Rails across America is thought of as the beginning of the ‘build your own’ mantras such as Theme Park and Rail Road Tycoon. In fact if you have played Rail Road Tycoon, you’ll probably want to meet the father of such an amazing game.
Rails Across America is in essence what Rail Road Tycoon hoped to be and is what was probably its greatest influence. Maybe Sid Meir played it when he was younger? Who knows!
The object of the game is to build a successful railroad network by gaining ‘influence’.
The game is divided into a number of scenrios, which you must complete. Each Scenrio gives you a different climate and perhaps different methods of winning.
There are many factors which can make a difference to your hope to conquer railroad extravaganza; interests rates and the shape of the economy. Your aim is to lay down railroad tracks between different locations in the hope of making money and becoming successful. There are passengers and goods to be hauled from once city to another and you must create a railroad empire that is the best in the whole of North America. Even when the tracks have been laid down, you need to think of the trains to be put on the tracks, signage for the trains and
other improvements to better enhance the effiency of your railroads. An excellent strategy game, this will make you think of different methods of achieving success.
As with the theme games, there are reports, different tabs and different ways to check on how you are progressing as well as the ability to see how your oppoenents are doing (Yes you are up against others for railroad dominnance!). You can even take out loans to supplement your finances. But be careful because if you don’t manage your finances carefully enough, you may end up becoming bankrupt and the game coming to an abrupt end.
A good game, with an excellent tutorial which works well to show you the basics and how to handle the game, but from a certain point, your intelligence and wit muct kick in if you hope to be the best.
The graphics are not the best feature of the game; but when buiilding railroads what do you expect to see apart from green fields to expand your company?
The game is a lot like Sid Meir’s Rail Road Tycoon and in fact has an uncanny appearance. If you do go onto to play this, try that because its an excellent platform from which to move onto!
