The PC release of A-Train Classic is an economy strategy game building on the aspect of transport management in modern-day metropolises. The game is one of the installments of the Japanese series developed by ARTDINK. The game returns to the series’ classic roots in of both visuals and the gameplay mechanics.
Mechanics
In the game, one assumes the role of a train company president and is responsible for managing municipal transport. In order to do so, one has to construct trains and buses, lay railway tracks, plan train routes and purchase real estates, such as hotels, stadiums, factories, etc. Player’s duties are not limited to the city premises only – one has to manage the transportation infrastructure in the surrounding towns and villages.
In the PC release of A-Train Classic, players can influence the city only in an indirect way. Both the residents and their businesses dynamically respond to players’ decisions leading to surprising results, many of which might generate new problems for the players to solve.
As befits the economy strategy games, everything eventually comes down to the finances. It is crucial to establish the right balance between the investments and incomes. The entire financial aspect is enriched with realistic representation of the stock exchange trading our company’s stocks. The game also conciders the flow of time – each structure deteriorates, which in turn affects their proper functioning and forces players to renovate and maintain their tangible assets. Moreover, during the game players gradually come upon new technological solutions, opening new development possibilities.
Technical aspects
A-Train Classic features isometric view, modelled after the original installments of the series. The game also delivers an optional 3D view, which players can utilize to zoom in on certain quadrants of the map in order to identify transport efficiency problems.
What is worth mentioning, A-Train Classic is not an entirely new production. The game builds on the Nintendo 3DS release of 2015’s A-Train 3D: City Simulator. The creators took many models from that game, and after tweaking them a bit and adding a new interface, implemented into a game more elaborate, than what one could see on the handheld console.
