World of Subways 3 – London Underground Circle Line
- May 12, 2014
- TML-Studios
Get on Steam"World of Subways 3 – London Underground Circle Line" is a simulation game that allows players to drive a train on the actual Circle Line of the London Underground. The game features realistic 3D graphics, accurate depictions of the London tube stations, and a range of challenges to complete. Players must follow speed limits, stop at the correct stations, and open and close the train doors at the right times.
Reviews
- The game offers a highly detailed and realistic simulation of the London Underground, particularly the Circle Line.
- Players appreciate the immersive experience of setting up the train, managing passenger interactions, and the overall atmosphere of the game.
- The graphics and sound design are praised for their quality, contributing to an engaging gameplay experience.
- The game is plagued by numerous bugs and crashes, making it frustrating for players to complete missions.
- The controls can be clunky and unintuitive, leading to confusion and difficulty in navigating the game.
- There is a lack of content, with only one line available, which can lead to repetitive gameplay and boredom over time.
- graphics79 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally well-received, with many players noting that they hold up surprisingly well for a title over a decade old, showcasing detailed environments and realistic train simulations. However, some criticisms arise regarding dated textures, character models, and occasional performance issues when adjusting graphics settings. Overall, while the visuals may not be cutting-edge, they are considered good enough to enhance the gameplay experience.
“The graphics are very detailed; the noises, the automatic announcements, and the driving physics make it superior to today's most acclaimed simulators.”
“The graphics are gorgeous, the sounds are convincing, and the driving experience itself is realistic.”
“Graphically, the game looks fantastic as there's lots of detail in and out of the tunnels, giving you the feel of really being on a subway line.”
“No multi-monitor support, no resolution support, graphics are primitive and outdated, missions are buggy, you have to restart all of them several times before you can even attempt to do them.”
“The graphics feel a bit dystopian and dark, which is a bit of a disappointment given that the prequel had livelier graphics.”
“The game runs very poorly when graphics options are enabled, but nicely when they are disabled, so it seems the mirrors and shadows options are not optimized (I'm talking about a 90 fps difference between on and off here...).”
- story74 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 80 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely absent, with players noting that there is no overarching narrative. Instead, the gameplay revolves around missions that are often described as challenging and frustrating due to strict failure conditions and numerous bugs, including crashes and lack of save options. While the missions offer unique scenarios and a realistic driving experience, many players express a desire for more diverse content and improvements to the mission structure.
“I love the concept of the missions, which also make the game extremely unique.”
“In some of the missions, you have to couple trains and switch them around from one end to the other. This involves getting up from your seat in the cab and running around as you frantically set the train(s) up for the next leg of the journey, flipping switches, doing brake tests, and ensuring passengers get a smooth, timely journey.”
“The missions can be fun, though a bit challenging at first as you're learning the ropes of driving the train. While you're learning the route, you can find yourself accidentally speeding, which can cause you to fail the mission requiring you to restart the mission from the beginning.”
“The missions are pretty much similar to train simulator - drive so and so route and keep to schedule - with emergencies and whatever else thrown in to challenge you.”
“The game is very harsh when you do something wrong during a mission (like speeding) - it will instantly end the mission, instead of giving you penalty points like train simulator.”
“In the missions there's no option to save game, so if you run a red light it's game over (bit harsh) and you have to start the mission from scratch... along with all the waiting, quite frustrating.”
- stability23 mentions
- 13 % positive mentions
- -9 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The game's stability is widely criticized, with numerous reports of severe bugs, crashes, and glitches that hinder gameplay, including issues with the tutorial and mission progression. While some players find it playable and enjoyable despite these problems, the overall consensus is that the game is plagued by instability, making it frustrating and often unplayable.
“Runs great!”
“The game maintains a smooth performance without any crashes.”
“I appreciate how stable the gameplay is, even during intense moments.”
“So buggy, I can't even start the train in the tutorial because I keep noclipping out of the platforms.”
“No multi-monitor support, no resolution support, graphics are primitive and outdated, missions are buggy, you have to restart all of them several times before you can even attempt to do them.”
“Very buggy, crashes a lot, and even with a decent PC, it is unplayable.”
- gameplay18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay is a mixed bag, with some users praising its unique mechanics and enjoyable train-driving experience, while others criticize poor controls, bugs, and crashes. Although the core gameplay is considered good for a 2011 release, the steep learning curve and strict failure conditions can lead to frustration. Overall, it offers a more engaging experience compared to typical train simulators, despite its limitations.
“The actual core gameplay itself is pretty good, especially for a game that came out in 2011.”
“There are a lot of interesting mechanics in this game that make it very unique and enjoyable.”
“By far the best train simulator I have ever played; its gameplay is smooth, realistic, and fun.”
“Poor controls, crashes, and general low quality gameplay.”
“I did experience a few bugs and crashes during the gameplay.”
“But most importantly: gameplay will be instantly cut for failing to set up your train correctly, for running red lights, for going even a little over the limit, for accidentally opening doors on a service run, etc. Having to go through the mission all over again because you accidentally pressed F5 is a hassle.”
- optimization9 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback, with some users experiencing significant performance issues, particularly when enabling graphics options like mirrors and shadows, leading to drastic frame rate drops. While certain players report smooth performance and appreciate the available graphical adjustments, others struggle with stuttering and crashes, indicating that optimization may vary widely depending on individual hardware setups. Overall, while there are optimization features available, many players still feel that further improvements are needed.
“Performance is fine and I've never had a crash.”
“It does provide an anisotropic filtering slider, a selection of shadow qualities, the ability to turn off bump mapping, reflections, a simpler lighting system, etc., so there's a fair bit of optimization you can do if your frame rates suffer.”
“The engine has clearly been optimized.”
“Unfortunately, at least for me, the cons overcome the pros, making me wish for an optimization patch from TML/Aerosoft.”
“The game runs very poorly when graphics options are enabled, but nicely when they are disabled, so it seems the mirrors and shadows options are not optimized (I'm talking about a 90 fps difference between on and off here...).”
“And no, it's not optimized well... but the feeling of simulation is high in this game, and so are the details that make it feel realistic.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be frustrating, as it requires excessive repetition and is compounded by a tedious tutorial. The clunky mechanics and potential for crashes further exacerbate the experience, making it feel more like a chore than an engaging gameplay element.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“The game is a very clunky simulator of the London Underground, and the tutorial is incredibly tedious.”
“Falling onto the tracks sends you to the abyss, and I experienced a system-crippling crash within the first five minutes of trying to operate the train (without the knowledge bestowed by the tedious tutorial).”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game excels in creating an immersive atmosphere, effectively capturing the sights and sounds of the London Underground, which users find to be fantastic and engaging.
“Atmospherically, this is an awesome game.”
“A fantastic sim, it nails the sights, sounds, and atmosphere of the London Underground.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the train simulator is characterized by a mix of boredom during long stretches and heightened engagement during frequent station stops, where players experience a sense of anticipation and connection through the immersive sounds of the train. The tension of adhering to signals adds to the emotional investment in the gameplay.
“In Train Simulator, you can sit for over a half an hour bored out of your mind between stations or speed limit changes, but as you would expect from a subway line, stations are frequent which keeps you engaged and attentive, listening to the heartfelt clatters of the train cars and praying you won't go past a red signal.”
