Difference between revisions of "A-Train"

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'''''A-Train''''' is a train simulation video game and the third in the [[A-Train (universe)|''A-Train'' series]]. It was developed and published by [[Artdink]] and first released on the [[PC-89]] on 1990-12-14. It was later ported to the [[X68000]], [[FM Towns]], and [[PC Engine CD]]. It was published in 1992 in the USA by [[Maxis]] and in Europe by [[Ocean]] for the [[Amiga]], [[Macintosh Classic]] and [[MS-DOS]]. A Japanese-only port was made for the [[Super Famicom]], but it's quite different from the original. In the game, you play the president of a railroad company who must buy trains and lay railroad tracks to best fit the needs of a growing city which you can also buy properties within.
 
'''''A-Train''''' is a train simulation video game and the third in the [[A-Train (universe)|''A-Train'' series]]. It was developed and published by [[Artdink]] and first released on the [[PC-89]] on 1990-12-14. It was later ported to the [[X68000]], [[FM Towns]], and [[PC Engine CD]]. It was published in 1992 in the USA by [[Maxis]] and in Europe by [[Ocean]] for the [[Amiga]], [[Macintosh Classic]] and [[MS-DOS]]. A Japanese-only port was made for the [[Super Famicom]], but it's quite different from the original. In the game, you play the president of a railroad company who must buy trains and lay railroad tracks to best fit the needs of a growing city which you can also buy properties within.
  
I bought ''A-Train'' awhile after it was released in a bundle which included the ''A-Train Construction Set''. I assumed, because it was published by Maxis, that the game was another ''[[Sim (universe)|Sim]]'' title. I spent a fair amount of time toying with the game, but I never figured out how to play it effectively so my trains kept colliding and I kept going bankrupt. I'd probably appreciate the game more if I cared anything about trains and train scheduling, but I don't. The ''Construction Set'' gave me a little more playability out of the game, but I abandoned it pretty quickly after buying it.
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I bought ''A-Train'' awhile after it was released in a bundle which included the ''A-Train Construction Set''. I assumed, because it was published by Maxis, that the game was another ''[[Sim (universe)|Sim]]'' title. I spent a fair amount of time toying with the game, but I never figured out how to play it effectively so my trains kept colliding and I kept going bankrupt. I'd probably appreciate the game more if I cared anything about trains and train scheduling, but I don't. The ''Construction Set'' gave me a little more playability out of the game, but I abandoned it pretty quickly after buying it. Like most people outside of Japan, I had no idea that ''A-Train'' was a hugely-popular series of games in Japan, and just assumed it was the first game of its kind.
  
 
==Status==
 
==Status==

Revision as of 14:02, 4 November 2019

US DOS box.

A-Train is a train simulation video game and the third in the A-Train series. It was developed and published by Artdink and first released on the PC-89 on 1990-12-14. It was later ported to the X68000, FM Towns, and PC Engine CD. It was published in 1992 in the USA by Maxis and in Europe by Ocean for the Amiga, Macintosh Classic and MS-DOS. A Japanese-only port was made for the Super Famicom, but it's quite different from the original. In the game, you play the president of a railroad company who must buy trains and lay railroad tracks to best fit the needs of a growing city which you can also buy properties within.

I bought A-Train awhile after it was released in a bundle which included the A-Train Construction Set. I assumed, because it was published by Maxis, that the game was another Sim title. I spent a fair amount of time toying with the game, but I never figured out how to play it effectively so my trains kept colliding and I kept going bankrupt. I'd probably appreciate the game more if I cared anything about trains and train scheduling, but I don't. The Construction Set gave me a little more playability out of the game, but I abandoned it pretty quickly after buying it. Like most people outside of Japan, I had no idea that A-Train was a hugely-popular series of games in Japan, and just assumed it was the first game of its kind.

Status

I own A-Train and the Construction Set on 3.5" floppy with the manuals, but not the box.

Review

— This section contains spoilers! —

I can't give much of an itemized review for this game because I didn't play it for very long because it was very difficult for my teenage self to learn how to play properly. It has great jazzy music by Koji Yamada and Daisuke Nakakaze, the graphics by T. Yano are perfect for the game, and the palette transitions from day to night, and season to season are gorgeous. However, I never found the game to be very engaging.

Media

Box Art

Titles

Language Native Transliteration Translation
English A-Train
Japanese A列車で行こうIII A Ressha de Ikou III Take the "A" Train III

Links

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