Customer Reviews

Chris Sawyer's Locomotion

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If you like trains, you'll probably like this game.

If you liked Transport Tycoon, or Railroad Tycoon (and don't value graphics too much) you'll probably like this game.

If you liked Rollercoaster Tycoon (it uses the same game engine), you might like this game depending on how much you like trains. But, the same charm is there (although you may miss the peeps), so you'll probably like this game too.

If you like strategy games in general (but, not for the eye candy - are you sensing a theme here?), you'll probably like this game.

In fact, this game has a very likeable quality to it. And, the price seems right. Bottom line: it's a good game for the price.

So, why the lower scores? It's not a great game.

Of course, I must point out that the game's graphics are quite simple and seem dated. The sound is nice, however. Normally this doesn't bother me in the slightest way. In fact, I still enjoy the game's predecessor Transport Tycoon, which is ten years old. But, the game itself seems to be lacking depth. Don't get me wrong, there are a LOT of things you can do in the game as far as building goes (although since the game is based on the Rollercoaster Tycoon engine, your game world tend to look like giant rollercoasters, especially where the AI is concerned - a little unrealistic). But, all the other neat things that COULD have been there, AREN'T. Basically, the game seems simplified. Of course, this can be a good thing, but I don't think it works well here considering the (supposed) scope of the game (being a global transport mogul), and the intended audience of the game.

So, we have a simplistic game with dated graphics. Herein lies the problem. Most gamers that want an in-depth strategy game can certainly forgive bad graphics as long as the depth and "thinking" is there. And most gamers that want cool new graphics can forgive bad story, depth, etc. So, where does this leave "Locomotion?" At the middle of the road, not really fully satisfying anyone in particular. Like I said above, the game will appeal to certain folks. But, I don't see the long-lasting play value that more in-depth strategy games have. Like I said, it's a good game for the price since you'll probably get addicted and build to your heart's content for a while, but it will likely leave you wanting more depth after you've scratched this surface.

This game is fun, but it's not for everyone the way Rollercoaster Tycoon was (heck, my sister, middle aged like me, played RCT, and she plays very few games of any kind). Locomotion has a simple premise, but it's tougher to get a handle on the game's mechanics than was true in Rollercoaster Tycoon.

The interface is very similar to RCT/RCT2. Laying tracks is very much like making queue lines in the RCT games. Unfortunately, making queue lines was never the strong point of RCT, since the four view choices can leave you with no way to "see" the spot you need to see. Also, having train tracks cross each other is a bit clunky, and getting cargo to industries that use it is tough to time just right. If one needed cargo arrives in a different month than the other needed cargo (e.g. ore and coal arrive in different months), then nothing will ever be made. The first cargo disappears before the second arrives.

It's also not clear how you can make money (hint: go for passengers, not cargo). So you can easily spend all your money making, say, a cargo ship system, and find that you're never going to do well.

Still, the game is simple to jump into for older gamers. Laying track is simple, and other vehicles are even easier. It's getting these to mesh that gets harder. There's a good deal of planning that has to be done in your head to get a good system up and running. Where RCT would tolerate my ten year old's complex queue lines, Locomotion would leave her frustrated.

If you're looking for a simple, fun game, Locomotion is fine for teenagers and other gamers with a good deal of experience. The graphics are functional and don't add or detract from the game. The interface will be simple to pick up for anyone who played RCT, and not too tough for others. The tutorial helps alot with the basics. One big improvement over RCT: you can speed up time (3x or 9x)! I wish I'd had that in RCT.

However, the fun factor is no where near as high as RCT, the graphics will disappoint most who have played Railroad Tycoon 3, and the city-building won't match SimCity4.

You'll have fun with this game, but you're not going to wear it out in the way Chris Sawyer fans like me had hoped.

For $19 or whatever we paid for it at BB, this game rocks. My husband, who is a locomotive engineer in real life, has played all different railroad games - the tycoons, simulators, and all that and loves them all. This one seems to be keeping his interest for a long time... he sits and plays this for hours on end, and is a millionaire (I wish). Like I said, great game for the price paid!

If you're curious about this game, download the demo from Atari before you buy it. Just because you're familiar with Transport Tycoon, or a big fan, doesn't mean you'll like this game.
There is one, large reason for this. The road and rail laying systems have been replaced with the ones from Rollercoaster Tycoon. This seems like it could be a minor issue, but it makes the game very frustrating to play.
If you're not familiar, this means that you add track or road to an existing section, picking its direction ahead of time, and by pressing a button in a control panel. In the old TT games, you could just point and click on the map where you wanted to lay your item.
There are no more stations, either. You designate a piece of road or track to be a station, and can drop your trains and trucks anywhere along the length. It takes away some of the challenge and interesting elements of the originals.

If you enjoyed Chris Sawyer's original "Transport Tycoon" and the expanded "Transport Tycoon Deluxe", you will love this game. This is, essentially, the next generation version of those games. The look has been updated enough to look "modern", while keeping the "feel" of the original game".

The manual leaves a little to be desired, but that's not uncommon these days.

Some features appear to be gone from previous versions, like the ability to "sabotage" your opponents or outright buy them. There doesn't really appear to be much of a "free" mode, either. However, the game has much more of a 3D element now. You can build multi-level tracks and build bridges over opponents tracks (previously you could box-in opponents by building around their tracks...now they can simply bridge over your tracks)

I'm glad that, with the success of the "Rollercoaster Tycoon" series, Chris Sawyer went back and updated "Transport Tycoon". My guess would be with all of the "tycoon" wanna-bees on the market now, they opted for a new name ("Locomotion") to separate this game out of the pack. Make no mistake, though. If you enjoyed "Transport Tycoon", chances are very good you'll love "Locomotion".

My older son has never been a computer game fan---he liked Roller Coaster Tycoon a bit, but mainly just the train and tram parts! However, this game was an INSTANT hit for him. It combines the fun of making tracks to your fancy that RCT offers, along with the wide variety of trains and trams that train lovers crave. I tried it, and although I'm not a train person, it also had enough going to keep me playing longer than I should! It's addictive trying to get the trains to carry cargo to the different factories that need it, and trying to get boats and planes to make a profit.

A few things to note---this isn't for lovers of fancy graphics. It looks okay, but it isn't 3-D or anything that will blow you away in the looks department. It also isn't super hard---which is a plus for me and for my son. I get so tired of games that would be fun to play if you could actually PLAY them and not get stuck at some early point and give up! When I say it's easy, I mean it's easy to pick up and play, and fairly easy to achieve early goals. It's not easy in that it's over in a minute---I think with all the randomization and the many, many different goals you could play for years!

Transport Tycoon and the original Rollercoaster Tycoon are always in my Top 10 list.
Transport Tycoon, especially, was one of the games I constantly used to go back to, always keeping a backup of the original installation diskettes.
So when I heard that Chris Sawyer was preparing a sequel of TT I was really excited! At last my prayers have been answered!

Or have they?

The game's graphics have changed to little or no effect over this past decade. But, hey, this is a simulation game, so who needs graphics?
The gameplay is what's it all about.
Move goods and passengers from places of origin to places of cosumption/destination. An iron ore mine produces... iron ore and a steel mill needs iron to produce steel.
So, what you have to do is decide on the means of transport (trucks,railroad,ships,airplanes) and then layout the track (if applicable) and terminal stations.
Oh, and do it before one of your opponents does it first.

It's an excellent, time-tested idea. It worked for Transport Tycoon, Railroad Tycoon and oh-so-many games.
So it also works now.
The gameplay is seriously addictive and the number of available scenarios is impressive.

So, why the 3-star rating?
Because it's been done before!
True, Locomotion does have a few additions to the original Transport Tycoon game (like trams and freight airplanes) but all in all it's the same game ten (10!) years after the original!
I was expecting much, MUCH, more!

If I try to compare Locomotion to Transport Tycoon, here are my thumbs-up:
1. A lot of scenarios
2. Improved AI- <evil>you can no longer crash all their trucks by intersecting them with a 2-grid rail line</evil>
3. New transportation means- Trams, Freight planes, more variety on other vehicles etc.
4. New layout options- You can now build intersecting roads and rails with ease
5. Supply/demand laws have been drastically improved. The industry part of the game works perfectly.
and thumbs down:
1. The cities do not expand dynamically. I believe that their expansion is actually pre-programmed in each scenario. It doesn't matter how many passengers or how much food and goods you carry to/from a city. If Chris doesn't want it to expand... it won't! And of course your AI opponents must own a crystal ball because they certainly know alarmingly well which cities have the potential.
2. The graphics are poor for 2004.
3. There are GUI issues. Objects are frequently obtrusive even when you select the transparent options. It is really difficult to click on items (e.g. trams stations) even in the highest zoom.
4. The AI reminds me of bees over honey. On some scenarions it is quite common for the AI opponents to build more than 5 stations trying to gather grain from an underproducing grain field
5. I hate random effects. As soon as you finish building that intercontinental rail line that has put you in the red, you get a message that the oil fields at the producing end are going to shut down. What? Where's a UN Security Council resolution when you REALLY need one?

All in all...
This could be an excellent game. If only I could put it in my pocket, enter a wormhole and go back to 1995...

If you have never played TT and games like Railroad Tycoon, this game is fairly priced. Its value for money can not be compared to the other budget tycoon-type games around. I sincerely believe that you will spend many hours playing it.
If you already own Transport Tycoon and managed to make it work under Windows XP... drop me an email... and then go out and buy something else!
[Update 24/12/05] As Jesse reminded me Open TTD ( http://www.openttd.com/ ) works under XP. Plus, it's free! Try it out if you're still trying to make good old TTD work under XP.

Locomotion is a 'spiritual sequel' to Transport Tycoon, although this DOES NOT MEAN it is exactly the same, simply with a graphics update. Loco holds its own as its own game. I've seen a number of reviews giving 5/5 and a number giving 1/5 - I strongly advise you try the demo prior to purchasing (Google it), as most players either love or hate Locomotion.

I am writing my first Amazon review because I want people to know this is a good game for anyone looking to buy Railroads by Sid Meier and after reading the reviews deciding not to. Locomotion is now an old game designed on even older technology however it lets you 'play' at building and running your railroad. It is not a perfect step up from TT or TTD but it works great. Some of the bad reviews appear to have been written by people who played for an hour and then reviewed. Laying track is easy and intuative, you can rotate your screen view through 4 positions 360 degrees to see most angles necessary to build and play. The game has a huge scenario builder where you can design a whole game choose which locomotives, trucks, houses, buses, trams boats airplanes trees hills water etc you want to come available by year-set goals on how you can win and how long it will take to play. Anyone who complains they cannot succeed at this game is a fool, any game like this is going to be difficult for a week or 2 and usually easy after that although there are still a few scenarios i have not succeeded in. The game zooms in and out well does not have stunning 3d effects or great sound but both are adequate and the game is fun. PS I hated Railroad Tycoon 3 because they ruined the track laying and took away the detail game play, Locomotion gives you both without the fancy graphics.

I bought this game based on Chris Sawyers reputation and my enjoyment of games of this type, but when I installed it I was stunned. This game uses the exact same graphics engine as Rollercoaster Tycoon 1! A lot of people didn't like the fact that Rollercoaster Tycoon 2 used the same graphics as the first one, but here we are years later in a totally different game and it's still the same. The interface worked well for Rollercoaster Tycoon, but I didn't find conducive to this game at all. This game could have taken a lot of pointers from Railroad Tycoon 3. Chris Sawyer makes good games, but he really needs to modernize his efforts.