Train Valley (Hands-On) (PC) Preview

The structure of each scenario is largely the same, as the goal is to survive for a fixed amount of time without going bankrupt. Setting pieces of track costs money, as does clearing the land of trees and buildings, so careful resource management is the key to success. Every action is important because new stations appear periodically, in random locations, so meticulous planning early on can make adding routes easy and practical. As a result, even a simple looking map can turn into a complicated affair, as every square of space becomes increasingly valuable with each passing second.

Money is earned by successfully sending trains to their correct destinations. The quicker a journey is completed, the more money it makes. Efficient network rails are a big part of maximising revenue, by using the shortest routes possible, but systematic administration is also very helpful. Trains can be stopped and started at will to make way for others, so juggling several live routes at once can prove fruitful. Carriages can complete parts of their journeys, instead of sitting in stations losing money far from their destinations, so that income is generated at a quick and abundant pace.

At times it can appear to be frustratingly difficult, but perseverance, and a keen eye, will see most players to victory. Those looking for an even greater challenge can choose to complete any, or all, of the three optional objectives that are presented at the start of each map. These tasks add replayability, but also help tailor the experience to a range of people.

The ability to pause the game is a godsend in some of the tougher levels, as it creates the opportunity to think about what to do next. While this mode grants all the time in the world, decisions must be made relatively quickly in live play because trains can automatically depart if they haven't been moved. Stationary trains will count down before setting off, but they can lead to unexpected collisions if they aren't rerouted in time. These crashes will destroy surrounding parts of the rail network, which put a further strain on a budget that has already suffered by losing two, potentially lucrative, sources of income.

Merging different routes onto the same rail lines creates junctions that need to be maintained to avoid pile ups. Carriages won't derail because the right switch hasn't been triggered, which eases the pressure slightly, but this does not detract from the difficulty, as mismanaged junctions can lead to disastrous collisions. When multiple journeys are running at the same time, it can be easy to lose track of where everyone will end up, so pausing the game to check switches is vital to stop trains circling into each other.

The simple visuals prevent things getting too cluttered and avoid adding frustration to the gameplay, which can get frantic, even when giving orders while the game is paused. Locations are varied both in terms of environments, ranging from European countrysides to the American desert, and fixtures, as landmarks like volcanoes and French castles populate the land. A relaxing soundtrack complements the quieter moments of railroad management and helps keeps things cool when the map gets busier. Interspersing the music is a collection of whistles, station bells and the sounds of wheels rolling along tracks, all of which help to absorb players into the role of a train manager.

At the moment, three different seasons make up the game's campaign, each with six different levels. This may not seem like much, but the maps quickly become harder and the objectives in each map offer a lot of replay value. There is also a sandbox mode with no limit on time or money to offer limitless potential for railway aficionados. This Early Access title provides great value for money, and, when combined with the developers' work on a fourth season that is based in Japan, it comes highly recommended.