Overview
If you have ever wanted to be a train driver, or at least experience what it would be like, then Train Sim World Founder’s Edition is exactly what you have been looking for. You may recognize this from the CSX Heavy Haul or the Great Western version found on the steam store. This game puts you at the helm of a variety of real trains on a strict schedule through the Great Western Railways of the UK. On a side possible work, the promise of multiplayer in this sim I find pretty damn interesting.
Gameplay
Once your train is up and running your scenarios may vary. Your general goal is to make it through a complete route with stops to pick up passengers and swap freight trains for passenger trains. Along these routes, you need to maintain certain speeds throughout some sections called Markers. For example, if you chug through at 100 MPH in a 70 MPH zone, then you will get a game over screen. The beautifully rendered weather conditions keep the train ride fun having you forced to learn your brake and throttle levers intimately. My only complaint is that there is nothing much to do except to drive and enjoy the trains which are wondrous and all, but it would be nice to have a vending machine to buy collectibles or some kind of billboard to post messages until multiplayer gets worked into the fray…anything. Actually, another thing I have to mention is the time it takes to do things in Train Sim World, because it is a simulator I completely understand but literally driving for 10 straight minutes doing nothing became a bit of a drag if I view this as a gamer.
Single Player
Graphics
Sound
I checked a few videos of people casual riding on the train and this almost feels just as realistic as the construction of the train cabins. The wheels grind on the rails and you can hear the train accelerating the engine to speed up. Braking is oddly satisfying. Screeching down right in time to safely make it passed a speed marker is great. Play some of your own music in the background on your preferred device to bypass the time.
Summary
If you approach this a game you will have a small chance of really enjoying the game. If you want to literally drive a train from the safety of home, then this is more your game. The game feels authentic enough that I feel the developer is tricking people into buying what should be training software for the different train models available out there. I feel you should really consider what experience you want to have before jumping into the game.
Train Sim World: Founder's Edition
29.99 USD
Cool
- Great Scenery
- Authentic Sounds
- Realistic Trains
- Completing speed goals
Not Cool
- Not much content yet
- Passengers are robots or invisible
- Not side activities to pursue
