A-Train

Review

by Jonathan Sutyak

Despite the moderate rating being given to A-Train, it can still be an enjoyable experience if you're willing to learn all the aspects of the game on your own. The problem here is that it is probably too complex for people unwilling to learn how to play the game properly and the manual doesn't help out too much. Controlling a railroad empire would have been good enough but ArtDink went overboard with realism and added far too many confusing things.

Because of the sheer amount of detail within A-Train, a well written instruction booklet was necessary. Unfortunately, the 50 pages contained in the manual fail to explain everything clearly. ArtDink has set the player up to learn through trial and error, but that is too difficult when most people will only be able to save one game at a time (it takes an entire memory card to save one game). While it covers a lot of ground, most of it tells you where certain things can be built rather than explaining the items themselves.

The controls leave a lot to be desired with a standard PlayStation controller. Using the gamepad to call up menus and selecting things causes the game to move at a slower pace than it already does. The mouse doesn't help much either. When moving around the map, scrolling is not exactly what I'd call smooth and the screen borders are not apparent.

Players familiar with Maxis' SimCity series may be disappointed to find that there is no land editor. To remedy this, there are a fairly large amount of scenarios provided (22 in all). Unfortunately, you never get to build your empire from scratch. In each scenario, the game starts you off with a small transportation network in place for you to control and expand.

Fortunately, the graphics fit the nature of the game, although some menus could have been better presented (clearer icons and a zoom mode would have been nice). One of the better features included is the ability to take a ride on any train or bus you create. When you get ready to ride, you get a 3D view of your city, though the buildings are not drawn to scale. There are some other interesting effects like the change from day to night and the inclusion of weather.

The sound effects are average at best. While there are twelve different music selections to choose from, the game lacks any train noises or effects. This doesn't do much to immerse the players in the gaming world.

Overall, A-Train is a game that only certain players will enjoy. If you really like other games published by Maxis (SimCity) then you might like this game. Just be warned that it may be overly complicated for even the most hardcore simulation fans. Don't believe the package when it says that this game is for ages 6 and over -- a child could never figure this out.