jalopy game page pothole breakdown

Jalopy

If you've ever wanted to drive a brick on wheels, then you might find something to love in Jalopy. Developed by Minskworks and published by Excalibur Games, Jalopy is all about you and a car making a journey across Europe with your uncle after the fall of the Soviet Union.

Calling the Laika 601 Deluxe a "car" is a charitable at best. The vehicle's stock parts have the durability of cardboard covered in tin foil and you can probably get better gas mileage on a lawnmower. Thankfully, you're not stuck with the factory defaults for your Laika - you can upgrade your parts at trusted Laika dealerships all throughout Europe. Paying for these parts can be a bit of a challenge, though, and you'll have to be quite careful with your money in the early game.

Money is earned in Jalopy through two ways: scavenging goods at the side of the road to sell and harassing motel guests. No, seriously. When you stay a motel, you can knock on the doors of occupied rooms and they'll occasionally slide the next day's fee under the door which you can promptly pocket. As for the roadside treasures, there are six distinct types of goods that sell for varying prices at the game's gas stations. You might also find decals to trick out your car or parts that might be better than what you currently have. Trips to the Scrapyard (provided you can figure out how to open it) can also unearth some lovely vehicular treasures for you to walk away with.

Ultimately, your goal will be to make it all the way to Turkey with your uncle in tow. After that, you're free to roam the world of Jalopy, collecting loot and upgrading your car as you go. Even after you've acquired every single part, you're still able to paint your car with a number of different colors & various decals to best suit your tastes. Your Laika might not be the fastest car, but in Jalopy you can (somewhat unethically) acquire the money to drive that brick in style.