A-Train All Aboard! Tourism
- December 7, 2021
- ARTDINK
- 4h median play time
A train leaves Tokyo going 65 km/h, when will it get to Osaka? If this was your favorite math problem, boy do I have a game for you!
Get on SteamIn "A-Train: All Aboard! Tourism," become the president of a railroad company and use transportation networks to help towns develop. Plan urban tourism by building train lines, establishing subsidiaries, and increasing brand power. Discover and promote a variety of tourist attractions, from hot spring districts to historical castles.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Steam Deck
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a deep and engaging simulation experience, combining transport management with urban development, which is both challenging and rewarding.
- The graphics and charming Japanese aesthetic enhance the gameplay, making it visually appealing and nostalgic for fans of the series.
- The game features a variety of scenarios and a robust scenario creation tool, providing good replay value and opportunities for creativity.
- The user interface is clunky and poorly optimized for PC, making navigation and control cumbersome, especially for those used to mouse and keyboard.
- There is a steep learning curve, with tutorials that can be overwhelming and do not adequately prepare players for the complexities of the game.
- The absence of proper train signaling and pathfinding issues can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences, particularly in managing multiple trains.
- graphics39 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 85 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the charming anime-style artwork and colorful city details, while others criticize the overall quality as poor by modern standards and plagued by bugs. Although there are upgrades and a blend of 2D and 3D visuals, many players find the graphics demanding on system resources and the user interface clunky. Overall, while the aesthetic may appeal to fans of retro styles, the technical execution leaves much to be desired.
“The official scenarios have characters, drawn anime-style, that fit well with the graphical style of the game and add further charm to it.”
“With its simplified visuals, the different orthogonal views, and all the lovely details in the colorful cities and surroundings, to me this is one of the best looking A-Train games!”
“Besides, it has better information presentation than the previous one as well, and graphically it's very nice, with an excellent mix of 2D (isometric) and 3D vision.”
“Don’t let the graphics or higher number fool you, it’s an inferior game in most respects, and is plagued with game-breaking bugs.”
“The controls are clunky (very bad UI design as well) the graphics quality is very poor for today's standards and quite frankly, for me personally, it's just frustrating to play.”
“Then there's also the fact that the graphics (as you can see on the store page) aren't good.”
- gameplay32 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the latest entry in the A-Train series is described as challenging and engaging, requiring players to navigate a steep learning curve and manage complex mechanics effectively. While the tutorials are helpful in easing players into the game, some users found the initial experience frustrating, leading to early refunds. Overall, those who invest time in understanding the mechanics appreciate the depth, attention to detail, and rewarding nature of the gameplay, particularly for fans of city-building and transport simulation genres.
“The gameplay is challenging and much more compelling than it may sound.”
“The depth of the simulation, the attention to detail, the wonderfully crafted scenarios, a manageable learning curve, the comforting old-school city builder graphics, the rewarding train rides through the city, the cute little stories that are told throughout the game, the engaging and challenging gameplay that requires you to constantly weigh your options, figure out the best angle of attack, and optimize your network... I could go on and on.”
“Overall, this is a good entry into the A-Train franchise; you just need to have the patience and give it time to learn the controls and the game mechanics.”
“5 hours of gameplay was enough for me to give up on it and request a refund.”
“The basic idea of a city builder/transport tycoon type game is there - but it does feel like it has an almost vertical learning curve when it comes to figuring out the mechanics of this specific game.”
“Major gameplay issues.”
- optimization14 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's optimization shows marked improvement over the Nintendo Switch version, with better performance and UI resizing options. However, players have reported persistent performance issues in complex maps, awkward PC controls, and a menu system primarily designed for controllers, which detracts from the experience. While there are notable balance and interface concerns, they do not significantly hinder gameplay.
“The body uses a panel structure developed by Kinki Vehicle to reduce costs and improve performance.”
“It's much better than the Switch version; the performance is pretty good and there are options for resizing the UI.”
“Setting the content on one side, there are significant balance, interface, and performance issues – but they don’t derail the game entirely.”
“There are some performance issues in highly developed maps that are present even in high-end computers.”
“The PC controls are still a little weird (though the devs already announced some changes), and more importantly, the menu flows are optimized for controller.”
“Setting the content aside, there are significant balance, interface, and performance issues – but they don’t derail the game entirely.”
- story10 mentions
- 10 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The story in A-Train is mission-based, featuring a cast of characters that engage players through visual novel-style dialogue, with optional slice-of-life storylines enhancing the experience. While the gameplay is challenging, especially at higher difficulties, the narrative elements may not be fully translatable in the Steam version, limiting accessibility for some players. Overall, the game offers a structured narrative rather than a sandbox experience.
“They are also accompanied by a cast of characters that interact with the player through VN-like dialogue sequences, and each scenario has optional slice of life storylines popping up every now and then.”
“They are playable and winnable in the Steam version, but the story will not be able to be translated.”
“Another important aspect is that, unless you want it to, A-Train is mission-based and not a sandbox game.”
“And trust me, especially on the higher difficulties, these missions are hard!”
- music10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 40 % neutral mentions
- 20 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for its wide range of soundtracks that complement the gameplay and seasonal changes, with many considering it one of the most relaxing soundtracks in sandbox games. While some players initially found the music annoying, the overall consensus highlights the quality of the music and sound effects as a significant positive aspect of the game.
“There is a wide range of soundtracks that fit well with the gameplay and the different seasons.”
“Personally, I think it has one of the best and most relaxing soundtracks of any related sandbox games.”
“All in all, I'm really happy this was brought to PC; it has gorgeous art, music, and the characters are well written and funny - it's just a treat all around.”
“After initially dissing this game when it first was released, I have since tried it again after discovering the secret to turning off the annoying music.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find that the included scenarios offer strong replayability, with multiple playable and winnable options in the Steam version. However, there is a noted limitation regarding the translation of the story, which may affect the overall experience.
“All of the included scenarios are good and provide great replay value.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is well-received, with players appreciating the well-written and funny characters, as well as amusing anecdotes that enhance the overall experience. The combination of humor, alongside beautiful art and music, contributes to a delightful gaming experience.
“All in all, I'm really happy this was brought to PC. It has gorgeous art, music, and the characters are well written and funny - it's just a treat all around.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the game's approach to grinding, noting that it combines enjoyable elements from titles like Cities: Skylines and Transport Fever 2, while minimizing tediousness. The integration of in-depth business management mechanics and Japanese charm enhances the overall experience, making grinding feel more engaging and less burdensome.
Critic Reviews
A-Train: All Aboard! Tourism
A train leaves Tokyo going 65 km/h, when will it get to Osaka? If this was your favorite math problem, boy do I have a game for you!
60%A-Train: All Aboard! Tourism Review
It’s hard to express how well a niche game fares with a numerical score. If train business minutiae are your niche, your heart will be all a-flutter; if not, you’ll be all a-bored. Setting the content on one side, there are significant balance, interface and performance issues – but they don’t derail the game entirely. While there are other options for management sims on Switch that are much more light-hearted and accessible, A-Train is something different that educated us and broadened our horizons in the genre. Fans, then, will be stoked to play the series on a new platform; for others with plenty of patience A-Train could be a sleeper hit. (We're really, really sorry about all the puns. Honest.)
70%A-Train Is Ready to Steal Weeks of Your Life
A-Train, the classic urban development simulation game that allows you to create the city of your dreams, is now available on the Nintendo Switch! Become the president of your very own railroad company, laying tracks and running your trains as you see fit. However, you will be responsible for more than the railroad. You'll also be tasked with managing subsidiaries, playing the stock market, and participating in urban planning, in order to develop and expand your town. This latest installment in the A-Train series introduces the element of tourism to the urban planning formula, and focuses on building up towns into bustling tourism capitals. Providing realistic business management simulations of financing, investing, and more, as well as a wide variety of customizable options for all your vehicles, A-Train: All Aboard! Tourism is packed full of features for you to explore. But don't be overwhelmed—players old and new alike will be able to jump right into the series thanks to the fun and practical tutorials provided in the early stages.
70%
