Train Science Has Nothing on Rocket Science –
With complexity not seen in a 3DS title, let alone a downloadable eShop title, A-Train 3D: City Simulator is a painstakingly detailed game that is truly for the hardest of the hardcore.
The player becomes the CEO on the very first screen
Just how complex is this train sim? It takes days just to get through the tutorial. This opening segment is probably enough to scare away most gamers through shear intimidation but players who stick with it will find everything gets spelled out comprehensively. Once this extended tutorial is finished, these dedicated players should be ready to make the whole train building sim come together.
There is always a lot of stuff going on
A-Train is a train building sim at its core but there is so much that extends beyond this simple concept. Not only will players plan and design train tracks, success relies on planning around the entire layout of a city. If public transportation is efficiently designed, local businesses will grow along with the need for mass transit. Because of this, players will also micro manage Excel-like sales charts and graphics, designate bus routes, and even work through different types of facilities like warehouses to store goods to support the growth and well-being of the local population. The goal of keeping trains full without overcrowding to maximize profit, relieve congestion, and essentially build up residential and business infrastructure is really heart of gameplay. The name A-Train 3D really is a city simulator but is rather different from SimCity. The amount of detail in this downloadable eShop title is beyond staggering.
You’ll need to manage more than you think
Without question, this is complex game that requires the steepest learning curve. But this game was specifically designed this way and is complex for a reason. Because of this, fans will receive a high sense of reward for finishing missions and objectives. Unlike besting a challenging boss or getting through a difficult level, A-Train’s sense of accomplishment is different since the player is creating something. Combine this with the large amount of time it takes to complete any number of this scenarios and A-Train becomes quite an impressive game. Even if you manage to spend dozens upon dozens of hours watching a Podunk city become a massive metropolis, DLC is available if you feel the need to work through additional missions.
The colorful anime doesn’t fit the serious tone of the gameplay
It is a little strange to see such a hardcore game available on the 3DS but the touch screen interface works well with the millions of menus and text to sift through. In a way, A-Train is misleading because the simple and colorful graphical style of gameplay gives the game a kiddie first impression that couldn’t be further from the truth. A-Train 3D is probably one of the most complex games I have ever played and stands as a niche within a niche. A game like this requires more patience than most games out there so the average gamers will immediately dismiss it through intimidation or from being overwhelmed. But the brave gamers willing to spend the large time investment will experience something unique, especially for a 3DS eShop game.
Much More Serious Than: Goat Simulator
Better Than: Construction Simulator
Also Try: SimCity DS
By: Zachary Gasiorowski, Editor in Chief myGamer.com
Twitter: @ZackGaz