Maroc - 3RD-STRIKE.COM - A La Une - Hier 01:42

The Last Gas Station – Review

Cosy management sims are typically of the farming kind, so whenever one pops up that breaks that mold, it already has our attention. Enter The Last Gas Station, a genre entry that not only moves away from the farm setting to, well, a gas station, but one that also comes topped with a layer of supernatural mystery. Oh, and you get to play as a red panda? Color us intrigued! Story In the not-too-distant future, gasoline-powered vehicles have been almost entirely replaced by electric cars. Because of this, gas stations have become less of a necessity and have all but disappeared. As the title indicates, The Last Gas Station tells the story of one of, if not the final one, of these stations. The overarching premise bears a lot of similarities to the standard farming sim setup: you have inherited said station, but it has become run-down, and it’s up to you to return it to its former glory. What begins as a straightforward take on the genre, albeit one starring anthropomorphic animals, gradually becomes stranger though, as the locals begin discussing strange events. Initially, it comes across as quite silly when you hear them talking about pyramid mysteries or Bigfoot, but strange nighttime events indicate there is more to these than just conspiracy theories. Of course, we won’t spoil what’s going on, as the mysteries are central to The Last Gas Station’s story, but we will say that it remains a compelling and atmospheric ride throughout, with the caveat that the pacing does slow considerably in the mid-to-late game. Progression is tied to station upgrades and grinding through management tasks, so while the mystery drives things forward, the gameplay doesn’t always match up with the narrative tempo. Graphics The pixel art used in The Last Gas Station is, simply put, beautiful. Initially warm and inviting, both the charming character designs and the rural environments contribute to the game’s cozy atmosphere. Slowly but surely, though, the more unsettling supernatural elements start to creep in, especially at night, where lighting, shadows and environmental effects create tension without turning the game into outright horror. The game’s world is filled with environmental details, both natural and man-made (or should that be animal-made?), like neon signs and cluttered interiors that make things feel lived-in. Special mention should be given to the game’s gorgeous lighting effects, as they really contribute to the shift between the daytime cosiness and the spookier nighttime atmosphere. It’s not just as simple as a palette swap, mind you, as the transition between the two is gradual and more subtle. Sound The tonal shift between night and day is noticeable in The Last Gas Station’s soundtrack as well. During the daytime, music is calm and relaxing, helping reinforce the feeling of running a quiet rural business. At night though, the mood shifts. Music becomes more low-key, and even the ambience quiets down. Speaking of ambience, The Last Gas Station stands out here as well, both when it comes to environmental audio and sound effects tied to your actions, like working the register or interacting with equipment around the station. The only thing that prevents The Last Gas Station’s soundscape from feeling perfect is the lack of voice acting. For a game that is very dialogue-heavy, this feels like an outright miss. Gameplay As much as The Last Gas Station’s narrative is mystery-driven, its core gameplay loop isn’t. This is a management sim first and foremost, and it’s very hands-on in this regard. You’re tasked with running your small roadside gas station. Early on, that means doing everything manually, whether that’s pumping gas, scanning groceries, calculating change, inventory management, or cleaning the station. Eventually, you’ll unlock additional services like a garage for repairs and a car wash. Each of your hands-on tasks takes on the form of a simple mini-game, from inflating tires to scanning groceries. There’s always something to do early on, and there is just enough variation here to keep the gameplay from becoming stale. Over time, you’ll find that more and more tasks can be automated. Your station slowly evolves from a rundown shack into a much larger operation with upgraded pumps, expanded retail space, and automated systems. This allows you to focus on figuring out the mysteries surrounding you. The key to figuring things out surprisingly lies in… decorating your station. Themed decor tied to aliens, cryptids, and other local legends will affect customer impressions and unlock related products. There are different endings here, and they are directly affected by these mechanics. Working towards specific decorations can be quite the grind though, both in terms of income and meeting specific side objectives, and The Last Gas Stations mid-to-late game feels like it moves forward at a sluggish pace in return. This is the direct result of The Last Gas Station’s design philosophy: the game is intended to be a relaxing and approachable experience rather than something deeply complex. You’re handling multiple responsibilities at once, but it’s all kept manageable, and the gameplay doesn’t evolve over time. This inevitably means that the mini-games lose their novelty after several hours of gameplay. While this isn’t an issue over the course of a single, 10-ish hour playthrough, replaying the game to see every ending play out can put a damper on things. The €13.99 price is well worth that one playthrough though. Just pace yourself, and don’t jump in again directly after the credits roll. Conclusion Combining the cosy management formula with a narrative-driven adventure, The Last Gas Station should appeal to both fans of the likes of Stardew Valley (and its many imitators) as well as anyone who enjoys X-Files-style mysteries. The game’s core gameplay loop doesn’t evolve over time, with the game opting for accessibility over depth. While this can hurt longevity, The Last Gas Station is definitely worth at least that one playthrough.