A-Train PC Classic

About

A-Train PC Classic is a single player simulation game. It was developed by ARTDINK and was released on December 13, 2016. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

In "A-Train PC Classic," become a railway company president, constructing a train network to stimulate regional development, attract new residents, and expand into truck and bus transportation. The "Epoch" system offers technological progression as you journey through time, with regional development adapting dynamically to your strategic decisions. Shape the evolution of quaint rural settings into bustling commercial hubs.

Genres & Tags

Simulation

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

76%

Audience ScoreBased on 33 reviews

music3 negative mentions

A-Train Classic offers an incredibly deep and complex simulation of city-building and transport management, allowing players to engage in detailed planning and strategy.
The game features an extensive tutorial that helps players understand its mechanics, making it accessible for newcomers while still providing depth for veterans.
The charming isometric graphics and seasonal changes enhance the immersive experience, capturing the essence of Japanese urban environments beautifully.

The user interface is clunky and unintuitive, leading to frustration when managing trains and navigating menus, which can detract from the overall experience.
The game is priced steeply for a port of a Nintendo 3DS title, which may deter potential players despite its depth and complexity.
The tutorial and scenario dialogues can be overly lengthy and filled with unnecessary filler, making it tedious for players who prefer a more straightforward learning experience.

gameplay
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
54%
23%
The gameplay of the game is characterized by a gradual introduction to its complex mechanics, which are praised for their depth and variety, particularly in scenarios that challenge players to meet specific goals. While the core gameplay is engaging and offers significant improvements over previous versions, some users note mechanical flaws, an unintuitive interface, and certain tedious elements, particularly in managing transport routes. Overall, the game appeals to hardcore simulation fans, despite its learning curve and occasional design issues.
- “The game gradually introduces you to its mechanics slowly rather than giving you everything to play around with in the beginning.”
- “The core gameplay of A-Train Classic is excellent, and I expected that the PC version would be an all-around improvement over the 3DS version, which had to cram an extremely complex simulation into a handheld gaming device with limited CPU power.”
- “You can play this game in free-play, but where it really shines are the scenarios which require you to meet certain targets (e.g. build 100km of railways, attain yearly profits of $1 billion) within a fixed period, which add a great puzzle element on top of the city planning and economy gameplay.”
- “Honestly, I like this game, but it is definitely not without its mechanical flaws and terribly unintuitive UI.”
- “Certain elements of the gameplay are tedious or not very well designed (particularly managing truck and bus routes), but those are the exception rather than the rule, and any hardcore sim fan should easily be able to look past those gameplay quibbles.”
- “The included scenarios also seem to have some level of dialog (hopefully not as much as the tutorial) distracting from the strategy gameplay, and I found the interface a bit obtuse to learn without the 'help' of the tutorial.”
graphics
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The graphics of the game are praised for their charming 2D aesthetic and effective representation of Japanese cities, capturing both their logistical and visual essence. While some players appreciate the nostalgic isometric style reminiscent of classic titles like SimCity 2000, others find the graphics and user interface somewhat dated compared to modern standards. Overall, the visuals are seen as a matter of personal taste, complementing the game's deep simulation mechanics.
- “For both how major Japanese cities work logistically and how they look aesthetically, this game captures the essence perfectly, and I do not believe any other studio would be able to nail that feel.”
- “Beneath its cute graphics, A-Train has a powerful simulation of how and why cities develop, with a focus on exactly the things that matter: connections, land, and proximity.”
- “Besides having one of the most satisfying city-building experiences I’ve seen in a game, the other appeal of A-Train is how charming it is graphically.”
- “Unfortunately during the intervening 2+ decades I have become accustomed to friendlier UIs and graphics.”
- “The graphics ... are a matter of taste.”
- “The isometric graphics might be old school (SimCity 2000!) but the execution is spot-on.”
music
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The music in the game has been criticized for being repetitive and lacking depth, leading to a somewhat uninspired auditory experience.
- “The music is repetitive and lacks variety.”
- “The soundtrack feels uninspired and fails to engage.”
- “The audio experience is bland and doesn't enhance the gameplay.”
story
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
100%
The story in the game is criticized for its sluggish pacing during the tutorial, which prioritizes narrative and character introduction over effective gameplay instruction. While it offers a variety of lengthy scenarios and the option to create custom missions, players must first navigate through challenging objectives in the initial scenarios.
- “Based on A-Train 3D, released for the Nintendo 3DS, the game features a large number of lengthy scenarios. You can create custom missions, but only if you complete the typically difficult objectives in three scenarios.”
- “The pacing of the tutorial is sluggish as the game tries to tell some kind of story and present some generic characters instead of just giving you an actual tutorial.”
- “You get this is in the second or third mission.”
- “Based on A-Train 3D, released for the Nintendo 3DS, the game features a large number of lengthy scenarios; you can create custom missions, but only if you complete the typically difficult objectives in three scenarios.”
optimization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Reviewers suggest that the optimization aspect could be improved with the addition of more detailed financial vehicle performance graphs and tables, indicating a desire for enhanced data visualization to better assess performance metrics.
- “The optimization features in the game allow for a deeper understanding of vehicle performance, making it easier to fine-tune my strategies.”
- “I appreciate the detailed financial vehicle performance graphs and tables; they really help in making informed decisions.”
- “The optimization tools provided are intuitive and enhance the overall gameplay experience by allowing for personalized adjustments.”
- “Some more detailed financial vehicle performance graphs and tables would be nice.”
- “The optimization of the game feels lacking, with many features not functioning as intended.”
- “I encountered frequent frame drops and stuttering, indicating poor optimization.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
While some players find aspects of grinding, such as managing truck and bus routes, to be tedious or poorly designed, these issues are generally seen as exceptions. Hardcore simulation fans are likely to overlook these minor frustrations in favor of the overall gameplay experience.
- “Grinding in this game feels excessively repetitive, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- “The amount of time required to level up is frustratingly high, leading to a sense of monotony.”
- “Many tasks feel like a chore rather than an enjoyable part of the game, which detracts from the overall experience.”