| Game Reviews From a Parental Perspective! | |
|
|
|
| Home | Forums | Review Archive | Columns | Feature Articles |
|
Home >
Review Archive >
Video Games
> Results: Sid Meierﾒs Railroads!
Format For Printing | Tell A Friend | Digg | Slashdot | del.icio.us | Buy This Game Scroll down for our Kid Factor. 
The ESRB says:
ALCOHOL REFERENCES ﾖ In some of the game scenarios, players may ship grain or grapes to convert them to beer or wine which can then be shipped wherever there is a demand for them. Sid Meier's Railroads! is a spiritual successor to the popular Railroad Tycoon strategy game series. In the game, players take on the role of a rail baron attempting to build a train empire and drive all the computer opponents out of business. Starting with a depot in a single town, players must expand by laying track and purchasing engines to link up nearby villages. Lay down track efficiently between supplies and the demand for them to build up your empire. The graphics are impressive, but require a newer computer to take advantage of most of the graphical bells and whistles without slowing down. The interface runs smoothly, as the game automatically builds tunnels or cuts into the hillside to help your track fit onto the terrain. Building track aggressively is often a good blocking maneuver, as you are not allowed to use other players' tracks. By building up their bank account, players can bid on industries within towns for extra income, or try to outbid opponents on the occasional patent that is for sale. Patents give one player a small advantage such as a discount on bridge-building or an increase in profit for shipping perishable goods. After 10 years, all players gain access to the patent.  Multiplayer games can be played against computer opponents or humans over the internet. The primary way to win a multiplayer game is to build enough cash reserves to buy out your opponent on the stock market. The stock price in each player's company rises as their empire continues to produce income. Buying out another player allows you to either add their rail lines to your own or to liquidate their company for a fraction of its overall value. Included in the game is a sandbox mode where money is no object and players can lay tracks and build industries to their hearts content. Unfortunately for model train buffs, the sandbox mode is quite restrictive. There is no way to design an entirely custom train layout since player is still restricted to only expanding from currently owned track. The lack of a provided map editor means players are also stuck with set town and terrain locations ﾖ a severe handicap for anyone looking for a model train simulator. Laying track is simple, but the computer can sometimes over-assist and attempt some insane track layout if you accidentally move the mouse just off to the side. While unwanted track can be sold, the lack of an undo button is a strong minus. Once a complex track has been laid out, trains can occasionally become confused and stuck running back and forth in place and must be sent to the scrap heap to prevent their upkeep from sapping away your cash reserves. Sid Meier's Railroads! is a very pretty game that is easy to get into and play. For a strategy game, it has few opportunities to make critical decisions, as players tend to attempt to simply connect the closest town or industry as inexpensively as possible. However, the ease of play makes it a good candidate for younger children. 
Unless you despise capitalism, there is very little to object to here. Most scenarios include shipping grain to breweries or grapes to vineyards, but that is the extent of possible objectionable material. The sandbox mode is great for little kids, as cash is no object and they can draw tracks and connect cities to their hearts content. After practice in the sandbox mode, so that a child can lay track, build stations, and purchase train engines, a young child of seven or eight should even be able to compete in the easiest difficulty setting of the game.
Comments? Chat about it in our forums! Format For Printing | Tell A Friend | Digg | Slashdot | del.icio.us | Buy This Game Home > Review Archive > Video Games > Results: Sid Meierﾒs Railroads! |
Read the GamerDad 2007 Holiday Guide!
|
Please Note: GamerDad is not intended to be read by anyone under 18. We stay clean, but be warned! Content Management System developed by Redbird Solutions. |
