My Summer Car

Hot Finnish cocktail of a third-person survival simulator and car arcade. The player is given complete freedom of action in a large open world of rural Finland, and the only task is to restore an old car inherited from their father. How to make a living and where to find all the necessary parts depends on the player's skill and luck.

The early 90s. A depressed Finnish village, a true backwater. The main character is an 18-year-old young man whose parents have gone on vacation to Tenerife for the entire summer, leaving him in charge of the family home. The only entertainment is beer in the fridge, a real Finnish sauna, and boat rides. And the needs range from paying utility bills to finding food and money for beer, which must be somehow covered. For example, by participating and winning in the local crazy rally.

Opening the door to the garage, where a 1974 Satsuma AMP has been sitting for years, the hero embarks on a series of exciting adventures that arise literally out of nowhere, allowing him to learn more about life around him and find his place in this world. He learns to repair and modify the car; gets involved in conflicts with locals and makes new friends; finds himself in dangerous situations due to unruly machinery; and even finds love.

In My Summer Car, there are few stories, but all are connected to characters seemingly drawn from real life: a beloved but sick grandmother, a good-natured uncle, a drunken neighbor, a slacker best friend, etc. Everyone needs help and a small moral choice must be made. As the "Satsuma" transforms from junk into a decent car, the hero himself changes. He matures, turning from a slacker into an experienced mechanic and racer, learning to overcome difficulties.

My Summer Car may not shine with visual beauty, but it captivates with the atmosphere of Finnish backcountry and authentic Scandinavian nature, with all its endless forests, lakes, swamps, and rivers.

The action takes place in the fictional area of Peräjärvi — an open world that combines rural landscapes, several villages, wild natural territory, with a significant part of it submerged in a lake. Everything is connected by a ring road and a couple of smaller roads, including dirt ones.

There are points of interest: the main character's house (the most detailed), shops (where you can buy food and car parts), a workshop (for repairing and upgrading the car), an airfield, a bar and nightclub, a radio tower, a farm, and other places. Each is linked to a quest or an intriguing story; for example, taking a photo of the remains of a house that burned down long ago can reveal the ghost of its owner.

The game world also hides useful items — sets of tires, tools, car parts, logs ready for transport, expensive alcohol, a video camera, fireworks, and so on. Such items can be freely taken and provide a good boost to progress in the game. The map is open from the very beginning, and players can freely explore its boundaries.

In its time, My Summer Car gained fame for its meticulous implementation of the car restoration process. The Satsuma consists of hundreds of parts, each with its own place and function. Most parts are geometrically accurate, adding complexity to the assembly process. Missing a small detail can prevent the installation of the next part or lead to a leak after full assembly.

The restoration itself consists of clear stages: assembling the chassis, engine, and transmission, installing the wings, doors, and bumpers, and assembling the dashboard and interior. However, the assembly of the chassis and engine alone consists of three dozen of its own steps. Mistakes at any of these stages will require a complete reassembly.

Starting the car has its own sequence of actions: pouring antifreeze, coolant, oil, fuel, adjusting and leveling the car, tuning the engine, and turning on the dashboard. But that's not all, as the car hasn't been tested on the track. Problems can arise for various reasons.

Oil is leaking: are there missing gaskets or improperly tightened blocks? The car won't start: are the valves too open or has water gotten into the fuel tank? A brake hose fell off during a turn, and the car went into a ditch: is it the wrong hose or was it forgotten to be tightened? Solving these problems depends on the player's ingenuity, and their occurrence depends on the accuracy and care taken during assembly.

The protagonist of My Summer Car has a number of needs that must be met for survival: thirst, hunger, stress, rest, not to mention money. Among possible hobbies are hunting, fishing, making coffee, exploring the world, and more. These activities add another layer of depth to the gameplay and allow for certain advantages.

Running around the map on foot is not necessary — there are various modes of transport for completing tasks: a motorcycle, tractor, motorboat, sewage truck, and others. However, reckless driving is not an option — the police are always on the lookout for speed limit violators. One must also keep an eye on the condition of the vehicles, regularly servicing and cleaning them to avoid breakdowns and accidents on the road.

Tasks include: participating in rallies and drag races, posting flyers on the streets, making and selling Finnish homemade wine from sugar, gathering berries and strawberries, gambling, delivering groceries for grandma, emptying neighbors' septic tanks, and picking up a drunken neighbor from the city pub. And if that's not enough — there are always mods that add various content.