Chris Sawyer's Locomotion

84%
Game Brain Score Based on 377 reviews
  • graphics
  • gameplay
  • music
Chris Sawyer's Locomotion Game Cover
Transportation networks are the heartbeat of every big city. In Locomotion, it's up to you to keep them going—and in the process, build a shipping empire. Although the emphasis is on rail, you'll also use trucking, buses, cargo ships, and even airplanes as the game progresses from the year 1900
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"Chris Sawyer's Locomotion" is a transportation simulation game that challenges players to build a successful transportation empire across multiple decades. Construct and manage railway, road, air, and sea routes to meet the needs of growing cities, while outperforming ruthless competitors. Offering various difficulty levels and world scenarios, the game lets you control and shape the world of transportation to your liking from 1900 to 2000 and beyond.

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

84%
Audience ScoreBased on 377 reviews
graphics11 positive mentions
stability3 negative mentions
  • A nostalgic classic that brings back fond childhood memories, making it a joy to play even years later.
  • The game offers a fun and addictive gameplay experience, allowing players to build and manage their own transportation empire with various vehicles.
  • Despite its age, the game still holds up well, providing a unique charm and depth that many modern games lack.
  • The game suffers from frequent crashes and stability issues, especially on modern systems, which can disrupt gameplay.
  • The user interface and building mechanics are clunky and outdated, making it frustrating to manage complex transportation networks.
  • AI behavior can be erratic and unhelpful, leading to inefficient routes and gameplay challenges that detract from the overall experience.
  • graphics52 mentions

    The graphics of the game are often described as nostalgic and reminiscent of early 2000s titles like "RollerCoaster Tycoon 2," which some players find charming despite their dated appearance. While the visuals may not meet modern standards and can feel simplistic or grainy, they are generally considered adequate for the gameplay experience, appealing to those who appreciate retro aesthetics. However, some users express disappointment with the lack of updates and the interface, suggesting that the graphics detract from the overall enjoyment for certain players.

    • “The graphics are nice and the new music tracks are extraordinary in their period accuracy - but 'Transport Tycoon' is sublimely better in scenario design and parsimony.”
    • “Building a transport empire can be incredibly satisfying, and the out-of-date graphics/art style now works as a pleasantly retro vibe.”
    • “The general interface (taken from RollerCoaster Tycoon 2) is somewhat simplistic and user-friendly, and the graphics are pretty sleek for 2004.”
    • “The graphics are really dated; there's no widescreen support.”
    • “The visuals were tired, even by 2004 standards, and despite a lot of the original Transport Tycoon annoyances being addressed, it had somehow picked up a load of new glitches along the same lines.”
    • “The graphics are so poor that you can't tell what the hell you are terraforming.”
  • gameplay37 mentions

    The gameplay of this tycoon game is characterized by its simplicity and charm, offering an addictive core loop that appeals to both new and nostalgic players. While it features straightforward mechanics and a lack of complexity compared to modern titles, some users note that certain mechanics can be unintuitive or frustrating. Overall, it provides a satisfying experience with a variety of challenges, though the tutorials may not adequately cover all aspects of the game.

    • “Great gameplay with a variety of challenges.”
    • “Almost non-existent learning curve, easy mechanics, simple yet fun-to-watch animations, and hours upon hours of gameplay.”
    • “This game is fantastic - a satisfying gameplay loop with enough variable challenge to keep things interesting across various scenarios.”
    • “The mechanics, graphics, or engine haven't changed.”
    • “This is a weird mechanic and makes it impossible to generate income in some scenarios, unless you apply cheap workarounds, like building several dummy loading stations around the source to artificially increase demand, hence, production.”
    • “Gameplay is completely unintuitive and quickly bogs down into a frustrating mess.”
  • music27 mentions

    The music in the game is widely praised for its period accuracy and catchy tunes, enhancing the overall experience and evoking nostalgia for many players. However, some users note that the repetitive nature of certain tracks, particularly the default settings that play decade-specific songs, can become annoying over time. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the standout features, complementing the game's theme and gameplay effectively.

    • “The soundtrack I love, and I remember it even after not playing for a few months.”
    • “It's a beautiful game and the music is just amazing.”
    • “This game is worth buying just for the soundtrack and diverse gameplay!”
    • “Only rag I can give to those is that the music's default setting automatically plays the songs of that specific decade, and you will want to murder Brimble after hearing 'Solace' for the 20th time.”
    • “Music can get repetitive.”
    • “But the music and sound effects are so bad!”
  • story4 mentions

    The game lacks a cohesive story or campaign, focusing instead on individual missions that can be challenging and enjoyable, even in free play mode. While some players find the mission-based structure engaging, others feel the absence of a narrative detracts from the overall experience.

    • “Beating every mission is unique, and some seem almost impossible.”
    • “There's no real campaign, just 'missions', but it's still fun even if you don't play with the missions and just 'free play'.”
    • “There's no story to speak of, so let's get down to brass tacks.”
  • humor4 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its lighthearted and amusing take on capitalism, with players creating quirky trains while generating wealth. Although some find the gameplay simple, it remains engaging and entertaining, evoking nostalgia for long-time fans.

    • “Fun game, you make funny little trains and make lots of money, capitalism at its finest.”
    • “The game is a bit simple but still addictive and funny.”
    • “Funny things is: I installed this game a week ago from a CD I have since 2006, and now it's on Steam.”
  • optimization4 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users experiencing significant performance issues on Windows, though many were able to resolve these through various fixes. Despite initial challenges, players who invested time into optimizing their experience found the game enjoyable and worth the low price, with some reporting no further performance problems after adjustments.

    • “This game was a dollar and some change, with the negative reviews mainly geared towards Windows performance. I got 20+ hours in this game and only paid a little over a dollar... worth it.”
    • “So I am no longer having any performance issues with this game, and I can say, it's great.”
    • “Isn't easy to play against 7 CPU-controlled rival companies when you have to reach a 90% performance index.”
    • “However, be warned that optimization is key, which bites me in the rear as I've always been a form-over-function kind of guy in these games.”
    • “Isn't it easy to play against 7 CPU-controlled rival companies when you have to reach a 90% performance index?”
  • stability3 mentions

    The stability of the game is heavily criticized, with users reporting numerous bugs that render ships and vehicles ineffective, such as circling endlessly or getting stuck in various scenarios. Despite some improvements over previous versions, new glitches have emerged, including trains misrouting and vehicles jamming, leading to a frustrating experience. Overall, the game's stability issues significantly detract from its playability.

    • “Ships are bugged and useless; they eventually find a buggy spot and start circling around themselves forever.”
    • “The visuals were tired, even by 2004 standards, and despite a lot of the original annoyances being addressed, it had somehow picked up a load of new glitches along the same lines (trains using the wrong route, getting stuck on the wrong bit of track, running scared from red lights, vehicles jamming in loading bays, trams getting stuck, etc.).”
    • “There are some weird glitches, for example.”
  • grinding2 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly when managing a sizable business and replacing old vehicles over extended play sessions.

    • “Unfortunately, the game becomes tedious once you have any sort of sizable business.”
    • “Replacing old vehicles in long games is very tedious.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    The game boasts exceptional replayability, highlighted by a vast array of developer-made scenarios and a user-friendly scenario editor that allows players to create their own content. This enduring appeal has been recognized since its release in 2005, making it a standout choice for players seeking endless gameplay options.

    • “The main thing this game has going for it nowadays is its infinite replay value. Even back in 2005, I felt it was overwhelming, with dozens of developer-made scenarios and a scenario editor that's impressively user-friendly. Even 4-year-old me managed to make fairly decent-looking stuff there!”
    • “After completing the main story, I found little incentive to replay the game. The side quests felt repetitive and didn't add much to the overall experience.”
    • “While the game offers multiple endings, the journey to reach them feels tedious and lacks the depth needed to encourage multiple playthroughs.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

65% average critic score

Buy Chris Sawyer's Locomotion

Play time

12hMedian play time
8hAverage play time
1-15hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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