Pandemic Train
- October 18, 2023
- Trigger Labs
- 2h median play time
Get on Steam"Pandemic Train" is a survival game set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, where you command a train crew in search of a plague cure. With roguelike and strategy elements, maintain the train's functionality while fending off dangers in this alternate 20th-century timeline. Your actions will determine the fate of humanity.
Reviews
- The game has a unique concept that combines train management with survival elements, which is intriguing.
- The art style and atmosphere are well-received, creating an engaging environment for players.
- The auto-scavenge feature is a convenient addition that helps streamline gameplay.
- The gameplay is repetitive, with players often revisiting the same levels and facing the same enemies, leading to a lack of variety.
- The game suffers from poor optimization, including frame rate issues and bugs that can disrupt the experience.
- Combat mechanics are basic and unchallenging, making encounters feel dull and lacking depth.
- gameplay32 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment in its lack of depth and repetitiveness. While the initial concept of train management and exploration is intriguing, it ultimately falls short due to shallow mechanics, uninspired combat, and limited variety in gameplay. Overall, players feel that the game could benefit from more polish and meaningful content to enhance the experience.
“What I like is the unique idea, the gameplay, the feel, and the music of the game.”
“The gameplay mechanics are solid, the graphics are average, the sound effects average, the music awesome, and overall I think for 17 dollars this game is a really good investment.”
“There seemed to be some stealth, interesting exploration, and some potential with the roguelite mechanics.”
“But it turns out the train is very anecdotal and there's nothing much to manage in it; you actually spend most of your time exploring limited maps with not great level design, terrible combat gameplay, preset looting locations scattered around, all while enduring very basic dialogues with cringe attempts at humor.”
“Honestly a bit boring... I was here for the train part of the gameplay, only to end up realizing it's just a mini part of the gameplay, in between first-person shooting sessions. Worse, you can never add wagons to your train, so the potential is immensely wasted and the train gameplay is extremely basic. Even the shooting/fighting part when on the ground gets boring quite quickly, as it ends up being a contest of rapid clicking... very disappointed, because the concept could've been so much more.”
“The worst part is that the core gameplay just isn't good enough to keep the game going.”
- story22 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The story has been described as bland and unengaging, with repetitive missions that fail to develop characters or provide meaningful progression. While some players found the initial premise intriguing, many felt that the narrative ultimately fell flat, leading to a lackluster conclusion without any significant rewards or achievements. Overall, the storytelling is seen as mediocre, contributing to a gameplay experience that feels monotonous and lacking in depth.
“The story seems intriguing so far; I want to see how this plays out.”
“All in all, it's not a perfect game, but I still enjoy it and I'll definitely play more to see how the story unfolds.”
“I really like the story.”
“The story is not that great, and the fact you can't go back to visit a different region or city is kind of silly.”
“The story is bland, and the gameplay gets stale after just three 'journeys'.”
“It feels like the story was built around making the content cheaper by making you play the same levels.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the art style and atmosphere, describing it as lovely and fittingly dark and grim. However, others criticized the graphics as basic and reminiscent of older systems like the N64, rating them as average. While the visuals may not be groundbreaking, they complement the unique gameplay experience.
“The aesthetic was nice and I was ready to dive in.”
“I added this to my wishlist 3+ years ago after reading a post on /r/thiswarofmine about this game because of the style and atmosphere it showed, and all of that didn't disappoint: the art style, music, and atmosphere are lovely and met my expectations. It's a bit dark and grim, and I like that.”
“Graphics are good, the story is fine, and the gameplay is unique; it feels like you're playing two different games: a top-down shooter and a colony survival.”
“The gameplay, graphics, sound, and mechanics are alright, but every aspect of the game could use just a little more tender loving care and polish.”
“Graphics: 3/10 - very basic and akin to N64 graphics.”
“The graphics are average.”
- atmosphere5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a dark and grim aesthetic, often evoking a sense of gloom reminiscent of Eastern Europe. While some players appreciate the art style and music, contributing to an engaging atmosphere, others find it somewhat dull and unpolished. Overall, the atmosphere is a highlight for many, aligning well with the expectations set by its genre.
“The game atmosphere is very interesting.”
“I added this to my wishlist 3+ years ago after reading a post on /r/thiswarofmine about this game because of the style and atmosphere it showed, and all of that didn't disappoint: the art style, music, and atmosphere are lovely and met my expectations; it's a bit dark and grim, and I like that.”
“Don't get me wrong, the gameplay isn't really similar; it's more about a general atmosphere of gloom, plus I'm guessing it's set somewhere in Eastern Europe.”
“Don't get me wrong, the gameplay isn't really similar, it's more of a general atmosphere of gloom, plus, I'm guessing it's set somewhere in Eastern Europe?”
“The atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking the depth and immersion I was hoping for.”
“While the visuals are decent, the overall atmosphere fails to evoke any real emotion or connection to the game world.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game has been criticized for its lack of replayability, with many users stating that there is virtually no incentive to play again beyond achieving trophies. Overall, the consensus is that the absence of replay value significantly detracts from the overall experience, leading some players to seek refunds.
“With how little replay value it has, that being zero unless you want the achievements, no.”
“While the gameplay itself is decent, the replayability is nonexistent.”
“As it is now, though, I cannot recommend it simply because of the lack of replayability and will be requesting a refund.”
- music3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is highly praised for its uniqueness and ability to enhance the overall atmosphere, contributing to a dark and immersive experience. Reviewers appreciate how the soundtrack aligns with the game's themes, making it a standout feature that meets or exceeds expectations. Overall, the music is considered a significant asset, adding value to the gameplay experience.
“What I like is the unique idea, the gameplay, the feel, and the music of the game.”
“I added this to my wishlist 3+ years ago after reading a post on /r/thiswarofmine about this game because of the style and atmosphere it showed, and all of that didn't disappoint: the art style, music, atmosphere, etc. is lovely and met my expectations; it's a bit dark and grim, and I like that.”
“The gameplay mechanics are solid, the graphics are average, the sound effects are average, the music is awesome, and overall I think for 17 dollars this game is a really good investment.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly after repeated encounters with human enemies, which quickly lose their appeal. Additionally, the slow-paced design between map nodes, requiring lengthy waits for actions to complete, further contributes to the overall sense of monotony.
“The first area with human enemies is okay, until you've played it for the seventh time, and then it just becomes tedious.”
“The areas between map nodes have an extremely tedious design, where you have to wait about five seconds for each member to complete an action.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game suffers from poor optimization, with users noting that the voiceovers are particularly rough and detract from the overall experience.
“Poorly optimized; voiceovers are rough.”
“The game suffers from significant performance issues, making it frustrating to play.”
“Frequent frame drops and long loading times indicate a lack of proper optimization.”
- humor1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by quirky character designs, such as Ela resembling Michael Jackson, which adds a lighthearted and amusing touch to the overall experience.
“On a side note that I thought was kind of funny, the character known as Ela looks like Michael Jackson.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's stability is hindered by moderate bugs, alongside issues such as repetitive missions and a limited building area for the train, which detracts from the overall experience.
“The missions are mind-numbingly repetitive, the building area of your train is annoyingly small, and the game is moderately buggy.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
“I encountered several glitches that disrupted my gameplay experience.”
