Difference between revisions of "A-Train"

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[[Image:A-Train - DOS - USA.jpg|thumb|256x256px|US DOS box.]]
 
[[Image:A-Train - DOS - USA.jpg|thumb|256x256px|US DOS box.]]
  
'''''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]] and [[TurboGrafx CD]]. It was published in 1992 in the USA by [[Maxis]] and in Europe by [[Ocean]] for the [[Amiga]], [[Macintosh Classic]] and [[MS-DOS]]. 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.
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'''''A-Train''''' is a train [[management simulator]] 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]]. An English version was published in 1992 in the USA by [[Maxis|Maxis Software]] 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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An ''A-Train Construction Set'' was also published in most regions which allows you to setup a map to your liking completely for free and the import the map into the game.
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==Personal==
 +
I bought ''A-Train'' awhile after it was released in a bundle which included the ''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. When I was playing the game, I kept comparing it to ''[[SimCity 2000]]'', which I was playing at the same time, and found it lacking. The ''Construction Set'' gave me a little more playability out of the game, but I abandoned the game not long 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.
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I own ''A-Train'' and the ''Construction Set'' on 3.5" floppy with the manuals, but not the box. The game can't be beaten.
  
 
==Review==
 
==Review==
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{{Spoilers}}
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{{Video Game Review|3|4|5|5|4|?}}
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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.
 
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.
  
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===Box Art===
 
===Box Art===
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
A-Train - DOS - USA.jpg|All US and European releases used this art. I love the quality, and I think the concept of the illustration perfectly encapsulates the game. I just wish there was a little less white space.
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Take the ''A'' Train III - PC98 - Japan.jpg|The original PC-9801 Japanese box uses a grayscale cityscape with no emphasis on trains.
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Take the ''A'' Train III - PCCD - Japan.jpg|The PC Engine CD box uses the same non-train box with a modified layout.
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A-Train - DOS - USA.jpg|All US and European releases use this art. I love the quality, and I think the concept of the illustration perfectly encapsulates the game. I just wish there was a little less white space.
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A-Train - Consturuction Set - DOS - USA.jpg|Thhe ''Construction Set'' box art is more like the Japanese art: just some buildings, but at least there is a train in the background.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
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| English || A-Train || ||  
 
| English || A-Train || ||  
 
|-
 
|-
| Japanese || A列車で行こう3 || A Ressha de Ikou 3 || Take the A-Train 3
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| Japanese || A列車で行こうIII || A Ressha de Ikou III || Take the "A" Train III
 
|}
 
|}
  
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[[Category: Games]]
 
[[Category: Games]]
 
[[Category: Video Games]]
 
[[Category: Video Games]]
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[[Category: 1990 Video Games]]
 
[[Category: Video Game Prime Order - Strategy, Adventure, Action]]
 
[[Category: Video Game Prime Order - Strategy, Adventure, Action]]
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[[Category: Video Game Genre - Management Simulator]]
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[[Category: Video Game Genre - Simulation]]
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[[Category: Game Mechanic - Management]]
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[[Category: Game Mechanic - Sandbox]]
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[[Category: Media Theme - Management]]
 
[[Category: Amiga Games]]
 
[[Category: Amiga Games]]
 
[[Category: DOS Games]]
 
[[Category: DOS Games]]
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[[Category: FM Towns Games]]
 
[[Category: Macintosh Classic Games]]
 
[[Category: Macintosh Classic Games]]
[[Category: PC-88 Games]]
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[[Category: PC-9800 Games]]
[[Category: X68000 Games]]
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[[Category: Sharp X68000 Games]]
[[Category: TurboGrafx CD Games]]
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[[Category: TurboGrafx-CD Games]]
[[Category: Simulation]]
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[[Category: Video Games That Can't Be Beaten]]
[[Category: Puzzle]]
 
[[Category: Strategy]]
 

Revision as of 11:21, 12 September 2022

US DOS box.

A-Train is a train management simulator 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. An English version was published in 1992 in the USA by Maxis Software 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.

An A-Train Construction Set was also published in most regions which allows you to setup a map to your liking completely for free and the import the map into the game.

Personal

I bought A-Train awhile after it was released in a bundle which included the 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. When I was playing the game, I kept comparing it to SimCity 2000, which I was playing at the same time, and found it lacking. The Construction Set gave me a little more playability out of the game, but I abandoned the game not long 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.

I own A-Train and the Construction Set on 3.5" floppy with the manuals, but not the box. The game can't be beaten.

Review

— This section contains spoilers! —

Video Game Review Icon - Enjoyment.png Video Game Review Icon - Control.png Video Game Review Icon - Appearance.png Video Game Review Icon - Sound.png Video Game Review Icon - Replayability.png
3 4 5 5 4

Best Version: ?

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

Link-MobyGames.png  Link-Wikipedia.png  Link-VGMPF.png  Link-TVTropes.png