>- The new reservoir mechanic (brake, power steering, radiator, wiper
>fluid) is neat in that it gives you more of that realism I remember
>fans of the previous games complaining was missing (though there's
>still no pipes or wires). My only gripe is that the view of the fill
>markings gets obscured in some vehicle bays, forcing me to either pull
>off parts or just guesstimate.

When you're filling up a fluid, watch for the bottle to tilt down closer to the the horizontal. When you see it do that, you can stop--it'll be full enough for the game's purposes, unless your reaction time is significantly faster than mine.

>- Speaking of realism, I like the idea that you're this young aspiring
>mechanic who's set up shop in an old gas station, if only because it
>teases you with possibilities from the start. When you get in the
>door the first time, you find an old bus and a bunch of junk sitting
>atop what is obviously the spot for a second lift, instead of starting
>in a "hole-in-the-wall" shop that seemingly balloons out whenever you
>buy an expansion.

Agreed! It's also nice to be able to go outside (and you can go around back and speculate about what those other building sites are for). Judging from the sign out front, you seem to be somewhere on the hot-and-dusty part of old U.S. 66. I think probably New Mexico. :)

>- And this last observation isn't unique to CMS 2021, but one of the
>drawbacks I've noticed over the years for simulator sequels is that if
>you got pretty comfortable in the old game after unlocking most/all of
>the upgrades and features, then it can feel like a real chore starting
>all the way back at the beginning.

Mm. This is one of the main reasons why I haven't started a new save in Stardew Valley, even though I've accomplished pretty much everything there is to do in the old one. I don't know if I could handle going back to being as bad at everything as your dude in that game is at the beginning. :)

--G.
-><-
Benjamin D. Hutchins, Co-Founder, Editor-in-Chief, & Forum Mod
Eyrie Productions, Unlimited http://www.eyrie-productions.com/
zgryphon at that email service Google has
Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam.