Language: English
The First Train Valley game was a mostly relaxing experience in which you were managing trains in the area - you decided which one will start at which moment and try to set the switches so it would reach its destination marked by the colour of the train and the station. I said mostly relaxing because there was a mean streak about it - on some levels you not only had to deal with the traffic, but also with random special trains that will just show up at any given time.
The Second Train Valley game moved into a slightly different direction - from managing the trains, it became more of a puzzle game. And by puzzle game, I mean you not only need to figure out how to lay the tracks so they would reach the other stations, you also need to figure out how to do it on a really strict budget. Oh yeah, and there is one more obstacle - some of the stations manufacture some resources, others transform those resources into something else and some other are source of the workers that are needed basically everywhere.
What is the effect of those changes? On first levels there is not much difference - you need to deliver coal, metal ore and workers so they could produce a piece of metal, so you link mines to the factory and city to the factory to deliver resources and workers. But with each level the formulas become more and more complicated - you need metal and wood f.e. produce chairs and the city will only accept the chairs.
At first glance it seems like just a slight improvement on the old formula from Train Valley, but once the environment becomes more and more complicated, you will get more and more frustrated. The maps are built in a way that it is often a challenge to even work out how you can lay the tracks, not to mention you need to figure out how to make money to pay for them. Unfortunately, in most cases there is only one way you can lay down the tracks within your budget and within limitations set by the environment (hence it is more a puzzle game than a train game).
And just like in the first game, Train Valley 2 has a mean streak hidden in the side, some of the levels are just built to be frustrating, or they introduce mechanics that are not fully explained. For example, in Panama Canal level parts of the canal will be filled with water making them unavailable, but you have no indicator when, which make the level especially tricky.
But there are also some good innovations in Train Valley 2, f.e. editor that allows users to make their own maps and publish them for other players to enjoy. As for the main game, it is technically better than Train Valley, but the frustration and limitations of the levels make this game a bit disappointing. At least, if you are not a huge fan of puzzle games.
Our rating
4.4
/ 10
Game value
4
/ 10
Train scenes
4
/ 5
Adventure
1
/ 5
Scenery
2
/ 5
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