Relaxing or stressful?

[Fredinator]

Hey ppl.
I'm interested in the game because of the setting and art style but when I watched gameplay it looked kinda stressing with the timelimit from the storm and all the stuff you have to do while under that pressure.
The patchnotes I read mentioned something about being able to change setting in regards to that but I don't quite understand what they mean.

So my question is: Is it possible to reduce the time pressure or disable it completely? Or was it just my impression from the gameplay I saw and its not that bad?

I'm looking more for a relaxing game for an afternoon after work.

[BlackWater]

You can set options to take no damage or even die, but these will disable achievements, I personally kept damage and death risk, but keep all items of I die, fail or quit. The time pressure comes into play with storms, but these to, can be disabled. I want SOME risk, but don't want to lose a rare item because of a screw-up on my part. I'll be honest, I was frustrated at first, but I stuck with it, The game is good, and there isn't anything like it that I'm aware of. I'd rate it a 9 out of 10, and only because of performance, once this gets patched its a solid 10/10.

[Fredinator]

Ok thanks. Risk is ok but I don't want pressure. Sounds like I can get that then. Nice

[BlackWater]

Originally posted by Fredinator:

Ok thanks. Risk is ok but I don't want pressure. Sounds like I can get that then. Nice

I have no regrets, Loving the game so far.

[animal_PLANET]

I havent found this game stressful at all. There is now a warning when storms approach. They are also much slower to close in on you. Giving more time to escape. You can also get more time by upgrading your gear in the garage with anchor energy.

[Puzuzu Ebon]

It's super cozy in the shop. And highway runs, outer zone runs when they are stable are both pretty chill. I hate feeling too pressured or stressed when I play as well and this one never crosses the line for me.

If it does make me anxious or rushed it feels appropriate and never feels out of sorts. I.E. if i go into a junction with a bunch of bad modifiers like swift storm then I know ill be driving like a hell a bit to get through to the next one. But this is also with item penalties off. Oh and making my headlights not drain the battery, because alternators should be a thing >.>

I usually end up cheating in a lot of games just to get through it and not be hindered by padding but for this one i turned em off after a few runs because the game loop is just that compelling and the options make it as stress free as you could want. If i want excitement I go to the mid zone to farm materials. If i want to relax and prepare, I plan a peaceful route.

[BlackWater]

Originally posted by animal_PLANET:

I havent found this game stressful at all. There is now a warning when storms approach. They are also much slower to close in on you. Giving more time to escape. You can also get more time by upgrading your gear in the garage with anchor energy.

Wow, they must have updated it before I began the game in earnest. Soon as I hear those sirens I stop what I'm doing and collect all the anchors, no point in holding off, areas ALREADY getting destabilized may as well get my upgrade points and bail, can always come back, unless it goes DEAD on me. What I wish we could do is when we say find a transmuter that takes glass or plastic (have 200+ of each of those atm, and can turn them into copper wires or chips, Was kinda hopeing I could load up the wagon with all of these and get the harder to come by items, but alas, when i return transmuter is either gone or no wanting gears in exchange for plastic, um no.

[Macmanius]

I disabled Instability Storms in Difficulty (under Gameplay in the Settings menu) after beating the game so I could cruise around for missing lore documents and cosmetics.(They never appeared, btw, and I'm pretty sure there's a late-game bug that limits or completely disables them spawning.) It definitely takes the edge off, as you no longer feel the need to beat the siren, but it does make for a less exciting game. Also, I don't know if it disables any achievements. (I don't think it does, as you don't get a warning, but I don't want to tell you that it 100% doesn't.)

[Bane882266]

I own a few different driving games but Pacific drive is the only one I come to just to drive rather than chase a specific objective. Just driving through each zone and only stopping for the rarest of resources.