The Steam Next Fest demo for Over the Hill, an off-roading simulation from Art of Rally developers Funselektor, is now available. The game aims to provide a more relaxed experience compared to titles like SnowRunner and Expeditions, focusing on exploration and scenic journeys through a Canadian wilderness setting.
Players navigate autumnal Canadian backwoods in a vehicle resembling a Land Rover Defender, with the demo featuring the Emerald Lake area. Unlike more demanding sims, Over the Hill doesn't impose strict mission structures or penalize mistakes as harshly. Instead, the gameplay loop involves discovering cabins that serve as respawn points and regional hubs. From these hubs, players can venture out to uncover points of interest, which include scenic lookout towers, simple tasks like towing other vehicles, and cosmetic crates.
These activities reward players with points that can be used for vehicle upgrades, such as more powerful engines or snorkels for improved water fording. The demo also includes challenge trails, which are checkpoint runs through difficult terrain that can test a player's skill. When a vehicle becomes stuck or incapacitated, such as by falling into a lake, players can utilize a winch and jack system, similar to that found in Expeditions, to recover their vehicle. The winch can be attached to anchor points and used with environmental features like trees to right an overturned vehicle, while the jack allows for immediate upright respawning.
A key difference from Saber Interactive's more punishing titles emerges when a vehicle is irretrievably stuck. In SnowRunner or Expeditions, players can switch to another vehicle to rescue their predicament. Over the Hill, however, appears to rely on cooperative play for such scenarios, potentially leaving solo players to abandon their trek if their current vehicle becomes unrecoverable. This design choice adds a degree of jeopardy without overwhelming players.
Over the Hill offers a less complex simulation approach. While manual gear changes are an option, the game allows for automatic transmission and simplifies other mechanical aspects, such as omitting the need to manage locking differentials. This approach is intended to allow players to focus on enjoying the environment and its features, such as hunting for fallen meteorites with an equippable radar or experiencing dynamic weather effects like light rain.
The demo has provided a positive impression of the game's potential, particularly for groups of players. The expansive wilderness and relaxed pace can be highly enjoyable with friends. However, questions remain about the long-term engagement of the solo experience, as the absence of a robust solo recovery system and the camaraderie found in co-op might lead to a less consistently enthralling adventure over the full game's duration.