Anoraks at the ready!! (Train Simulator (PC))

Name: rob_writer

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Product:	Train Simulator (PC)
Date:	28/09/01 (238 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: It's all in here, Graphics, Strangely fun

Disadvantages: Realism, It's trains for gods sake

I normally have a few opinions on the go at once, and complete them over the course of a few days, but this is actually the third introduction I've written for this one. Y'see, I just can't decide whether I like this game or not.

At first I loved it, it was a novelty and getting to grips with it was so different to any other game that it had to be good. Then realisation set in and I decided the game was boring, after all there's no races to be won, battles to be fought or enemies to be shot - all you do is drive a train! Then after a little more play I realised that there was more to the game than I had thought, and that actually driving a train wasn't so boring after all. I think you could argue it either way, but first something about the game itself!!!

If you've played MS Flight Simulator then you should have a pretty decent idea of what to expect, just you can replace the planes with trains. It's simulation all the way, from the trains and the environments right down to the protocol you must follow when entering stations and passing signals!

The trains can be split in to three main groups, electric, diesel and steam. Each has their own method of working, which are slightly different to each other. Each type of train has its own controls, and while diesel and electric are pretty similar in their operation, steam trains are a little different and definitely more difficult to control!! There are about 3 different types of each variety of train, including the Flying Scotsman and a superfast passenger train. They're all real though, no made up stuff in here, and each different train has its own usage, whether it be a Diesel pulling heavy cargo, or an electric train carrying passengers. Each train is modelled in detail, and the fully zoomable view lets you take a good look around. Some trains even have unique features not found on the others, which mean that mastering the usage of each train is essential.


Anyone know how to drive a train? I didn't, but it seems quite simple. You have the reverser, which can be set to forward, neutral and reverse, indicating high direction you move in. Then you have the regulator/throttle, and the brakes - and that is just about it! Some trains have other gears, some extra brakes, but the general idea remains constant throughout!!

Trains would be useless without some track to drive them on, but there's no worry there because there's plenty of real life routes to drive. There's the traditional Orient Express run, and the Settle-Carlisle route that the Flying Scotsman did. There's also a couple of routes in the USA, and two more in Japan. Some are obviously more suited to freight journeys, whereas others are high speed passenger lines. Each route has a variety of 'tasks', pre-set journeys you must do to a schedule, that you can play. There is no start and finish to the game, you just keep on trying all the missions and attempt to do them perfectly.

Graphics wise the game is not what I was expecting. Flight Sim goes for photo realistic backdrops, but ones that aren't particularly dynamic. Train Sim on the other hand uses a fully 3D engine that can be zoomed and rotated at will. Think Black & White style graphics and you can't go too far wrong, although they are surprisingly detailed - and rightly so, for a lot of the time you have nothing else to do but look at them!! The one gripe I would have with the graphics is that the engine doesn't seem to be particularly efficient, with the frame rate dropping rather low at times. Now yes, you always have a trade off between graphics and frame rate, and my system isn't particularly great, but when I can run Unreal Tournament in the same resolution at about 60fps I'm a little unhappy that Train Sim rarely creeps over 20fps. The graphics are nice, but no nicer than any other games, which all seem to run much better.

On
the longevity front the game should be pretty lastable as you can build your own routes, scenarios and trains. The internet is bound to be teeming with them! Not much point in that though, if the originals aren't very good. Just how good is Train Sim?

Mastering control of the train takes a little while, and is something you'll certainly improve upon over time, but controlling the train to get from A to B is not too difficult, as long as you slow down when you're supposed to you can't go wrong. The challenge in the game comes from trying to drive a train as it should be driven, slowing down gently so as not to scare passengers and obeying all the regulations. Trying to keep to a schedule is not easy!!

But the question to ask yourself is this - is that enough to keep me entertained? It's novel for a few goes, mostly down to the extreme originality of the title, but how long can you go following rules and regulations, driving at the speed limit and keeping to schedule. Imagine a car driving game where all you had to do was drive around the streets keeping to the highway code, getting from A to B, that would be boring. On the other hand a Flight Sim has enough to do to ensure the player is never bored. Train Sim falls somewhere in the middle. There's miles of open space where you have little to do, and painstakingly slow sections of track where speed limits have been imposed. Have a cup of tea or 10 while you're playing this game, or better still watch TV at the same time. It can get boring, very boring infact, but at other times it can be rather fun, and you get an awesome sense of fulfilment when you do something well.

Microsoft have produced this game as well as a Train Simulator could be hoped to do. Apart from the frame rate, which is more than likely limited to my PC, my only other fault would be that the tracks are very linear, going from A to B rather than being a network of tracks spanning a large area. A
part from that, there's not a lot of room for improvement, the simple fact is that trains just aren't going to make a world class title.

So should you buy it or not? For the train fan, yes, for everyone else, maybe. It's original, which gets it marks in my book, but it could almost be too realistic, shunning fun in place of speed limits.

Guess it all just depends what you like!!

Summary: