I’ve never been to Italy, but driving around SCS Software’s virtualized version of it really makes me want to book a flight and see the place in person.
Euro Truck Simulator 2 and American Truck Simulator are pretty much the same game, but one key difference between the two would be the landscapes of their open-world maps. ATS’ map consists of various states in the western USA, which mostly have dry, rocky desert terrain. On the other hand, ETS2’s map is made up of various European countries that have rolling hills, open fields, vineyards, and mountains that all have lush vegetation everywhere. The Italia DLC adds to the beauty tenfold.
The scenery of ETS2’s Italy is so beautiful that it makes the whole driving experience all the more relaxing. I found myself gawking all over the place as I drove along the highway surrounded by the virtualized natural beauty. Sometimes I’d come across a small town/village that contained very old architecture. I thought it was pretty cool that these little spots were modeled in as they’re so small and completely different from the major cities that have a far more modern look, but this added to the authenticity of the overall package.
The scenery is very authentic. It’s so cool to discover a random little town with old architecture while driving along the highway.Â
On the topic of scenery variation, you’re definitely going to see quite a variety as you drive through the Italia map. For instance, a lot of the cities on the coast have harbors and marinas that contain yachts and ships, whereas the inland cities tend to be modern metro sprawls. This is comparable to that of ATS’ California, except the Italia map has that European flair which allows it to stand out. Since I mentioned boats, it’s a good time to bring up the new cargo options that are available. I was surprised to see  job offers that had me delivering a yacht, but it was pretty fun doing so and definitely a lot more interesting than just your standard, run-of-the-mill trailer. While more care needs to be given since the boats are considered to be high-value cargo, it’s still an enjoyable experience.
— The Bottom Line —
With several miles of beautiful open world, meticulously detailed cities and cool new cargo options, the Italia DLC is definitely worth a look.
Overall, SCS Software did a great job with this new map. Compare it to photos of the real Italy, and you’ll see just how much effort was put into making it look authentic. Of course, it’s not a 1:1 recreation of the country (that would be a massive undertaking), but it’s definitely good enough. The sheer variety of the scenery really allows this to stand out from the other countries in the game and pushes ETS2’s overall beauty score even higher than it already was. Even though this simulator is purely dedicated to driving, you really have to hand it to the devs for making sure that the scenery is also very detailed. So, make sure you take the time to out to slow down and appreciate the virtual Italian world around you. My only real complaint is the price. At $18, one could argue that you could pick up an entire game for that price. In fact, that’s just two dollars less than the base game itself. So, yes, it’s definitely kind of steep, but it does have the level of quality going for it. On that note, if you think the price is too high then consider waiting for a sale. If that actually doesn’t bother you, however, then definitely go ahead and pick this DLC up.
