Prepare Sim World 6 has advanced dramatically because the first sport within the franchise, launched in 2018.
Again then, the franchise felt scrappy and simplistic, however it’s come on leaps and bounds within the years since.
This latest instalment is probably essentially the most polished but: its presentation – whereas flawed beneath scrutiny – offers you the true sense you’re on a journey, and its suite of obtainable content material is bordering on unfathomable at this level.
That’s as a result of Dovetail has been iterating on the identical core foundations for a number of years now, and whereas this sixth version of the sequence is undoubtedly the very best, it additionally feels considerably superfluous.
For a number of years now, the UK studio has been releasing annual updates for this sequence which enhance upon the core expertise with out actually reinventing it. It’s turn into a bit like a sports activities sport in some methods.
However the developer would rightly argue that you just don’t have to buy this new model in the event you don’t need to: out there till eleventh November, a free consumer named the Starter Pack will let you obtain the improve and import your whole current content material without spending a dime. Beneficiant.
So, what’s new, then? Properly, the slogan for this 12 months’s sport is “count on the surprising”, and that’s underlined by a variables system which can impression your journeys in unpredictable methods.
Whether or not it’s a light-weight failure, a signalling difficulty, or a damaged window wiper, chances are you’ll discover your journeys halted by surprising points. The concept is to present variance to every journey which can hold you in your toes, growing replayability.
When you think about that every route in Prepare Sim World 6 comes with upwards of 500 completely different timetables to finish, it’s an addition that can make every journey really feel recent. Pair this with the dynamic climate system and also you do have a fantastically versatile foundation for a near-infinite variety of situations.
However the crew, maybe recognising not everybody will need to cope with these obstacles, has made the random encounters a toggleable possibility, so that you don’t must cope with them in the event you don’t need to. That appears sensible.
The opposite large new addition this time – and no small feat to implement, we’re certain – are passenger bulletins. These embrace the bulletins of upcoming stops and actually do add a stage of immersion to the expertise that’s onerous to place into phrases. When you’ve heard them, it’s onerous to return.
It ought to be famous that these passenger bulletins solely apply to new routes for now, however Dovetail has proven some curiosity in doubtlessly patching them into well-liked previous places, which might be good.
Sadly, that’s about it for the core sport itself – there are numerous bug fixes and optimisations, however nothing transformative actually. The person interface – which was revised a few video games in the past – is usually the identical, and the entire core options from previous instalments stay.
In case you’re buying the Customary Version, nonetheless, you’re going to get entry to a few new routes and their related locos: Morristown (USA), Riviera (UK), and Dresden (Germany).
It’s as soon as once more an emphasis on the identical three nations which have dominated Prepare Sim World since its inception, however with new enlargement routes deliberate for Japan, Portugal, and Czech Repubic, it does really feel just like the sequence is lastly starting to correctly stay as much as its identify.
Of the three new routes, we’ve been having fun with Riviera essentially the most, which is a coastal route that hugs the Dawlish Sea Wall and takes you on a scenic journey from Exeter to Plymouth and Paignton.
This route particularly actually highlights the enhancements to the sport’s engine over time: you’ll cross iconic crimson rock cliff faces, seaside cities, and even funfairs – it’s beautiful.
We accomplished one timetable beginning early night, round 5PM, throughout late summer season. And we received to observe the solar slowly set as we made our method alongside the 28km-ish line by means of Torquay, with the sky turning a refined shade of purple because the day turned to nightfall.
The presentation does nonetheless undergo when noticed intently: among the observe particulars use pretty fundamental geometry, and the framerate can hiccup even on PS5 because it pulls in new property.
However what it does brilliantly is convey the passage of time.
You’ll be able to spend upwards of an hour finishing a single timetable in Prepare Sim World 6, and also you’ll at all times really feel like time has moved ahead from if you began to if you completed. That’s improbable.
Personally, we’re much less eager on the Morristown line simply because we’re not significantly keen on the operation of the American trains, just like the Jersey Arrow featured right here. However your mileage might range, and discovering your personal private preferences is a part of the enjoyable.
We must also point out the brand new Leipzig line which expands upon Nahverkehr Dresden from a earlier launch. Getting into the colossal Leipzig Hauptbahnhof is, frankly, a jaw-dropping sight – it’s one of many greatest railway stations in Europe.
We additionally actually just like the ICE-T prepare added as a part of this route – it’s such a easy trip.
However we should admit, our eyes are half fixated on upcoming additions, just like the aforementioned Tadami Line in Japan.
Followers have been ready for this one for a number of years now, and we suspect it’s going to be a milestone second for the franchise which can put recent eyes on it. You will have to purchase that individually, we must always stress.
If we had one main criticism for Prepare Sim World 6, exterior of the actual fact we don’t assume an annual launch was actually essential, it’s that with a lot content material within the sport it’s turning into tough to maintain observe of all of it.
We’re unsure we’ve an answer for Dovetail actually, and clearly it’s on the mercy of platform holders like Sony by way of the way it rolls all this content material out, however the sport can really feel like a little bit of a jumble at this level. It’s nice that all the pieces carries ahead, however good luck sustaining all of it.
Maybe additional person interface refinements might assist engaged gamers get a greater deal with on all the pieces they personal and the way it all interconnects? We’ve personally reached some extent now the place we solely hold our very favorite content material put in.
Conclusion
When you think about how far Prepare Sim World 6 has come since its authentic introduction, it’s staggering. However in contrast on to its predecessor, this new model doesn’t change so much.
The brand new Riviera route is breath-taking, and we actually recognize the addition of passenger bulletins and the random occasions that may impede your journey.
However in the event you’re not instantly drawn to any of the brand new traces, we’d suggest you concentrate on the free Starter Pack and anticipate among the upcoming expansions, which can embrace all-new nations like Japan, Portugal, and Czech Republic.
