SOUL OF THE NORTH

SOUL OF THE NORTH

A while ago, I asked for a new post topic. Thanks to p7uen, who recommended talking about a game I've been obsessed with, I finally have a reason to talk about one of the games that - quite frankly - have changed me for the better, in a pretty unexpected way...

My Summer Car.

AMIS KARJALA 3000

My Summer Car is, at its heart, a car game. The main "goal" of the player is to build their Satsuma - a small car based on real-life Datsun 100A, which used to be very popular in Finland in the previous century. It's not a simple task - the car is entirely in parts, including the engine and the chassis - and all the components need to be properly fit, screwed in (using correct bolt types!) and even tuned for the best performance.

Once your car is ready, you can register it to be road legal, and even tune to your heart's content. Maybe you want it to be ready for rallies around the dirt paths? There are parts for that. Or maybe you prefer drag racing? Sure, you can focus on that. Don't care about competition, and just want to drive a literal pimp mobile? Sure thing!

However, building your car is only part of the experience. Heck - I'm not a car person at all, and yet the game has captured my heart. This is because of...

RRRREALISM

There's more to life than just driving a kick-ass car. You still have your needs to fulfill - from thirst and hunger, to stress or money... down to urination. Most of these can actually kill you if left ignored, so you better carry a beer case around.

Most needs can be fulfilled in various ways. Thirst? There are taps at your house, and some placed in the village have water pumps you can sip from - but beer is the best (and most portable) way of satiating yourself. Hunger? You can just eat frozen pizzas or drink juice, but that's boring when you can grill your own sausages or fish! Similarly, you don't need to sleep in your own bed - you can use the rear seats of your car or sofa on the landfill. You can watch TV to reduce stress, or you can smoke, get drunk or speed on the highway. Or all at the same time.

But the most important stat, I think, is money. You can live with no cash, sure - it's possible to fish or eat moose meat, but it will only get you so far. Not to mention gas not being free, either. Thankfully there are various ways to earn cash. From delivering store leaflets or selling chopped wood, to smaller requests - like buying groceries for your grandma or giving your friend a ride home... down to outright dubious, like gambling or selling homebrew alcohol.

And yes, I mention booze a lot - the game is based in Finland, after all. One of many countries "proud" of being huge drunkards. Therefore it's only natural that beer is omnipresent, vodka can be received as a reward for some jobs, and homebrew kilju can net you a pretty penny. Just don't get caught on the motorway.

VITTUN DORKKU

Now, as I mentioned - I'm not a car person. But when my friend told me about this "realistic survival game" he discovered recently, I knew I had to try it out. I remember my first ever gameplay - I got drunk and swam through the entire lake to an old abandoned house...

Naturally, for the most part I completely ignored Satsuma. I mostly drove around in a moped or tractor, just taking in the atmosphere surrounding me. There's something magical about Finland - but I can safely say this game truly awoke something inside me - an interest in their culture, language, everything.

With time, I began building the car. I learned some basic ways to earn cash and prosper. Eventually I even purchased a legal copy on Steam - until then, I was using an obsolete pirated copy. Meanwhile, outside of the game - I began watching some Finnish memes, which in turn made me learn Finnish language online. Over 1600 days later, I can't say I'm good at it yet, but I'm trying to be better every day!

SUOMALAINEN SISU

And, well - here we are. My Summer Car is a game that, despite its INCREDIBLY janky nature, captured my heart. Every couple of months, I feel the urge to return to Finland and just... hang around. Drink beer, grill by the lakeside, and unwind.

If there's one thing I would definitely recommend, it's the game's atmosphere. It really feels like you're living in FInnish countryside. Like you really have nothing to do in the summer. Like you're free to do anything. And this freedom, these vibes - are why I would definitely recommend everyone to try it out, even if you don't like car games.

Because there's nothing like it.