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RAILROAD TYCOON II and Second
Century Expansion
Developed by:Pop Top Games (1998)
Genre: Railroad sim
System Requirements: Windows
95, P 133+, CD ROM, 16 MB RAM, 130 MB HDD Space, Mouse, Modem.
Believe it or not, railroad gaming is one of the most popular tabletop game genre; with games like Rail Baron by Avalon Hill and the Mayfair Games Rails series big sellers at the game specialty shops. So why should PC rail games be any different?
Years ago Sid Meier designed Railroad Tycoon (a very popular game with the railroad gaming crowd) and folks have been waiting for a follow-up. It was well worth the wait, Railroad Tycoon II is one of the best PC game of 1998! Be prepared for some of the coolest graphics and challenging gameplay you'll ever find.
The premise is simple: build a mega-railroad company from the tracks up by developing markets, updating equipment and swallowing up your rivals. Railroad Tycoon is a bit like Wall Street meets "The Little Engine that Could" and it works wonderfully. Players can choose the country for their railroad empire aspirations: from the American West to Britian to Africa to Japan. Starting in the mid-1800's, players (hopefully) build thier company while dealing with various political and economic challenges (like the Franco-Prussian War and the Great Depression)- hopefully surviving (and thriving) to beyond 2000. One also has to keep an eye on the companies board of directors, along with the financial ledger, lest the player gets a pink slip for poor preformance! And they say war is hell? There's more to Railroad Tycoon II than just laying track and purchasing trains. This is a challenging game of stock market wheeling and dealing, aquisition and free enterprise. Railroad Tycoon II is actual a couple types of games (railroad building and finiance) wrapped up in one awesome package.
The graphics found in Railroad Tycoon II are stunning. Remeber those really cool model train tables with all of the neat terrain and buildings? This looks even better! The animation and texturing is awesome. The sound effects are just as good. This is a true award winning product from box cover to gameplay.
As of 5/12/99, Pop Top released "The Second Century", an expansion that focus primarily on a period between the late 1800's and ends well after 2000. Included in this expansion are all new maps, senarios and campaign. One of the new campaigns/senarios deals with urban light rail systems- so players get to design, build and maintain a light rail system in a city like Seattle (for example). This expansion is worth every penny and adds tremendously to an already awesome game.
I don't recommend this to just railroad fan- I recommend it to anyone looking for an excellent game! Believe me, you will find yourself addicted and fondly remembering that old Lionel train set your dad bought you when you were a kid. Enjoy!
THE SCOUTING REPORT:
THE PROS:
THE CONS:
Reviewed by Steve Ellis