Now you are playing with power. Detergency!
The 2021 Early Access title, PowerWash Simulator, is exactly what you’d expect, and despite the first few reservations, I fell prey to its sweet siren call. We may not always feel motivated to scrub the tub, put away the dishes, or fold the laundry, but give us a digital water blaster to keep your car, boat, plane, or house sparkling clean. Polish it up. It’s hard to deny the monotony caused by some of Career Mode’s larger jobs, but PowerWash Simulator has something zen that keeps me scratching my head as I type this review. is still there.
From the main menu, head to the Career section which basically houses all of PowerWash Simulator’s content. In addition to a challenge mode based on time and resources, additional bonus jobs (such as cleaning a mini golf course), and free play, career mode has over 20 cleaning jobs for players to undertake. From simple tasks like cleaning a dirt bike to complex tasks like cleaning a Ferris wheel, there is no shortage of dirt and dust that needs to be removed. It’s fun to alternate cleaning cars and buildings. With the money and stars you earn by completing each job, you can unlock and purchase upgrades for your kit, including new powerful power washers, special attachments, and even changing clothing. exterior.
Why would anyone want to spend in-game dollars on the cosmetics you ask? Well, there’s online multiplayer available for up to six players. Unfortunately, Switch lacks cross-platform play, which further limits the experience. will be It’s also a pity that there is no local split screen option. I wanted to dock the Switch and play with my son to show him the fun of cleaning and inspire him towards the actual cleanup, but unfortunately my plans never came to fruition. The Tomb Raider DLC is great, but cleaning out the front of Lara’s mansion is a lot of work for a single power washer.
The main gameplay loop is basic, but you move through certain levels and use power washers to spray all parts of vehicles, buildings and structures until they are 100% complete. The PowerWash Simulator will give you a pulse of light and a ‘boom’ when certain areas have been thoroughly cleaned, such as car wheels, bungalow windows, or playground slides. Taking care of these segments often also earns you a small amount of cash, with individual stars eventually filling the meter up to five. If you can’t see a spot you missed, just press the right directional button and the orange flashes where you need to drop the hose.
What works pretty well in the transition to consoles is a control scheme where almost every button has a specific useful purpose. You can kneel or crawl by pushing in the right stick. The L and R buttons let you scroll through different hose attachments (allowing you to adjust the spray to suit the job at hand). As you can imagine, the ZR button is the trigger (although I liked pressing the left directional button to enable continuous spray). That said, the menu cursor control is a bit slow and less smooth than I expected.
Visuals and performance leave something to be desired, though. Load times to enter each level he ranges from 30 seconds to almost 2 minutes, and resolution can certainly affect the enjoyment of the game. Especially when playing handheld, the difference between a clean wall or fence post and a wall or fence post that is still dirty can be fairly small. I wouldn’t say any aspect of the Switch port is a deal breaker, but it’s not necessarily the best place to live out all your powerwashing fantasies.
PowerWash Simulator is definitely a game that lives up to its name, and while there’s something deeply satisfying and calming about removing dirt by slowly squirting focused water on an object, the repetitiveness of its gameplay is It can’t be ignored. If you’re looking for a time-waster that paints a picture toward a set goal, hop in your cleaning suit and equip it with your nozzle of choice (even better when paired with your favorite podcast). is). However, some will no doubt find the power wash itself to be more of a chore than a blast. So splashing around in the PowerWash Simulator is better left to someone out of the zone trying to clean up to their heart’s content.
