"Chris Sawyer's Locomotion" Review (PC)

Try your hand at becoming a transportation tycoon in "Locomotion." If you look beyond the surface of the "RollerCoaster Tycoon" style graphics, you'll find some endearing qualities. However, it will take a patient gamer to work through way through the construction system and interface to find and enjoy the smaller, addicting details of "Locomotion." If you are giddy at the thought of setting up trade routes and managing cargo, "Locomotion" is for you.

Connect cities with airports, ships, trains, busses, and trams, to serve their transportation needs. "Locomotion" challenges you to use the transportation methods available to help grow cities within the scenario. Cargo will need to be transported from the city to city, in order for new products (such as steel) to be made. You'll need to set up routes for each system to be sure the cities are being served in an efficient fashion. As the transportation system succeeds and grows, buildings will be built and improved upon.

The problem is "Locomotion" uses the "RollerCoaster Tycoon" game engine from the '90s. The game needs a better interface than "RCT" offers. While I'm not a 3D graphic engine junky, I don't want to go back to the 90s. Gamers were tired of the old "RCT" look, so there will always be a longing for me that "Locomotion" was graphically updated, even just a little.

The interface is familiar, but features feel hidden. To get to the information, you have to go through at least one too many screens. The screen is usually filled with small, adjustable screens in order to change anything with the system.

Buried in the menus of "Locomotion" you'll find control over the small details of running a transportation system. There is always something you should be checking or adding. Transportation routes need to be set and cargo needs to be transported from factory to factory. These details will keep you working on a scenario much longer into the night than you had planned.