Recently purchased Auran Trainz Classics to try out their rendition of the Harlem Line. Here's my review.
Pros:
- Trains look pretty realistic
- Stations and track layout seem to be realistic
- You can switch between cab view and external views
- You can choose to have complex controls (brakes, reverser, etc. much like MSTS) or a simpler "DCC Mode" which is like running a model train
Cons:
- Even though my PC exceeds the minimum technical requirements, the simulation takes awhile to load up. There are times when you can be running down the track for awhile with no problems, then it suddenly gets herky-jerky -- particularly when entering an area with many buildings. I'd hate to even THINK of how this game runs on a computer that just barely meets the minimum requirements.
- The cab of the ACMU is also used to simulate the cab of the Bombardier Shoreliners, despite not being the same
- It only simulates from Bronxville to Southeast. You can't go further than Southeast, even if you have a diesel-driven consist, and you can't go all the way to GCT. (The latter is probably a good thing, as I'd hate to see this simulation go crazy trying to render Manhattan.)
- So far, I haven't been able to figure out how to pick which kind of train you get. Seems like the standard run northbound gets an FL-9. The standard southbound run puts you in a Shorliner cab, being pushed by a Genny. There are also specific missions for learning how to operate under signaling -- I only did one so far, and they gave me a train of ACMUs.
Now, you CAN switch to other trains that are "active" in the simulation, but you can't move to the cab at the other end of the train. When you start the standard southbound mission, there's a Northbound M-7 train. You can take it over if you like, but it's almost at Southeast anyway -- so you only get to run it a few stops before it's over. (You can run it backwards, but that's pretty lame since cab view is useless.)
- The game doesn't seem to really care about speed limits. I ran a train at 110 mph, and it never went off any curves, the alerter never beeped at me, nothing.
- The documentation leaves a little bit to be desired
- Unless I just haven't found it yet, there's no "mission" where you run the line under a schedule. The missions I've played, you can go as fast or slow as you want... stop or don't stop at the stations... the game doesn't really care. It's almost kind of boring since there's no objectives, no rewards for meeting such, or penalties for screwing up. It would be neat if they had you running on the actual Metro-North schedule (or even a fake schedule), trying to hit the stations on-time... lining up the trains with the platforms, etc.
Things that made me laugh:
- Spotting an FL-9 on an adjacent track, pulling 15 freight cars
- Being passed on the express track by a train of SPV-2000s -- below North White Plains
- After "parking" my default southbound train in the middle of nowhere, I took over the M7 at Southeast, and started running in reverse. Since it's a southbound train, I was routed onto the southbound track, eventually coming up behind my original train. I hit at 40mph, expecting a crash -- but instead, they coupled together and ran as one long train! Yes, I had a consist of 4 Shoreliners, a Genny, and several M-7's.
At first I just thought the M-7's were "pushing" the other train, but when I stopped and went the other direction, the entire train followed.
I wish I could post some screenshots on my website, but whenever I hit the PrintScreen key to copy the current screen to the clipboard, it pastes into Photoshop as a blank screen. Must be some special way to take screenshots, but I haven't found it in the documentation.
Pros:
- Trains look pretty realistic
- Stations and track layout seem to be realistic
- You can switch between cab view and external views
- You can choose to have complex controls (brakes, reverser, etc. much like MSTS) or a simpler "DCC Mode" which is like running a model train
Cons:
- Even though my PC exceeds the minimum technical requirements, the simulation takes awhile to load up. There are times when you can be running down the track for awhile with no problems, then it suddenly gets herky-jerky -- particularly when entering an area with many buildings. I'd hate to even THINK of how this game runs on a computer that just barely meets the minimum requirements.
- The cab of the ACMU is also used to simulate the cab of the Bombardier Shoreliners, despite not being the same
- It only simulates from Bronxville to Southeast. You can't go further than Southeast, even if you have a diesel-driven consist, and you can't go all the way to GCT. (The latter is probably a good thing, as I'd hate to see this simulation go crazy trying to render Manhattan.)
- So far, I haven't been able to figure out how to pick which kind of train you get. Seems like the standard run northbound gets an FL-9. The standard southbound run puts you in a Shorliner cab, being pushed by a Genny. There are also specific missions for learning how to operate under signaling -- I only did one so far, and they gave me a train of ACMUs.
Now, you CAN switch to other trains that are "active" in the simulation, but you can't move to the cab at the other end of the train. When you start the standard southbound mission, there's a Northbound M-7 train. You can take it over if you like, but it's almost at Southeast anyway -- so you only get to run it a few stops before it's over. (You can run it backwards, but that's pretty lame since cab view is useless.)
- The game doesn't seem to really care about speed limits. I ran a train at 110 mph, and it never went off any curves, the alerter never beeped at me, nothing.
- The documentation leaves a little bit to be desired
- Unless I just haven't found it yet, there's no "mission" where you run the line under a schedule. The missions I've played, you can go as fast or slow as you want... stop or don't stop at the stations... the game doesn't really care. It's almost kind of boring since there's no objectives, no rewards for meeting such, or penalties for screwing up. It would be neat if they had you running on the actual Metro-North schedule (or even a fake schedule), trying to hit the stations on-time... lining up the trains with the platforms, etc.
Things that made me laugh:
- Spotting an FL-9 on an adjacent track, pulling 15 freight cars
- Being passed on the express track by a train of SPV-2000s -- below North White Plains
- After "parking" my default southbound train in the middle of nowhere, I took over the M7 at Southeast, and started running in reverse. Since it's a southbound train, I was routed onto the southbound track, eventually coming up behind my original train. I hit at 40mph, expecting a crash -- but instead, they coupled together and ran as one long train! Yes, I had a consist of 4 Shoreliners, a Genny, and several M-7's.
At first I just thought the M-7's were "pushing" the other train, but when I stopped and went the other direction, the entire train followed.
I wish I could post some screenshots on my website, but whenever I hit the PrintScreen key to copy the current screen to the clipboard, it pastes into Photoshop as a blank screen. Must be some special way to take screenshots, but I haven't found it in the documentation.
.
. The inside of the M7 is neat there is just one thing i don't agree with and thats the 32 or 35 different acceleration slots.... as far as I know the M7 has 5 slots on the accelerator. Max accel min accel coast min break max break..... and It took me a while to figure out how to switch from the cab to the disel on the same train. It's ctrl + C. And when I installed I met all the requirements but the processor. I only have a 900mhz celeron non upgradeable >.<.... barely... but I made it. Good luck to thoes that get it. I lagged like hell driving the M7 into NWP.