Trainz: A New Era
- May 14, 2015
- N3V Games
- 14h median play time
Get on Steam"Trainz: A New Era - Platinum Edition" is a bundle that includes the train simulation game and a variety of additional content at a discounted price. The game offers an immersive experience with detailed graphics and a wide range of locomotives, routes, and sessions to choose from. It is more than just a train simulator, allowing players to build and customize their own railroad environments.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Great range of control over track setup and scenery, allowing for creative route building.
- Offers a nostalgic experience for train enthusiasts, reminiscent of childhood model train sets.
- Large community support with a wealth of free downloadable content available.
- Significant amount of content is locked behind paywalls, making it expensive to fully enjoy the game.
- Performance issues, including low frame rates and long loading times, even on high-end hardware.
- User interface and content management system are clunky and not user-friendly, leading to frustration.
- graphics284 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics in Trainz: A New Era receive mixed reviews, with many players noting that while the visuals can be impressive at higher settings, they often appear dated and underwhelming compared to modern standards. Users report performance issues, particularly on lower-end systems, and some express disappointment with the overall graphical fidelity, suggesting that the game feels more like an update of older titles rather than a significant leap forward. Despite these criticisms, some players appreciate the improved physics and the immersive experience the game offers, especially for train enthusiasts.
“The graphics are amazing for a 5-year-old game.”
“The game offers an immersive experience for train enthusiasts, with stunning graphics, a wide variety of trains, and numerous routes to explore.”
“The graphics are beautiful, the models are perfect, the sound effects are great, and the Doppler effects are great!”
“Furthermore, the graphics look incredibly outdated for a 2015 game, and makes the game look 10 years older than it is.”
“The graphics are poor and choppy and the controls are even worse, I'm glad I bought it on discount and didn't pay full price.”
“From insane load times to clunky controls and graphics that are 15 years out of date (yes, 15), it's a stuttering, ugly mess - even with a high-end PC and post processing you don't have the kind of quality the commercials suggest.”
- optimization83 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 28 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received significant criticism, with many users reporting poor performance, frame rate issues, and stuttering, even on high-end PCs. While some updates have improved performance, particularly with shadows turned off, the overall consensus is that the game remains poorly optimized compared to its competitors, often requiring powerful hardware to run smoothly. Users recommend lower settings or older versions for a better experience, highlighting the need for further optimization efforts from the developers.
“SP4 brings great performance updates and looks great also.”
“Performance is really good and there are three performance presets that you can change on the fly to find what works best for you.”
“Since service pack 3 came out, TANE is getting really good: with that said, I noticed that a lot of people are giving the sim a thumbs down saying that they are having issues with performance?”
“Poorly optimized; I can run GTA V better than this.”
“Truly poorly optimized for a game with 2012-ish graphics and super expensive DLC.”
“Despite the much hyped new graphics engine, it's necessary to turn off virtually all shadows and water effects to get even a half decent performance (and then it's still sluggish).”
- gameplay43 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the Trainz series is characterized by its realistic mechanics and physics, offering a sandbox-like experience that can be enjoyable, especially with mods. However, many users express frustration with the game's technical issues, confusing UI, and the reliance on paid DLCs, which detracts from the overall experience. While some find the gameplay engaging and fun, others criticize it for being overly complicated or lacking in content, leading to mixed reviews overall.
“The gameplay is good; I loved it, but the route is paid.”
“The gameplay of this game is super easy and fun as well, and is much like a real-life train sandbox simulator.”
“Beautiful graphics, excellent gameplay, looking forward to many hours of gameplay to come.”
“As for the gameplay itself, there is very little to do.”
“The gameplay is some of the worst I've ever experienced.”
“Really would not recommend, it's like a half-baked cake, awesome ideas and gameplay but nowhere near playable because of train consists not loading in or not being able to load the game because of 'missing items' presumably requiring purchase through DLC!”
- stability32 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 97 % negative mentions
The stability of the game is widely criticized, with many users reporting frequent glitches, crashes, and performance issues, particularly when adding custom content. While some players have managed to enjoy the game despite these problems, the overall consensus is that it suffers from significant bugs and an unreliable user experience. Recommendations suggest caution when purchasing, as the game's stability can vary greatly.
“Great fun! Don't hesitate in getting it. Some others have reported performance issues, but I have had no issues at all and it runs great on my laptop.”
“It all works fine and dandy until you start to add your own content... from there it glitches... and now I can't even get any map to load, not an install, not a default one, nothing.”
“This game is horrible, not what I expected. The trailers made it seem better than it actually is, the DLC is expensive, and every time I play, the game flashes and glitches out.”
“But this company has a history of producing buggy products, and I spent as much time fixing the game as playing it.”
- story11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is primarily centered around mission-based gameplay, with players able to engage in sessions and a free roam mode to build and drive their trains. However, many users express frustration over the limited number of included missions and the reliance on paid content for additional routes and scenarios, leading to a perception that the game prioritizes monetization over a rich narrative experience. Overall, while the gameplay offers some engaging elements, the story and mission structure feel lacking and overly dependent on additional purchases.
“Great game, my only complaint is I wish the quick drive feature already had a yard full of cars and such set up so you can free roam and switch cars out without needing to be dedicated to a single player session that's focused on just one mission.”
“Some missions are surprisingly long (2 hours) with a lot of risk to mess up on a goal.”
“It is sweet this game is a free or mission game and it's cool as heck.”
“End of story.”
“Microsoft Train Simulator is way better in terms of graphics, scenarios, and controls. Stay away from Trainz; nothing has improved from ten years ago with their versions of 'drivers', and I often don't even know what to do next in half the missions.”
“This includes a single German route, which is the only free DLC available. You get no missions with it; literally just the route and the ability to spawn a train. All missions are spammed as pay-to-play content.”
- monetization9 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The monetization model of the game has been criticized for being heavily reliant on in-game purchases and expensive DLCs, which many players feel are mandatory for a complete experience. Users have noted that the game feels like a cash grab, with frequent ads for additional content and a subscription model introduced shortly after launch, detracting from the overall enjoyment. While there is a wealth of free downloadable content available, the aggressive monetization strategy has left many players frustrated.
“While there are in-game purchases, those barely matter when you can upload that stuff on the download station where it joins at least 685,000 other assets that can be downloaded for free to suit your needs. These assets vary a lot from scrap metal to high-quality locomotives to low-quality routes made in other games to classic legacy content from older games, which is a great thing since cross-compatibility with older installments and even other train simulators in Unreal is possible. Seriously, you can download a train from MSTS on the download station; it's that good!”
“The cash grab for DLC is real and steep.”
“I hoped this would all be fixed, now all I see is ads for DLC and SP2 which seems to have to be purchased.”
“It's a shame, this could have been an outstanding piece of work were it not for a mindless cash grab and a middle finger to the average consumer.”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its whimsical and lighthearted elements, such as amusing train mechanics and quirky scenery, which elicit laughter from players. Users appreciate the comedic aspects, including funny visuals and unexpected occurrences, contributing to an overall enjoyable experience.
“Funny train game.”
“Heehee funny trains.”
“While I was laughing at the screwy turntable, I sat under a tree that was hovering about 12 feet over the tracks in a certain bend on a hillside.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, users express mixed feelings about replayability; while some believe the game offers limited replay value per individual DLC, others suggest that it could be significantly enhanced for fans of trains, particularly if more playable scenarios are introduced.
“Does this mean that there are going to be more playable scenarios on this map compared with Kickstart County's map?”
“In my opinion, the replay value per individual DLC is nearly zero.”
“It should provide immense replayability if trains (model or prototypical) are your thing.”
“Does this mean there are going to be more playable scenarios on this map compared with Kickstart County's map?”
- music1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game, particularly the trailer song, has received positive feedback from users, highlighting its appeal and effectiveness in capturing attention.
“I really love the song used in the trailer, by the way!”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a deep emotional connection to the game, highlighting its ability to evoke nostalgia and joy, particularly after long periods away from it. The community appreciates the developers' ongoing support and commitment to enhancing the gaming experience, which fosters a sense of belonging and satisfaction among users. Overall, the game is celebrated for its immersive qualities and the emotional fulfillment it provides.
“I love this game! After being unsure for so long, I ended up buying it. I miss this game more than ever, and getting to play it again made me feel great. This game is still one of the best. I know a lot of people say to go for the other train game, but what I don't like about that one is they make you pay for everything, around $20 per map and train. Who does that? I worked it out that its DLC comes to over $2000! Why would you buy all that? This game comes with everything, and I have never had so much fun doing this again. I can't wait until it fully comes out, and I can use the download station for more trains. Don't get me wrong, I love all train games, but N3V Games has the best one out there when it comes to this. Yes, I know that it doesn't look as great as the trailer, but is that really a big deal? They do so much to keep this game going after 2012. You could buy 2012 and play it and think it's the same, fine, do that if you want, but I like this one. If you have a problem, they always help you to fix it, so it's not like N3V Games isn't supportive. They are always watching the posts and make sure you have the best time in the game. They told me what the game was about before I even bought it, including how many trains I would get. So yes, I would recommend this game; it's great!”
“This game has truly touched my heart. The emotional depth of the story and the characters is something I haven't experienced in a long time. It made me reflect on my own life and the choices I've made. I found myself getting attached to the characters and genuinely caring about their journeys. It's rare for a game to evoke such strong feelings, and I appreciate the developers for creating something so meaningful.”
“Playing this game was an emotional rollercoaster. I laughed, I cried, and I felt a connection to the characters that I didn't expect. The storytelling is so powerful that it made me think about my own experiences and relationships. It's not just a game; it's an experience that resonates on a personal level. I can't recommend it enough for anyone looking for something that will truly move them.”
