I wasn't sure about this map at first, but even though it makes only a brief appearance in the films, they packed it with a ton of cute details.  There's a giant frog statue of King Harold (the frog king from the second movie) and an entire sparkling pile of treasure to clean up.  I enjoyed all the fun stuff they added.

+ No vehicle-only maps (which has been a gripe of some players).  All five of the maps will take you a good chunk of time to clean.

Cons:

- It might be a bug, but on two of the maps that featured the large, movable tower for cleaning, the tower would become unmovable if placed in certain locations.  In order to fix this I had to quit the map, start another one and reset items to their original position.  It's slightly annoying, but nothing too major.

- I'm sure some people will be upset that there aren't any new washer attachments.

Recommendation:

If you're a fan of Shrek or PowerWash Simulator, this pack is definitely worth your $7.99.  It was a bit of a nostalgia trip to be cleaning up the swamp--tons of fond memories of the first two films.  The maps are all good sized and packed with tons of details from the film (and added stuff that is fun).  

We've Got Some Dates!

Two of the upcoming titles from my previous post announced their release dates this week!  Here's the lowdown:

Two Point Museum will be released on March 4, 2025.  It's a bit further off than I was hoping--I was pulling for a holiday release--but, oh well.  The announcement also offered up info on the two "editions" of the game.  There's the boring ol' regular edition and the "explorer edition"--there are plenty of goodies to tempt players into the undoubtedly more expensive edition--(see graphic below):

I've never really understood the draw of "you can play x days early," (especially in multiplayer games) but I guess if you ABSOLUTELY cannot wait.  The only part of these additional items that seems good to me is the exclusive map location--I'm assuming this means that there's one bonus museum for you to run.  The rest of it looks like cosmetics and additional items.  What I learned from Two Point Campus is that a lot of these "exclusives" will usually be offered as some kind of bonus later on anyway.  Personally, I will not be forking out the extra cash, but to each his/her/their own.  They're also offering up a bundle of Sonic themed items as a pre-order bonus.

PowerWash Simulator announced that the Shrek themed expansion pack will be releasing on October 10th!  This is great news and I'm very much looking forward to cleaning up the swamp and Duloc.

In completely non-related news, I was a bit bummed to find out that one of my favorite geeky clothing vendors, J!NX clothing, had closed down two years ago (yeah, I'm a bit behind the times).  I was hoping to buy a few new gaming themed t-shirts and I don't buy them too often.  It seems like there aren't a ton of good options out there if you're hoping not to spend a small fortune and go with official merch.  I was eyeballing some stuff on Redbubble but everything I read about the quality of their items was negative (plus, I sort of got the vibe that their stuff is basically graphics that people copy off of the internet and then print onto t-shirts).  FanGamer has some very cool items...but dang if they aren't pricy (like $36 for a t-shirt).  There's also Insert Coin, but it's a similar situation--$$$.  I'll have to keep exploring and see what I can find.

Upcoming Title Excitement!

As summer starts to transition to fall, there's plenty to look forward to--cooler temperatures, pumpkin spice (not for me, but I do enjoy apple cinnamon vibes), and even some upcoming games to play during those rainy, cool days.  A few titles don't have a release date yet, so maybe not the fall, but soon-ish.  I'll highlight a few titles/DLC's that I'm excited about.

1.) Two Point Museum

We've mastered our medical skills in Two Point Hospital and educated the clueless masses in Two Point Campus and now we get to build fantastic museums!  The Two Point games are a personal favorite of mine and are semi-serious management games.  This summer there were a series of in-game challenges that were clues that led to the eventual announcement of Two Point Museum.  Several short videos have rolled out that show various parts of the gameplay.  You get to run, design, and discover artifacts to display in your new museum.  There's also an aquarium section that you can fill with fish, turtles, and other fun aquatic species.  Personally, I'm very excited for this title and am looking forward to finding out more.  Thus far, no release date has been announced.  I'm hoping for a holiday release (because then I will be off work and have plenty of time to dedicate to my awesome museums).  Here's the announcement trailer:

2.) PowerWash Simulator: Shrek Special Pack

If you're feeling a desire to relax and clean a variety of virtual surfaces, PowerWash Simulator is rolling out the perfect DLC.  The best part--it's themed with one of the best movie franchises of the early 2000's!  (I stan Shrek & Shrek 2--they are amazing.  Fight me!)  That's right, we get to clean up Shrek's swamp and other Shrek-themed locations in the upcoming Shrek Special Pack.  Of all the DLC that has come out for PowerWash Simulator, this is the one that has made me the most excited.  (I just noticed the sword sprayer skin and the armor set!)  Apparently the pack will feature 5 maps that include signature locations from across the film franchise.  There's also no release date on this one, but I would anticipate it anywhere from a few weeks until maybe the holiday season. 

3.) Strange Antiquities

The makers of the plant-themed mystery game Strange Horticulture announced Strange Antiquities awhile back and I've been watching for any news.  The news has been sparse, but I very much enjoyed their quirky, clever first game, so I'm definitely looking forward to another strange group of events and people to analyze.  Oh, and also apparently antiquities--no plants this time.  The announcement trailer doesn't reveal much in terms of gameplay, but it looks like we'll be returning to Undermere AND that there's a cute new shop kitty (named Jupiter) to pet.  There's no release date on this one either and it's actually listed as "to be announced" rather than "coming soon," so I'm assuming that it might be a ways further off.

4.) Dragon Age: The Veilguard

I'm listing this as #4 because it is actually a ways down on my excitement list.  Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed Inquisition but BioWare's recent struggles have put a damper on my...let's say expectations.  Since it's a triple-A title there have been numerous teasers, trailers, and gameplay previews released.  From what I've seen, it does look pretty cool.  Also, shockingly, the requirements on PC seem reasonable.  I would say that the fan reaction has been a bit mixed.  Like me, a lot of BioWare fans have a healthy dose of caution when it comes to their recent titles.  I've seen a lot of negative reaction to the fact that you can't control party members (I think you can still issue commands) and it sounds like combat is going to play like Mass Effect: Andromeda with players primarily focusing on controlling their character.  I'm definitely not pre-ordering (c'mon folks, just don't do it!) and will likely wait on this one.  There has been one VERY GOOD piece of news--if you buy it on Steam you will not need to go through the EA App.  Praise the baby cheeses because the stacking launcher problem is stupid and annoying (not to mention that the EA App is a bit notorious for problems).  I'm not gonna lie though--this most recent trailer is AWESOME!  It's got everything to make a Dragon Age fan feel pumped and a little extra--you've got fan favorite returning characters, dragons, a stunning variety of environments, and some pretty fantastic enemies (oh, and some light romancing).  Dragon Age: The Veilguard releases on October 31st--a Halloween treat (let's hope that BioWare pulls it off and we don't wind up feeling tricked instead).

Down the Rabbit Hole

Although sadly not part of the Steam Summer Sale, PowerWash Simulator released its newest DLC smack dab in the middle of the sale.  The newest expansion features locations based on Alice in Wonderland and is priced like the other DLC's at $7.99.  If you're looking for another opportunity to do some relaxing spraying, it's the perfect chance.

What is it?

The newest expansion for PowerWash Simulator.  It features five new maps to meticulously clean.  You're probably looking at 8-10ish hours of additional gameplay.

Pros:

+ All five locations are on the larger side.  I know that many people have griped about some of the DLC's featuring only vehicles and not enough larger maps.

+ The locations featured all have that distinctive, slightly trippy Alice vibe.  They're colorful and filled with oddly misshapen furniture, melting doors, and lots of other fun details that tie in directly with the classic story.

+ If you're a "cosmetics" kind of player, there is a new sprayer skin, outfit, and gloves.  Like the locations, the cosmetics feature a psychedelic kind of feel.

+ There's not a ton of tiny, little obnoxious parts to track down (like in the "Back to the Future" pack).  Instead, there's a lot of weirdly shaped/stacked objects that can also be a bit tricky to clean.

+ The Cheshire cat spies on you in every map and it's fun to find him.

Cons:

- When are we getting PowerWash Simulator 2?  I'm just kidding.  I can't really think of any cons.  I found this DLC to be nice and relaxing and enjoyed the colorful, larger maps.

Recommendation:

If you're a fan of PowerWash Simulator, this is one of the better DLC's and I think you'll enjoy it.  Drop that $7.99 for hours of relaxing spraying.

News of the Week

Sadly, I don't have much personal gaming news to report this week.  I'm still deeply mired in my bonkers desire to "git gud" at Against the Storm.  I was within a hairs breadth of conquering the gold seal and then managed to fail like a dumb-dumb (at viceroy level you absolutely need to be utilizing rainwater and I stupidly thought I could pull it off without it).  I've been gradually working my way back and swearing that I won't make the same mistakes (spoiler--I probably will!).  Anyway, there has been some noteworthy gaming news this week to ponder.

Notable New Releases

One of my favorite simulation games, PowerWash Simulator, dropped a new Warhammer 40k themed content pack.  I'm only vaguely familiar with the Warhammer 40k franchise--I know that it's a space-themed deal with humans and orcs...and that's about the extent of my knowledge.  I just love me some powerwashing, so there's a good chance I'll grab it at some point despite the fact I have virtually 0 knowledge of the related content.  The reviews for the DLC are mixed with many people stating that they are disappointed because it's all vehicles and there aren't any rooms/buildings.  Here's the trailer for those who might be curious:

If you're feeling a desire for those strong nostalgia vibes, a remaster of 1995's Star Wars: Dark Forces came out this week.  It was hailed as a pretty good Star Wars  game in its day and the remaster currently has "very positive" reviews.  Some of the reviews do point out that there are some issues with the remaster and that the $30 price tag seems a bit steep.  It might be worth waiting for a sale on this one.

Layoffs continue

EA announced this week that it will be laying off 5% of its workforce and cancelling an upcoming Star Wars game (apparently one that was in early development).  This is just the latest in a chain of layoffs in the gaming industry as many other big names have also made cuts to staff.  Apparently they're hoping to focus on their own titles and move away from work on "licensed IP."  I guess that if you're a fan of all those Star Wars games that you'll have to content yourself with the current offerings. (Here's a short article about the layoffs: EA to Lay off Around 670 Workers)

I'm going to be continuing my mad march toward that dang gold seal in Against the Storm this week and hope that everyone else has a great time pursuing their gaming dreams (be they mad or on a more sane level).  Game on!

PowerWashing a Classic

The Steam Autumn Sale (aka "Black Friday") has been rolling along for the last few days and looks to continue until Tuesday.  I've decided to restrain myself since I just recently purchased the magnificent Dave the Diver and instead invested in the most recent DLC for on of my favorite oddly soothing games, PowerWash Simulator.  The "Back to the Future" pack offers up the chance to wash some very filthy vehicles and locations related to the now classic three film series from the 1980's and 90's.  But is it worth those $8?

Pros:

+ If you're a fan of the movies it's fun seeing some of the iconic locations and vehicles again.  I can't even remember the last time I actually watched the movies and was marveling at the amount of detail in the vehicles.  At first I was a little bit skeptical of this pack--a film series that's not exactly recent seemed like an odd choice, but the nostalgia factor turned out to be enjoyable.

+ Fun animations and achievements.  I always kick myself because I never look at the achievements before cleaning and wind up missing them (many require you to clean in a certain order).  A couple of the vehicles you clean surprisingly will move and animate!  It shocked me but adds something novel.

A very filthy time machine waiting to be cleaned.

+ A mix of buildings and vehicles to clean.  Doc's van, the DeLorean, the steam engine (from the third movie) are the vehicles featured.  The locations to clean include the clock tower (from the first movie) and the movie theater (from the second).  The DeLorean and steam engine are remarkably detailed with tons of little parts (I'm curious if they had to look up what all the tiny parts were supposed to be) that we all undoubtedly missed in the films.

Cons:

- Most of the reviews on Steam mention the fact that the DLC is short and doesn't include any large maps.  Some reviewers claimed that they finished it in two hours (I might just be cripplingly slow, but it definitely took me much longer than that).  

- All those fun small details on the vehicles can be somewhat frustrating to clean, but are definitely doable.  My advice, just spray from every possible angle, no matter how illogical or silly it seems.

- No new items/skins (if that's your jam).

Recommendation:

I am thrilled for any new PowerWash content and thought the choice of theme was a bit odd (are the children of today even familiar with Back to the Future?  I'm guess they aren't the target demographic for this game), but I found it enjoyable.  For only $8 you get more power washing fun times.  If you enjoy the soothing, oddly pleasant joy of cleaning virtual dirty surfaces, go for it!  If you are hoping for some large maps or content that isn't tied to a movie series from almost 30 years ago, maybe give it a skip. 

Who Powerwashes a Pineapple Under the Sea? Me!

At the end of June the newest DLC for the magnificent PowerWash Simulator was released--the Spongebob Squarepants pack!  Even though my knowledge and experience with the Spongebob franchise is fairly limited (I did not grow up with it like many younger folks did but have a passing familiarity with the characters and general vibe from pop culture and a few short experiences watching it), I snatched it right up because I enjoy the game and am down for any new opportunities for additional gameplay.  I had a nice time with it and the $7.99 price tag makes it an affordable way to enjoy more content.

Conch Street needs some cleaning!

Pros:

+ If you're a fan of Spongebob Squarepants the nostalgia factor will probably hit you pretty hard.  The DLC includes locations and objects central to the show--Conch Street, home to Spongebob, Patrick, and Squidward; The Chum Bucket and Krusty Krab; and the Underwater Bus are a few of the six new cleaning jobs that are featured.  The locations all have that cartoony feeling the matches the show.

+ New Spongebob washer and character skin.  (You can really only see the character skin during the summary gifs at the end of the level)

+ The locations/objects to clean are (mostly) fairly small and relatively simple.  Of the six new objects/locations to clean, the whackiest to clean is the invisible boatmobile.  It's invisible, so as you clean it, actually being able to see it gets harder (you can still see a vague outline).  The final location (which I won't give away because it is tied to the story/plot of the pack) is probably the most complicated to clean (and it's still small compared to some of the locations in the base game).

Cons:

- It's fairly short and if you're hoping for larger, more complex maps--it's not that.  (However, if you want shorter/smaller locations, you might like this fact).

- No new purchases/additional items from the store.  The skins in the DLC appear to be specific to the DLC and not something you could purchase and then carry over into the rest of the game.

Buy it or skip it?

As a big fan of PowerWash Simulator, I will happily scoop up any new content.  I think that if you're either a fan of the game of a fan of Spongebob this new DLC will scratch a nice itch.  It's only $7.99, so it's not going to break the bank, but you also shouldn't expect a ton of new content (it's 6 new locations/objects).  I had fun cleaning everything even though I didn't fully understand them the way a Spongebob fan might.

There's Some Fabulous Powerwashing News!

If, like me, you have found yourself enjoying some relaxing spraying of grimy surfaces in PowerWash Simulator, you'll be excited to know that there's more themed content coming our way this summer!  As a teacher who gets summers off, I always try to start planning out my summer gaming so this is a welcome announcement.  So, what exactly could we be getting?

The first "special pack" (AKA DLC) is going to be SpongeBob Squarepants themed!  SpongeBob was a bit after my time, but as a teacher, I am all too familiar with the citizens of Bikini Bottom (even high school kids still sport SpongeBob stuff).  At $7.99, it's a perfectly affordable way to enjoy the famous cartoon setting while simultaneously enjoying some relaxing cleaning.  Here's a short announcement video:

(It looks like you get a Spongebob themed sprayer!)

Although there's no release date, there was also an announcement that some sort of Warhammer 40K themed content is currently in the works.  I'm not very familiar with that franchise--I know it has space marines and orcs, but that's about it.  But hey, I'll powerwash anything!  The announcement video doesn't reveal much other than the theme, but here it is:

I'm definitely looking forward to some summertime spraying!  Happy Memorial Day weekend!

PowerWash the World!

I've recently spent an embarrassingly large amount of time playing the new, zen-classic PowerWash Simulator--I've virtually power washed a stunning array of objects and feel like I've experienced the bulk of what the game has to offer.  For such a weirdly niche game, I've got to say, it's impressive.  There's still more for me to wash, but I figured I'd write up a review in case anyone else is desperately searching for a game about power washing (a huge audience, I'm sure).

What is it?

A FPPW (first-person powerwasher) where your goal is to grow your budding power washing business by taking jobs to clean up a variety of disgustingly dirty homes, vehicles, and other items/locations.  There are multiple gameplay modes (which I will explain) but the core of the game lies in career mode--a mode where you complete jobs, collect pay, and then unlock other jobs (of varying complexity).  The gameplay consists of literally spraying surfaces clean--the real challenge lies in the fact that many of the surfaces you clean are complex with all kinds of obnoxious nooks and crannies that must be lovingly squirted with pressurized water.  Each job is rated on a five star scale and earning all five stars can be a bit irritating, but is highly satisfactory.  As you complete jobs you earn money based on how thoroughly you cleaned (earning five stars pays the highest amount) and can upgrade your gear with more powerful washers, a set of extensions to help you reach even the tallest targets, and even an array of cosmetic items to upgrade your look (there's nothing more badass than a lightning-streaked sprayer, right?)

Pros:

+ A surprising amount of gameplay.  I figured it'd be fairly short--and sure, maybe if you just want to bust through jobs and not go for five stars it would play much quicker.  Besides career mode there's also other gameplay modes--there are bonus jobs that can be completed repeatedly (if you want to earn extra cash after you've finished career mode), there's a free-play mode where you can replay levels (for no pay though), and there's a challenge mode where players must attempt to complete levels with only a limited amount of water or as quickly as they can.

+ Fun locations with lots of variety.  A medieval-themed mini-golf course, a gnome themed fountain (I truly hate gnome fountain!), a supposedly haunted house...you aren't just cleaning the same generic places.

+ The overwhelmingly positive reviews on Steam are warranted.  If you're looking for a relaxing, low-pressure kind of game, look no further.  On the surface, it sounds like a silly game, but there's something oddly satisfying about cleaning up all those mucky messes and then seeing the sparklingly clean product.  It's even more enjoyable when it's something that's vibrantly colored--like the playground level.

+ There's a bit of a story weaved throughout the jobs you do.  You unlock new jobs by completing jobs to a certain level and receive text messages from clients who need your cleaning expertise.  There's a cast of goofy characters who all need your help...and there's a missing cat who you can track through many of the different jobs.

Cleaning up the mayor's house is no joke.

+ You can upgrade your gear with more powerful washers, special extension tools, and soap sprayers.  There are also multiple cosmetic upgrades for your character (who you really can only see at the end of the level)--you can unlock a variety of colored gloves, suits, and skins for your washer.

+At the end of each level you can watch a brief gif that shows a time lapsed recording of your clean-up efforts.  It's fun!  It'd be even better if it was saved, but alas, it's not.

+ There's no music, so it's perfect for popping on your favorite tunes or podcasts.  I love throwing on a podcast and letting it be the background.

+ Auto-saves and the ability to play as much or little as you want with few worries.

+ Free DLC!  So far there have been two bonus locations added and, they have fun tie-ins to other video games.  One is Croft Manor (you know...of Lara Croft fame) and the other is Midgar themed (which I am unfamiliar with but apparently it's related to Final Fantasy).

+ The opportunity to participate in a video game research study--with some cosmetic perks!  Although this project just recently closed, I was able to participate and unlocked several unique cosmetic items.  Hopefully they offer up another opportunity for players who missed out on their chance.

+ You can co-op clean with a friend/spouse/random stranger!

Cons:

- Occasionally irritating to figure out exactly where the last little bit of dirt is to five-star a job.  There is an ability to briefly, visually toggle the visibility of dirt but finding the exact little nook or cranny can be enough to make you grit your teeth in an otherwise relaxing game.  There is a handy menu that shows you how clean each object in the level is, but sometimes when there are 22 objects labelled "timber beam" it will require you to traverse the entire level and analyze every beam in the level to look for the tiniest speck of dirt.  I guess that's the price you pay for perfectionism though.

- Rare, weird stuttering.  Every once in a great while my character will all of a sudden just jerk up toward the sky for no reason.  I've seen some complaints about stuttering, but have only experienced it a few times.

Recommendation:

If you are looking for an oddly enjoyable, low-pressure relaxing game, I would highly recommend PowerWash Simulator.  There's plenty of gameplay with tons of unique locations and objects to clean.  Cleaning in real-life is never this enjoyable.

Soothing Waters

The recent Steam Spring Sale offered the chance for players to grab a few wishlist titles for a discount.  Even though I've been trying to be conservative with my gaming purchases, I decided it was time to check a title off the list.  It was a tough choice--I'm definitely eyeballing Slime Rancher 2, but it's still in early access and I would rather just wait until the full release--but in the end I decided that I needed some blissful cleaning in my life and grabbed PowerWash Simulator.

An inexplicably gross playground that needs a clean.

What the heck is PowerWash Simulator?  Unsurprisingly, it's a game about using a power washer to clean various locations.  Sounds boring?  Well, you're totally wrong!  There's something strangely soothing and satisfying about watching a mucky path become sparklingly clean or seeing an entire house go from grimy to shiny.  There are multiple gameplay modes to satisfy all your power washing needs--in career mode you take on a variety of different jobs at locations that increase in complexity.  Each job pays based on how well you clean it up--a five star job requires some very attentive washing to make sure that you've sprayed every nook and cranny to eliminate any hidden grime.

For more competitive cleaners there's a challenge mode with timed challenges as well as jobs that limit the amount of water that you can use.  Or, if you're just in it for the soothing nature of spraying you can opt for free play which allows you to clean any of the maps/jobs in the game with no limitations.  Oh, and if you want to power wash with a friend there's even a co-op mode!  All-in-all, there's a little bit of something for everyone.

As you earn more cash you can purchase upgrades to help you better combat tougher messes.  There are special attachments and more powerful washers and there also cosmetic items to help make your rubber-clad cleaning figure into a unique hero of washing.  There are even cosmetic upgrades for your sprayer--all the hot skins for all the hottest powerwashing!

There's very little explanation about why this world you're cleaning is so filthy, but as long as there's more spraying...I'm happy.  And, they seem to be periodically releasing themed additional content such as a Croft Manor map (so you can clean up all of Lara's messes) and a Midgar themed pack with Final Fantasy VII themed items to make sparkly.  My one and only gripe is that unless I use the "target spraying" option (you press C and basically aim without moving) it does make me feel a bit motion sick.  This is weird because I've never felt even slightly motion sick from other games.

I'm looking forward to many more happy hours spraying away all the dirt from a variety of quirky objects.