LGR - A-Train - DOS PC Game Review

Railroad Tycoon and SimCity... two classic, different forms of gaming. What if you meshed them together? Why, it's already been done! Take the A-Train in this review of:
A-Train by Maxis for MS-DOS / Amiga computers
Apologies for the prior upload with serious rendering errors, which resulted in what appeared to be a review on seriously bad drugs.

[@zac8603]

The warm VHS fuzzyness of earlier LGR supported by clint's voice and the melodramatic synth of the A-trains soundtrack combine to make a wonderful audio-visual experience.

[@vidcas1711]

I would not mind him bringing back that retro sounding theme song

[@georgemulford2910]

Its funny you say that. I keep coming back to this video to relax because of the qualities you mention. Its very soothing. Not only the old stye of graphics, the memories of such games but also the 90's style of box graphics that always remind me of cartoons and childhood of that era.

[@19775021]

Indeed. I like this era of LGR.

[@jonross7323]

I ported A-Train from the NEC PC-9801 (Japan's version of the IBM PC) to DOS for Maxis, when I was like... 20-ish. It was my first real programming gig, and by far the most complex thing I'd worked on to date. Some of those bugs were mine... sorry. One of your other videos on Sim City popped up in my feed, and I saw you had a copy of A-Train on your shelf. Kinda flipped out. I got a copy on mine as well! Then I found this video... amazing. Glad you enjoyed it. As you note, not many did.

[@Deimos_Fresh]

Sad that even today this series didn't grow a much bigger audience...

[@Flameb0]

@@Deimos_Fresh still going strong though! more than you can say for sim city (unfortunately). and much more popular overseas.

[@Deimos_Fresh]

@@Flameb0, and it's great. I still greatly enjoy A-Train 3D and Switch version is very good as well.

[@boby0r]

You'd be surprised to learn people played this game around 1997 in Kyiv, Ukraine, and I learned about it back then. Sad that it didn't get a good playable upgrade like OG SimCity did.

[@ballsnuts99]

I was always curious about the Maxis port back in '92 when I was obsessed with SimCity and Maxis could do no wrong. Now I've finally tried an A-Train game (All Aboard Tourism) and I'm hooked. Thanks for what you did to localize this game.

[@CastorQuinn]

The A-Train box art is just gorgeous. Great design. That's a box you'd want on display.

[@LGR]

Many thanks, glad you found something you enjoyed with my video(s)! And I've since gotten rid of the intros entirely, because honestly they started to be a problem for me as well :)

[@TheStevenWhiting]

An AMAZING game. In the early 90s, when at college, I saw this in a local independant game store. It was great. I wanted it. Had to save for months to afford it. Finally got it. Lack of the Internet meant I read the manual over and over and eventually mastered it. Was amazing. The trick for starting was to build in a circle at start with 2 to 4 stations. Wait for that to build up then brunch out. I loved the little block materials. It was only game other than Frontier Elite that I had for my 386sx. The manual really was good at explaining everything. Loved the game. One thing it REALLY needed was a traffic light system. Because it didn't have that, you had to get the timing of the stops right.

[@oscarr5734]

That's really interesting how a loop is the optimal strategy. It's also the optimal strategy in Mini Metro, a comparatively simple puzzle game about creating train lines between stations.

[@NexuJin]

Getting the timings right was the awesome part imo. Especially if you do it smart to mixed up the loops with other loops.

[@theexperience5549]

LOVED this game!! Would stay up till 2 or 3am building, then be so tired in school. I’d leave the Amiga on all day with the game running then check how much the city had developed when I got home. I was amazed when accidentally discovered how much I could sell a theme park for once I’d built a big city around it. I got seriously rich when that element clicked for me. Amazing game.

[@ajsingh4545]

This is a dumb game and a total time waster.

[@neonnoodle1169]

Thought LGR was going to blast this game after his commentary on the manual, but he got it right… He “got“ the game. This was an awesome game for its time which explains why Maxis used it as their platform for the later version of SimCity. It was that good.

[@LGR]

Yes. And I was referring to it influencing SimCity 2000, from 1993.

[@alameachan]

Seing this makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. I had the Amiga version and loved it to death. This game was no joke, it made no false promises and took no prisoners. As a hardcore fan of economics and planning simulations I always had a blast Taking the A-Train.

[@exodore2000]

I have fond memories of playing this many years ago.

[@vee6460]

LGR, you inspired me to make a GOG account so I can play these beautiful games that you review, you are fantastic, and I hope you become the most famous KZbinr ever.

[@thecaged4215]

He may not be the greastest KZbinr, but since KZbinrs tend to go braindead past a certain amount of subscribers, this is probably for the best.

[@eternalreturnal]

@@thecaged4215 truly one of the few that remains high quality, consistent and with a growing fanbase. No dramas. Been watching for 12 years!

[@cinnanyan]

I used to play this. The worst thing about this game was that it gave so many options for trains and only about 2 of them made any actual sense to use. It actually was possible to get rid of buildings in the way, but you had to buy them first, which often required waiting for them to go on the market.

[@andreasn.grntved4349]

wow this game is beautiful. The variation in field tiles is really cool. and the side view images of the trains are so cool.

[@spiderjerusalem100]

It looks like a cool game but it seems like one of those games where it takes 2 hours to finish the tutorial and after that i still won't know what the hell i am supposed to do.

[@BenchFox_]

Mate, _if only_ there was a tutorial.

[@ScotterOtter]

same deal with the 3DS version... which... came out for 'international' markets on the eShop. I learned how to play the hard way, and I'm not proud of it.

[@alexanderveritas]

Serpico's Beard Pretty much every single Sims 4 DLC.

[@maciektrybuszewski9964]

The game comes from the pre-idiotproof era, so it takes some time to learn how to play it and what does what, indeed. Fortunately, there is manual.

[@waisinet]

This was capitalism for me.🙂

[@oldtwinsna8347]

As I recall, this came out as an AGA version for the Amiga as well. I remember it running beautifully on my A4000 system at 800x600 resolution as it took advantage of the AGA graphics and the simulation was assisted with the faster processor. This was huge, since very few Amiga games used the features beyond the original chipset.

[@PaulRoneClarke]

The inference is sort of that this game is a mash up of existing titles. In fact the original A-Train predates Sid Meir; and even Robber Barons by more than 5 years (1984 release in Japan). This is in fact A-Train 3 - but just called A-Train in the West as it's the first to be released over here. :)

[@FletcherFinance]

I played this game when it was brand new. Being a train nut, I loved it. Learned so much about business, rail scheduling, and civil planning. I miss playing it so much sometimes. A Train and SimCity 2000 were my games. :)

[@LGR]

The first upload of this looked entirely like a "game review on drugs", due to an encoding error. So as a reference to that, I included it in the intro. Yeah, I had no idea what I was doing back then, ha.

[@mootbooxle]

I love the Adlib music!

[@CJKeene-zz2kw]

mootbooxle me too, I don't know what this song is from, but it is phenomenal.

[@Nedded]

Here comes the A-Train baby, back into the seven! *Woosh*

[@ledzeppelin725]

Your reviews blow my mind. They are so impressive! They're so in-depth, organized, and well done! You rock!

[@Paul.N]

Loved this game! Was one of the games I spent most hours playing on the old Amiga together with Settlers, Civ, Elite Frontier and Patrician.

[@victorvance2573]

These are names that awake memories. I play some of them even to this day.

[@prelynmax]

Why not give A-Train a look? Three words: STEEP LEARNING CURVE.

[@TimChuma]

Cliff!

[@Kajifox]

That's not a good reason not to. It's probably the most rewarding city-builder of its era. Also gives a great understanding of the economics of Tokyo during the 1990s and why expansion was so tied to rail expansion. Pretty neat!

[@DeadHandtheSurvivor]

Get good then!

[@moonshock]

I "game overed" A-Train multiple times before I finally understood how it worked. Start small...this can't be stressed enough. If you try to rush this game you WILL lose. Guaranteed.

[@em84c]

@@Kajifox yea I heard the world was focused on building highways and stuff for cats while Japan was spending so much money on fast rail. People thought it was crazy because trains were seen as old technology. Cars were the future. But now they're rail system is envied by the world.

[@nwilbur95]

I love seeing your older videos, and it makes me happy that you haven't changed your formula. You haven't made things more flashy, make silly sketches, or become over the top. I respect that. Keep it real, Clint!

[@CookieTowerDefence]

Wow. That scene before the intro. What even ... Ha ha. Love these old LGR videos.

[@SIBUK]

I absolutely loved this game back in the day. I played it to death. I always used to end up playing the first scenario though for some reason, but I would end up filling the map so that almost every single square had a building on it. I used to get a really magical feeling watching the seasons change and seeing Santa fly across the sky on Christmas Eve, but now as an adult I dont think I could ever get that feeling again and makes me quite sad actually. I miss those days.

[@tfd7915]

IMO A-Train kicked butt on the original Sim city. It had way more options. Was much more detailed than Sim 1 and was much more rewarding when you succeeded in turning a cow pasture into a thriving city. Also unlike the Sim games building railroads are at the heart of this game. That along with all the other things you had to do to make a successful city created a "build it, cross your fingers, and hope that they come" feeling to it. Especially at the higher difficulty levels where getting people to even want to move to your city in the first place took some skill. And a lot of patience. Managing the rail lines along with everything else you have to watch keeps the experience in A-Train from feeling static. Unlike the early the Sim games that often felt to me like they were just sort of "sitting there." Sure things happened in the Sim games. But A-Train was always moving. Time was passing. Trains were running. Supplies were being moved around the map. People were coming and going. All using your rail system. Long story short way back when I tried Sim 1 I played it for a few hours and got bored quickly. But once I understood A-Train I played it for months. I never understood why it didn't do better. I suppose it is that "steep learning curve" thing. This is not a game for casuals....

[@NexuJin]

I think this game is really for a niche market of people that loves perfection comes together.

[@tmdcbass]

I loved A-Train back in the 90s. I still know all those in-game songs (just like with Transport Tycoon). Especially the sad "Christmas Time" song, haha

[@EssenceofPureFlavor]

Aliens Ate My Railway

[@300pzl]

I'm always reluctant to build over the pristine rural pastures.

[@LGR]

"Caught on" is the key phrase there. Again, it's just never been more than a small niche product here.

[@Iordlangford]

I remember buying rail road tycoon over this... i made the right choice.

[@alcar32sharif]

Artdink released a remake on steam. It has a full explained tutorial now. Unfortunately stock market trading is removed.

[@luiscanamarvega]

LGR, you are definitely one of my top old school video game reviewers...you had me sit through an obscure and difficult simulation game, and i loved every minute of it :D

[@spiff2268]

I had this on the PS1 and loved it. My favorite thing was to lay tracks to an area, buy all the property, start all kinds of businesses and watch to property values skyrocket. I'd then sell the businesses for a healthy profit. Next, I'd take up all the tracks stopping service to the area, and laugh maniacally as the property values would plummet.

[@LGR]

In Japan, they were quite successful. But they've never caught on in the USA, which is where I'm from and what I was referring to.

[@TheStevenWhiting]

Watch out at Christmas, Santa Claus would fly across the screen.

[@LGR]

That's the soundtrack in A-Train.

[@KevPezJALP]

Yes I have a question. What drugs do you need to emulate that egg? ...where can I find some?

[@ILikeMyPrivacytbt]

I use launchbox, google it.

[@arthas640]

I like drugs :D

[@terjebirkedal9629]

One of my favourite games on the Amiga, and probably the game that made me interested in strategy / simulation games. The visuals, the music and the gameplay is just delightful. I could watch this game all day long 💖

[@HeikkiHeiskanen]

I begin to love this intro. It's so well done!

[@davidtorre1924]

I keep watching this review because the music is sublime. Just amazing chiptunes. Reminds me of Pilotwings or SimCity on the SNES, just relaxing, beautiful music.

[@TopherBlairMusic]

Been watching the shit out of your vids while working man. Good stuff. I didn't have a PC until 1999. I remember seeing a lot of these boxes in the stores. Fun time here watching what the games were all about.

[@LGR]

@FrozenFlame420 Yes, it works just fine in DOSBox 0.73 and 0.74

[@rbaleksandar]

The idea and gameplay behind this sound a lot like Transport Tycoon.

[@NexuJin]

I loved A-Train. Mainly for the isometric view and the fact it ran on Hercules Monochrome. Something about it's art and graphics style looks very "zen".

[@ZemplinTemplar]

It's like a blend of SimCity (the urban focus) and Transport Tycoon (the resource logistics and infrastructure chains). Very interesting. I like it when you review truly obscure management games. :-)

[@YukaTakeuchiFan]

Hey, LGR, did you know there's a 3DS entry in the series now? "A-Train 3D"; it's on the eShop. Check it out. I'm really diggin' it and I'm not even out of the (VERY comprehensive and helpful, and yet not particularly hand-holdy and happy to let you do your own thing) tutorials yet. =3

[@KyosBlog]

+YukaTakeuchiFan thanks for the tip, random internet stranger :)

[@Jaymanlp]

Time to break out the old 3DS again.

[@pseudoanonymous7700]

That takes me back. I remember seeing A-Train back in the day... but had forgotten it existed until I saw you mention it in another video. I'd love to play a modern reboot of the series if they did it right. Keep the charm and the fun parts of the gameplay, fix the annoying stuff. It could be amazing.

[@slippydouglas]

Is there really a “DANK” menu at the bottom of the screen?

[@zcrib3]

Amazing that DOS games still beat most modern games in simulation depth.

[@jackh3570]

Not exactly true

[@FerrariKangaroo]

Outstanding review. I always wanted to play this back in the day

[@ssmatthews6798]

Spent many hours palying this awesome game. Loved the consequenses if you were careless - Game over

[@ODiddy67]

I saw this in my recommended videos, and dropped everything. This is one of those games that I wanted a sequel too. I was the one that bought it!! I was 12 and loved it! .... I also liked economics in high school and college. I loved to see the little city grow and the piles of white pallets!

[@LGR]

@rockerzac99 I've only ever run it on System 7.6.1 myself. I know there are some problems with 9.x and other older games like this, you'll just have to try it and see.

[@LGR]

I didn't even mention it because it's such a different experience with new things to do that it feels like another game. Plus the controls are wank.

[@gurufabbes1]

What was wrong with this game???? This is actually pretty well thought out. It's a shame it didn't sell. What is wrong with the games industry when you have to go back 20 years to find some imagination? And worse, have to go all the way to Japan to find it?

[@k-leb4671]

Considering how powerful Japan was in the video game market during the late 80s and entirety of the 90s, it shouldn't be any surprise to go to Japan to find the creativity.

[@em84c]

@@k-leb4671 yea Japan is awesome in terms of imagination. Anime anyone?

[@LGR]

Certainly more than a chance - I've been wanting to play that one a bit more and it's sitting the shelf right behind me, so...

[@ValenceFlux]

1992 haha... We had computers at school one of which had this game. I had a great time building stuff.

[@adihol4140]

I remember this game, played it as a 12 year old without the manual. It was absolutely fantastic to see the city grow organically based on your decisions

[@tbirddddd]

Like you I always wanted this seeing it in the catalogs and an interview with Will Wright where he talks about this game pretty much derailing production on SimCity 2 because it looked and played so great they basically had to start over on the SimCity sequel. I never did pick this one up though.

[@Axonteer]

Sort of got linked to this video because i watched a lp on the latest a-train... aaah the god ol days of 2010 when i just had work , and later my study time ahead (beside work, yes i was a masochist back then) Its an old review but somehow still .... awesome :)

[@randombrokeperson]

I didn't know LGR has been around since at least 2010 and that he had quirky intros!!!

[@kuribojim3916]

This looks great. I’m pleasantly surprised.

[@therealsnow]

Ah so many memories, I got this as a kid in 1992, I was 12 and got the game while staying grandma's house for Christmas, only thing I could do was read the manual over several days until we finally made it home and I could actually play it!

[@huldu]

This was a very fun game back in the days. It was challenging in a good way.

[@rockstar5274ify]

That intro intro was really awesome

[@travissk187]

I love these old intros and I miss them so much :*)

[@NWOConspiracyGroup]

It's a great game. I have this on the Commodore Amiga. Great review too!

[@kinmanyuen]

I think you should play Transport Tycoon (Deluxe) and make a review of it. It's a Dos classic! Nice reviews keep up the good work.

[@BirdFluJapan]

Damn, you review a LOT of games that I thought were - and still find amazing... great minds think alike ... ;>

[@retrogamerdad9621]

Never heard of this one. Looks like a really neat concept.

[@tchoco]

I loved the music!!! that smooth Night Jazz

[@Risingson2]

You don't know how many of us played this game without a manual and sorted everything out. Cmon, it was the 90s, we sorted out flight simulator games without manuals! :D My favourite part of A-Train is that it is one of the few economic strategic games where it plays not much for competition, but for collaboration: if you get rich, the rest gets richer, and the reward is seeing how a town grows because you are putting a supply line in it. It is so different to the sum zero strategy games that I am SO tired of.

[@HongPong]

A-Train was awesome, cheers thanks for giving it some attention

[@dmxxi]

great review! i got this for the playstation. it's addictive once you get the hang of it.

[@MyBrainIsPrettier]

An excellent video... despite the complexity and (for me, at least) initial "groan-factor" of the game's concept, it was very clearly explained, concise and enjoyable. While I don't have A-Train... I have a sudden compulsion to hunt out my old copies of Sim City 2000 and Transport Tycoon.

[@dsdomestic]

I was 11 when i first got this on Amiga = really was a genius game, taught me math way ahead of my time. Brilliant video.

[@Negostrike]

Nice good looking isometric gfx. I had a Chinese version of A-Train in a compilation CD with many Maxis games plus MS Space Simulator. Possibly a pirate disc from Hong Kong or something.

[@gfujdfjki]

nice review man!

[@djAnakin]

I LOVED A-Train! I totally forgot about this game. Now I have to find it again. I probably haven't played it since I was in high school.. maybe around '94.

[@jessefricker2084]

One.. your videos are AMAZING two, this game.. complicating at first.. once you get it. it's quite addicting

[@ThatLightNovelGuy]

Oh wow I have a weird History with this one. Years ago I picked up the A-Train on Amiga due to it being a train game and me loving trains (it was about £2 too so.). Had absolutely no idea what I was doing. I was only about 5 so didn't have the patience or real knowledge with the huge manual but kept trynig it. Had no idea whatsoever. Fast forward to about...5-6 years ago. Disposable income! And managed to pick up 'Take the A-Train 3' on the SNES. Still no idea. Except I knew how to lay track and a little bit more. Still couldn't really do much since obviously it was japanese (Cool visuals tho. Well worth a look) fast forward to late last year. Had a few £ on my Nintendo account and what do I see? A-Train 3D City Simulator. It had a decent tutorial. I loved it. Now if only we could get Locomotion 2 for the console.

[@TheStevenWhiting]

I used to visit the independent game store near college and dream of owning the game but couldn't afford it. Then eventually got it and ran it on the 386sx. I LOVED it. I read the manual over and over to understand it and finally mastered it. It was great, moving those resource blocks about. They never appeared to learn or incorporate a traffic light system though, even in later versions & a recent version that I got. I grew tired of the newer version because of this.I still have it boxed.

[@YetiSandvichVideos]

I've always wondered, What's the soundtrack you use in these intros called? Also, keep up the awesome lets plays and reviews. Loving em'

[@timorridge3390]

I bought A Train III would have been about 1994 when I got my first PC. I didn't like it and got so upset thinking I have wasted my parents money. I begged them to let me take it back and swap or get a refund, which I did. Not long after I got Transport Tycoon, which was (for me) a massively better and playable game. The nostalgia is strong here right now.

[@llaauuddrruupp]

I used to play this game religiously on my old Amiga 500. I loved it!

[@timohaavisto8491]

This is where I got my first touch to investing back in the 80s. It has carried surprisingly well to real world over the decades.

[@Xegethra]

I wish there were more games that focused on public and mass transit to build a city. No building placement unless it part of the network, no zoning but where you place various depos will influence those indirectly and you get to place bus lines down and things. . Similar to how Cities in Motion was but also like how A-Train is. Also no road placement either, you work with what the game generates. You see the motorway get longer...then you see roads get rearranged over time, that motorway, now has an elevated section and is bulldozing through an old district, changing everything around it. The new on off ramps affect the buildings and road layouts too....all because you are placing rails and train related buildings as well as the public transport options.

[@ccricers]

That game interface looks slick for its time.

[@jruonti]

I never really realized that this game was complex. I was 13 when I got the game and couldnt use the manual cos english is not my mother tongue. Still played it alot with my friend and loved it! We also found out that if you save the game right at the start and then load that save, you get to play the city running at the background. You also didnt mention that there is a win condition when you get a certain amount of money. Cant remember the sum tho.

[@Damocles178]

+J Ruonti It's 50 million. Scenario 6 was the only one I could do as it was nowhere near as strategic as any of the other scenarios since almost all the work had been done for you. In fact all I had to do to win that was replace one small station with a large one and from then on money was being made. You pretty much had victory in the bag after that as long as you didn't do anything too silly. I would love to play this game again and see if I can do the others though. :)

[@ShaneBro]

I bought it for my Amiga, love it!

[@TummySausage]

Lawl love the drug commercial reference.

[@guymathers9601]

This game, along with Simtower, and all your videos make me run short on rolling papers all the time. I love it.

[@GGriffith]

This game was AWESOME on Amiga back in the day! This was the first game I got when we got our Amiga 4000 (though we had previous Amiga's and tons of games).

[@Rakiarmas]

This is my kind of game. I have always liked games where you build things. You must be a happy owner of this game.

[@Chanmin2007nz]

Can anyone tell me about the more modern versions of this game? I mean, there's a SHITTON of sequals: from the original A-Train to the latest versions, I've counted no less than 18 A-Train games, ones even for PS1, PS2, Nintendo DS and PC with 3D glasses. I will take Clive's word that this is good stuff (I've never doubted LGR reviews since I first subscribed), but I'd like to compare this to the modern offsprings.

[@BriteNiteProductions]

Have you reviewed Railroad Tycoon yet? I've always loved that game and I'd enjoy seeing an LGR review of it :D

[@gabyu]

yes, and it sounds even more amazing on amiga.

[@Rubbleblock]

It's a great design-choice of the game that the stored resources are visible as physical things. It really appeals to the collector and gatherer in us, more satisfying than a mere number. A lot of the joy of playing games like Dune 2 were the satisfaction of scavenging a thick load of spice and seeing your harvester return fully loaded to the base. It's downright odd that not every game implements a tangible hoarding factor.

[@daturave]

I remember buying this at a young age, was very cheap for being just released. I liked the graphics and actually played quite a lot, always failing in the end. Maybe it was the ski resorts i always invested in :D (IIRC) Ps. I played the PC version but don't remember the game over screen ?

[@jeffmasson1979]

I love it when santa flys over every year always made me smile as a kid1

[@pjousma]

So it's like sc2000, but without the orbituary placing of roads, pipes and subways all the time.. seems pretty cool!

[@TheFoodieCutie]

Haven't played it in almost 27 years and I still know the theme song at the beginning of this video.

[@purplepioneer5644]

This is actually a good simulator of how mass transit systems allowed for the growth of cities before cars and how those companies were able to subsidize the expensive rail network with value added services along the network