Chris Sawyer's Locomotion
- March 17, 2015
- Chris Sawyer
- 12h median play time
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
Get on Steam"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
Reviews
- Nostalgic gameplay that brings back fond childhood memories, making it a timeless classic.
- Offers a variety of transportation options and scenarios, allowing for creative and strategic gameplay.
- The game runs well on modern systems with some minor fixes, and the soundtrack is enjoyable and fitting for the era.
- The game suffers from stability issues, with frequent crashes and bugs that can disrupt gameplay.
- The user interface and building mechanics are clunky and outdated, making it frustrating to manage transportation networks.
- AI behavior is often illogical, leading to inefficient routes and making competition less challenging.
- graphics47 mentions
- 21 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are often described as nostalgic and reminiscent of early 2000s titles like "Roller Coaster Tycoon 2," which some players find charming despite their dated appearance. While the visuals may not meet modern standards and can appear grainy or simplistic, they are generally considered adequate for the game's purpose and evoke a sense of retro appeal. Overall, opinions are mixed, with some appreciating the art style and others criticizing the graphics as poor or lacking detail.
“Wonderful art style, easy to get into, nostalgic.”
“The graphic style is reminiscent of 'Roller Coaster Tycoon 2' - which makes sense given 'Locomotion' is basically a graphical and AI update to 'Transport Tycoon'.”
“Building a transport empire can be incredibly satisfying, and the out-of-date graphics/art style now works as a pleasantly retro vibe.”
“The graphics are so poor that you can't tell what the hell you are terraforming.”
“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.”
“This game is from 2004 and the graphics look very dated.”
- gameplay34 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its simplicity and charm, reminiscent of classic titles like Transport Tycoon, making it accessible and addictive for players of all ages. While some mechanics may feel outdated or unintuitive, the game offers a satisfying core loop with a variety of challenges, though the tutorials could be more comprehensive. Overall, it remains a fun and engaging experience, particularly for those nostalgic for its legacy.
“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.”
- music25 mentions
- 28 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative 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 find the repetitive nature of certain tracks, particularly the default settings that play decade-specific songs, to be annoying over time. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the standout features, complementing the gameplay and era-themed aesthetics 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.”
“The soundtrack plays accordingly to the year you're playing; it's awesome.”
“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!”
- optimization4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Optimization is a critical aspect of the game, with some players initially facing performance issues, particularly on Windows. However, many users report that with the right fixes, they were able to enjoy the game without significant problems, leading to a positive overall experience despite the initial challenges.
“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?”
- story3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game lacks a cohesive story or campaign, focusing instead on unique and challenging missions that can feel almost impossible. While the absence of a narrative may be disappointing for some, players still find enjoyment in both the mission-based gameplay and the free play mode.
“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.”
“The narrative feels disjointed and lacks any real depth.”
“Character development is minimal, making it hard to care about their journeys.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative 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, new glitches have emerged, leading to a frustrating experience reminiscent of earlier issues. Overall, the game's stability remains a significant concern for players.
“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.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is noted as simple yet addictive, providing a lighthearted experience that resonates with players. Users find it amusing, particularly in the context of its long history, as one player humorously mentioned rediscovering it on Steam after years of having it on CD.
“The game is a bit simple but still addictive and funny.”
“Funny”
“The funny thing is: I installed this game a week ago from a CD I have had since 2006, and now it's on Steam.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative 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.”
Critic Reviews
Locomotion
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
70%PC Review - 'Chris Sawyer's Locomotion'
60%
