Railway Empire 2 Review (E)
Summary - Don't buy Railway Empire 2 and instead, buy Railway Empire 1. (I'll change this review when the game improves. While I've wrote a lot negativity here, I fully enjoy the first game and hope the studio will improve over the first in this new one. Until that time comes, this opinion will hold.).
I'll begin with why for the negative review; between positive and negative, this game leans heavily in the negative format when you strip it down to the gameplay elements in comparison to Railway Empires 1, the first game in this series.
The Positive;
- Graphics are beautiful for a simulator game, and vast improvement over the first with customization of trains in changing there colour. Minor, but a lovely little feature which is a treat and going further is the detail to the scenery and engines themselves. A great improvement all and all. This is the strongest case for improvement.
The Middle-Ground;
- The track signalling is more streamlined and less central. This is both good & terrible. While the process is easier to manage and conduct, it's a bit iffy if you want total management over the system in play. You lose the ability to set things how you desire in comparison to the first game. While this makes it far easier for new players to the series to grasp the basics, it leaves veterans for the first game frustrated in a strange way? It's a little difficult to explain it. You have this sense of "Meh, this /isn't/ right..." when establishing your tracks.
- The station setup is.. This should be a positive but fails to grasp that area. You have more choice and here, is where the game is lacking overall. The more choices aren't worth it overall in the longer run for scenarios. On the surface, looks impression but doesn't bring anything to the table where you feel the urge in requiring as the differences are minor at most.
- The gridiron isn't overly useful and it's a hassle to make your own crossovers. The previous system with signal stations was and is superior to this current system as the old way worked far better with custom signalling system than this new automatic way.
- Little content was added overall in comparison to the first game. Overall, this is akin to a mobile game.
The Negative;
- Content is lacking horribly for the price. For the current price, you can invest in a MMO for a few months/buy AAA title(couple with the sales ongoing)/the first game with other games you enjoy. The current price tag for a game that has less but shiner shell doesn't make for continuation in a series. There is absolutely no grounds for this absurd pricing when the current game is bare-bones, riddled with bugs and less customization in how you manage your railway company.
- Same train behaviour and bugs from the first game coming over into this proclaimed continuation. When you buy another game in a series that is newer, you expect some features to remain the same while improving or more commonly in these times, being worse than the first. This is one the few times where pricing is steep while the game offers less and while at it, includes all the bugs from the first while adding extra slice of life of new bugs in the new game.
Trains will always automatically strive for the shortest route. This means they will not change from the route given unless it's manual order. To newer players this doesn't seem bad until you're trying to avoid traffic with simple and easier means through sidelines. For example, when setting up a supply station for fuel/water, you typically have a sideline in the game to avoid this and prevent traffic piling up on the mainline. (In real life, the station itself is usually placed on a sideline to prevent the mainline getting clogged but it's a game, let's leave this aspect out of it.. Ahem.).
Here, to get around in this issue in the first game. You'd make 8/4 tracks where the train AI would avoid(basically, you fooled the train AI to work as you'd expect it) but you can't in this one due to the automatic signalling.
- More choice doesn't always equal good. At the moment, in date with this review, the addons for stations aren't always working as they're supposed to. Sometimes the bonus doesn't work, other times, it does but again, isn't viable as you'll be using the same setup the majority of the time which renders all the other options moot outside scenarios/campaign when a task purposely insists you do this. Then you do it, and quickly remove them straight after completing the objective!
- I'm adding this into the negative side solely as it's the biggest complaint by the community this far while I personally enjoy it, I find myself leaning into the majority for hating the lack of option on speed. The faster option is supposedly x3 but continues at a snail's pace. The game recommends you zoom-out and.. Continues to move at a somewhat faster pace? It isn't noticeable in the earlier time-periods with how slow the engines are to begin with. In all, this issue needs to sorted and adjusted rapidly.
- AI.. Boy, oh boy, the AI and.. Everything in relation to your rivals is wacky. This area is difficult to get into how unfathomably stupid the AI is. They're supposed to give you some sense of a challenge or keep you on your toes for expansion but it's like nipping into your local store for a few items. You grab what you want, easy and quickly, then go to queue at the checkout but find it's easier to use the self-service as the two in front are too busy talking. In a nutshell; you can either stand in queue and be there for days waiting for the AI to do something /useful/ or go about your own business with it doing nothing. That isn't fun. Isn't engaging. You might as well let us buy the AI out at the right start of the game and we can remove the deadweight to begin playing properly.
- Price! I've made mention but hear me out here. Until the developers begin using there fingers for making adjustments to the game rather than picking their noses. Don't buy this game. In it's current stage, it's a flop and the first game while older and less graphically inclined is a bundle of fun where you can move at a slower pace or not. The AI is better equipped, both games are practically using the game engines and time periods. The biggest differences are between these two games are; you have less polish on the surface but far more under the hood. That old banger might not have aged well but by god, she's sweeter and knows how to purr.
Railway Empire 2 is overreaching and my only regret is buying the deluxe edition as I wanted to further support the studio but I can't recommend this game to players until fundamental changes are made. Right now, it's similar to early access game and comes across as a scam. This my opinion, take or leave it. Early access status is desperately required as this feels honest-to-good scam when held under the spotlight.
As a little side-noted, since this game was released. I've find myself playing the first one constantly solely for the content and fun it brings over supposedly better RW2. Spend your money wisely; play the first game. You won't regret it!