Microsoft Train Simulator

This is a first, I honestly fell asleep while playing this game. I don't know whether it was just me suffering from a long day or the realism of the sim but as I sat there watching my diesel locomotive thunder down a straight track I began to drift off, only to be jolted awake as the train went headfirst into a buffer post and crashed. And do you know what? Just for a moment I couldn't tell if it was real or not.

Silver Streak

First of all, let me reassure any doubters. I'm not about to criticise Train Simulatorfor actually being a simulator of trains. The argument over the merits of trainspotting is for another time and place. The basic fact of the matter is that as train simulations go, this is as comprehensive a package as you could ask for. Hauling cargo, passenger manifests, long distance runs or short hops between local stations - it's all here and it works a treat.

Plus, it looks, sounds and feels lovely. The attention to detail is superb and, cliched as it is, there's an undeniable thrill about pulling the whistle cord on the Flying Scotsman as you hurtle through the English countryside. Technically there's no faulting it. Perhaps a little more detail when things go wrong and maybe a 'free ride' mode that wasn't so empty of computer Al, but otherwise not too bad at all.

If there is a real criticism to be had though, it's that for the casual player there may not seem to be much variety in the long-term. The activities provide some interesting diversions and there's quite a bit of scenery to explore, but the bottom line is, once you've mastered the controls (which doesn't take long), the mechanics of one train journey are pretty much the same as another. For the train enthusiast though, what's provided in the box is just the start of a much larger journey...

Riding The Rails

Whether or not Train Simulator will be a success isn't down to the talents of British developer Kuju Entertainment though. As with Microsoft's Flight Simulator series, the game's longevity will depend on first and third party support. The included editing software should provide enough encouragement, although the route editor seems overly cumbersome to use. Hopefully, we'll start seeing new routes, new trains and new activities before long (there's already an Internet community growing and I've even seen a London Underground route ready for downloading). Software of this quality deserves a chance after all. Should it happen then there's no reason why Train Sim can't be as popular as a flight simulator. There are far more people with model train sets in their attic than model planes after all.

Microsoft Train Simulator is a cool train driver simulator released exclusively for the Windows operating system back in the early noughties.

Gameplay

The player adjusts the parameters of the ride:

• Chooses a track
• Selects the train
• Chooses a task

The user finds himself in the cabin of a multi-ton transport. In front of the player's eyes is the train control panel: several levers, several buttons, and various sensors. On the sensors you can see the speed, the distance traveled and the state of the doors (closed / open). The driver must know what each button on the panel is responsible for, otherwise he will make trouble and quickly get out of work.

The player must move from the starting platform on time, to do this, do a few simple operations: start the train, turn off a couple of toggle switches and slowly twist the throttle. During the race you need to stick to the speed designated by the boss, otherwise you can be late or come too fast. This option is not necessary for anyone, because the trains run on a schedule. Safety precautions must be observed on the trip:

• Skip other trains if necessary
• Wait for passengers to get on
• Don't brake too fast - it's better to brake smoothly
• Watch the temperature inside the engine

Details

For people who like extreme and hardcore (or just plain nerdy) there is a steamroller mode. It takes real skill to get the train started. And you have to constantly monitor the amount of pressure and water inside the engine.

To make it harder, the developers have introduced different landscapes, weather conditions and times of day. The luckiest will be lucky to roll at night, under a wild rainstorm or start correctly in the hill that the train did not roll down and did not come off the rails.

The driver will visit different places of the world: America, Russia and Europe. The driver will go to big cities, will drive through mountains and beautiful plains.