Here’s your chance to be the next james watt. albeit, a little differently. There’s something wonderful about setting up a toy train on a PC screen. Sid Meier’s Railroads! from Firaxis provides the perfect tool for creating these trains in a fun environment. Those who want a colourful and entertaining railroad game will find Railroads! a happy game.

Firaxis created Sid Meier’s Railroads! with the thought of putting fun and creation back into a game that brings alive the railroads. As a player, you will mostly have to worry about supply and demand. Only when you manage to eliminate another player by buying out that player’s stock, do you get crowned a winner. In fact, it sets the mood for some real competition.

The objectives of the game are simple. It succeeds in pushing the players towards becoming more skilled so as to compete against better Artificial Intelligence or human opponents.

The real strength rests in finding out which are the best routes for delivery. Planning out a perfect railway system is near impossible, but it’s definitely fun to try. The trick lies in planning the shortest route between stops while keeping in mind the inclines and turns, both of which will slow down a train.

The great part about all of this is that laying tracks is easy and fun. So anybody playing the game for the first time will find it an easy job. The game will automatically change the terrain, create bridges and tunnels, and control construction costs depending on the kind of structures or inclines along the way. It makes creating a railway system quick and fun.

It would be wise for players to keep their engines updated. The longer they’re out on the track, the higher the upkeep. The maintenance cost of new engines is high right from the beginning but deliver goods efficiently.

Each city will have a number of industry plots depending on its size. Players can also purchase these industries. The problem is that they are expensive. Industries don’t have a maintenance cost so after the initial cost of purchase, you’ll only be reaping profit.

All this is definitely fun to do online though anyone looking to play with others should be prepared to sit down for a long match. It would be nice if there were options for shorter games online.

The game is wonderful to look at, colourful and bright trains and industries pulsate with life. With bustling cities and trains, the map takes on a life of its own. The sounds are also wonderful.

Overall, Railroads! is a fun experience for anyone who likes trains. The challenges lie more in railway planning and competitive design. The real fun comes from planning the best routes and laying efficient tracks.

Minimum system requirements: processor: 1.4 GHz or higher, RAM: 512 MB or higher, modem: 56 KB or higher (multiplayer), video card: GeForce 3 or higher.