Railroad Tycoon II

"A charming little game."

Welcome to Railroad Tycoon II, which is an update of the original Railroad Tycoon game. You may think to yourself ''Railroad Tycoon...what’s so fun about a bunch of trains riding around?” I thought that, too, before I purchased this game. Luckily, I decided to purchase it, and not listen to my brain. I am so glad that I did! This game is SO much more than a bunch of trains riding around. You have the power to build stations, train tracks, etc, etc. Read this review, and check out this game!

Plot: 9/10

Just like the other ''Tycoon'' games out there, such as Roller Coaster Tycoon, Airport Tycoon, etc., your object is to build the biggest, best railroad you can build, while not breaking the bank. It may sound boring, but it really is not. I gave this plot a 9, because it is mostly the same old ''Tycoon'' game plot, except with a Railroad Twist.

Audio: 10/10

The sound in this game is really, really, really, wonderful. Every action has a sound, and every sound is crystal clear and very realistic. The game's background music is great also. It sounds just like it came off of a CD or radio. The audio is a really great selling feature, so if you like games with a nice tune that you can hum all day, you will love this game.

Graphics: 10/10

The graphics are also stunning and powerful. The land, sea, and everything else look like, well, the land sea, and everything else, with crisp clarity. You do not need a high-end graphics card to view the graphics, either.

Fun Level: 10/10

This game is very fun. While in other ''Tycoon'' games, you may get frustrated; it is not easy to get frustrated in this game. It is very easy and basic, while challenging.
This game is also not boring. It will keep you playing and playing. You may get bored after a month, if you are the type of person who enjoys games that are action or adventure, because this game contains neither. But, if you are the type of person that craves dominance, being the boss, and building things, you will probably like this game.

Rent vs. Buy

I would recommend that you rent this game and see if you like it first, and if you like it, then buy it. This game is the type of game that you love it or you hate it, so renting the game to try it before you buy it is your best bet. If you are strapped on cash, and you can only rent it, the game will be fun, though not as fun as if you bought it. With renting, you can only play the game for a limited period of time, and you need patience and time to play this game.

Re-play?

If you do finish this game, you will still have a lot of fun if you re play it again, because there are so many ways to do things in this game. In fact, it is kind of impossible to actually truly finish the whole game, so don't worry; this game will keep you content for a very long time.

Overview: 10/10

I give this game a 10, because has great graphics and sound, a whole bunch of fun, and a great re-play value built in.

Also, this game is one of the smaller games out there, for it only takes up 100 MB of hard drive space, compared to the other strategy games of today, most of which take up 600 MB + hard drive space. This game is also very light on computers, and it only requires a 4x CD-ROM speed, which can be found in most, if not all, computers which have Windows 95 or greater.

Now, lets take a look at the Pro's and Con's of buying this game:

Pros:
+ Light on Older PC's
+ Great graphics, sound
+ Strong re-play value

Cons:
- Has same old ''Tycoon'' game plot
- Not filled with action or adventure
- Requires patience, and time

This game is overall an excellent game. I am sure you will enjoy it if you purchase it.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 10/06/01, Updated 10/06/01