Thomas & Friends Railway Adventures Playset

by Atari

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00005JG3U
• Item Weight: 3.6 pounds
• Media: CD-ROM
• Release Date: August 15, 2001
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #29,660 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

With this playset, kids can actually drive Thomas the Tank Engine, toot his horn, switch tracks, link him to other trains, and engage in all manner of Usefulness, the chief currency of the Island of Sodor. The Thomas-shaped plastic playset straps easily over standard keyboards (not ergonomic ones or laptops). A red throttle moves Thomas forward or backward along the track. A green lever switches tracks to change direction. A yellow whistle noisily announces Thomas's arrival and also helps him link and uncouple with other trains. Finally, Thomas's smiling face is a button that can be pushed to get hints and friendly patter. These four simple controls make this an inspired CD-ROM that will suit a wide range of ages. Toddlers will love simply throttling Thomas around the tracks, while older kids will enjoy games that encourage spatial skills, decision making, and problem solving.

The four main games are wonderful, involved exercises. They all involve Thomas being helpful: finding "Important Supplies"; locating the "Missing Mail Truck," then helping to sort its mail; rescuing stranded passengers in "All Aboard," then making sure they are properly ticketed and delivering them safely to their destinations; and rebuilding an avalanche-damaged track in "It's a Landslide!"

These games are somewhat complex: in the landslide game, kids must switch tracks, couple Thomas with the Troublesome Trucks, haul rocks up mountains, signal Harold the Helicopter to unload the rocks, then deliver the empty trucks to James for hauling away. Thomas's water supply must be watched and replenished during this strenuous work. And after the rocks are in place, there's still work to do! Only after kids go to another screen to collect flatbeds and track pieces from Cranky the Crane, then deliver those parts to the mountaintop, is the job done. Phew!

Also, if players abandon a game without completing it, they can't access any of the four mini games (which are mazes and races), and Sir Topham Hatt will chide in his chipper manner: "There's still a lot of work to be done!" This is not a CD-ROM for the lazy, and fortunately, the folks who made it didn't use any shortcuts either. Older systems without a lot of storage space may have trouble digesting this graphics-heavy program, but for us the program chugged along like Thomas himself, and the action on the screen corresponded smoothly with whatever control was being used on the playset. "Builds a work ethic" isn't one of the features mentioned on the box, but this diligent program and playset could put youngsters on the right track. (Ages 3 and older) --Anne Erickson

From Children's Software Revue® -- "Subscribe Now!"

All of our testers- both boys and girls- enjoyed this new playset from Hasbro (Infogrames). Just strap the playset onto the keyboard, load up the program, and kids get to play with Thomas' throttle and whistle and even choose which tracks he should take. From an engine-eye view, children drive through the island of Sodor. Track-side signs help kids locate their destinations where they find work orders from Sir Topham Hat. The damage from a landslide must be repaired, Bertie's passengers must be delivered, and mail must be sorted, all by using the playset controls. Success isn't easy to come by as there are sometimes several steps involved. For instance, to help Harold fix the bridge, Thomas has to first load up trucks, drive up the mountain and help a helicopter transfer the bridge' s foundation. Just like in the television show, Percy and the other vehicles grumble, and tell Thomas that he's too small to accomplish the job. Three- and four-year-old children struggled before learning how to redirect the train on the tracks, and how to make the repairs isn't always obvious. All things considered, though, as long as a grown-up's around to occasionally lend a hand, this is another solid playset.
Teaches:
Age Range: Copyright © 2001 Children's Software Revue

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

73 of 75 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Good Kiddie Game, September 30, 2001

By 

Kevin G. Karagory (LaPorte, IN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thomas & Friends Railway Adventures Playset (CD-ROM)

I purchased this software for my almost four son who is a Thomas fanatic. I had to help him out the first few times he tried to play the game. After about two weeks he was able to play it on his own for the most part.

The graphics are much more than I had expected for a kiddie game. You can travel around the track endlessly if one wants. You stop at various stations to complete tasks necessary for one of four games chosen. The game doesn't automatically take you to the correct station necessary to complete a task. You need to remember which destination is next and switch the track accordingly. I've been quite shocked that my son is able to remember where to go and switch the track to get there! Once the one game is completed the player is able to switch into a special siding and play reward game.

I own Microsoft Train Simulator but I really like this game a lot. Not having to remember which keystrokes to press is a VERY nice touch. To bad MS Train Simulator doesn't have a keyboard attachment. The playset will fit easily onto any normal square keyboard without any difficulties.

In closing, I thought it would take my son a long time to master the game. The only negative I can think of is that it only has four games. But my son keeps playing them over again and doesn't seem to mind. It's still challenging and enjoyable for him. I guess that leaves lots of room for sequel software. It is an excellent game for little kiddies.

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good game, March 21, 2002

By 

Lisa (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thomas & Friends Railway Adventures Playset (CD-ROM)

I read all the reviews on this Thomas Computer game and dispite the bad ones I still purchased it for my four year old son who is crazy over anything "Thomas the Train". It has never locked up on me and I had no troubles at all installing it on top on my keyboard. (although you do have to get it perfectly in the right spot which can be a little tricky) Once installed it doesn't shift or fall off the keyboard and the program works just fine. My son loves this game. It is by far a favorite of his and he has quite a few computer games in his growing collection. He reaches for it time after time. My 6 year old daughter plays with it and she seems to like it as well so it's not just for the little boys out there! The graphics are real cute and they love driving the trains, dropping the passengers off at the station and doing the different jobs involving the railroad. I would say this is a good game for any child between the ages of 3 and 7. In my opinion, any child under 3 years of age are to young for computer games anyway and any child older then seven will find this game to be to babyish for them. One downfall to this game that I had read in another review which is true....it is hard to exit the game. You have to complete the job in order to do so which is a bit of a pain and a little time consuming. Other then that I rate this game 5 stars because ANY toy that can keep my kids entertained for more then 30 minutes and that is played with again and again and again.... I feel was a good purchase and money well spent.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you have a Thomas fan...this is what you need!, September 7, 2001

By 

Nancy Rader (Muncie, Indiana United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Thomas & Friends Railway Adventures Playset (CD-ROM)

This is my three year old son's favorite game. He does not have any problems understanding how to use the controls. It is wonderful that it helps with listening and following directions. Most of Thomas friends are in the game from helping to be able to stop and chat with them.
This is the only game that he has so far that I give a total thumbs up on. The only drawback that we have had so far is getting my son to quit playing.