Hard Truck: Road to Victory

A Russian computer game in the genre of truck transportation simulator and arcade racing simulator, developed by SoftLab-NSK and released in 1998 with the participation of 1C and Buka. The game offers the player the role of a long-haul truck driver, starting a career with a ZIL truck and an initial capital of $30,000. The main goal is to earn $1,000,000 by performing cargo deliveries and participating in races. The player has access to five tracks: two sports and three commercial. On sports tracks, races occur without cargo, where the player competes with 0–7 opponents, each with a unique truck. Commercial tracks require purchasing and delivering cargo, varying in price, weight, volume, and fragility. Successful delivery yields profit, while damage to fragile cargo reduces income. The game offers two difficulty modes: arcade with simplified physics and simulator with a more realistic model, considering damage, tire and brake wear, weather conditions, and road surface type. The player's base serves as the control center, where tracks can be selected, cargo purchased, and trucks repaired and upgraded. A total of 9 truck models are available, including two-axle tractor units and vans. The game received positive reviews for combining simulation and arcade gameplay, becoming the foundation for subsequent installments in the series.