Railroad Tycoon 2

First there was Railroad Tycoon, and now we have Railroad Tycoon II (Gathering of Developers). The objective of this game is to set up a rail network that will not only service all the local towns and cities well, but will earn you lots of money in the process. The rail networks span the 19th and 20th centuries and the continents of North and South America, Europe, Africa and Asia.

To amass your fortune, you are required to move passengers and goods such as mail and bulk items via railway to locations where they are in demand. You need to create chains of supply and demand, linking related industries together by rail e.g: coal mines to steel mills and on to car factories, and you pocket your cash as your trains arrive.

There are hurdles along the way, such as lack of money, outstanding bank loans and high interest payments. Your Board of Directors can throw you out of a job at any time if they think you are underperforming.

MY OPINION

Railroad Tycoon II is an extremely absorbing and challenging game. The graphics are excellent, with every tiny detail included, such as the smoke from the chimneys of the houses, and the unique markings on each of the engines and carriages. The sound effects from the engines and the industries bring the game to life, and there is the reassuring sound of your money rolling in whenever a train arrives. There is a good soundtrack which is best suited to 1900 Western America.

I found myself being constantly challenged by Railroad Tycoon II. Once you have completed a campaign, there are more campaigns at varying difficulty levels. On top of that, there are around 15 scenarios from all over the world, each with their own objectives. If that’s not enough, there is a scenario editor, allowing you to create your own maps with your own custom events and disasters. I found the manual to be quite useful, with tutorials to help. An excellent game.

SCREENSHOTS

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