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DENSYA DE GO!
(LET'S GO BY TRAIN! 2)
Copyright © 1996, 1998 TAITO CORP.
Copyright © 1993-1998 Sony Computer Entertainment
Sony PlayStation
Strategy
1 Player
Analog/SLPH 00051/TCPP 20001 Controller Compatible
SCPS 45361
¥5800
Available now in Japan
Where to buy
FAQ
—by Maria M. Rider
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After visiting Japan, this author has grown a liking to the public
transportation system provided in
the more metropolitan areas of Japan. The Japan Rail System (JR) is a very
intricate network of tracks and rail lines that can basically get a person
anywhere from the early morning to the late evening. The difference between
the JR system and the USA railways are that you can literally set a watch
to the JR's schedule since all of their trains arrive exactly on-time, every
time! How do they do this, you ask? Maybe they have a simulation that
plays like this game.
DENSHA DE GO! 2 is the sequel to the very popular train simulation game,
DENSHA DE GO, which was released in 1996. The sequel has the new and
faster trains but that's not all. While the first game showcased the
JR trains in Tokyo such as the Saikyo Line or the very busy Yamanote Line,
the sequel includes the newest and fastest train out there in Japan, the 200 mph
Shinkansen train as well as four other JR lines located in different parts
of Japan.
The object of the game is to operate the train line, get to different
stations in a certain amount of time, and try not to topple over your
passengers all at the same time! Seems easy enough, right? Not so! It
takes a lot of timing and control to get the train to stop "just right" and
not overshoot your station mark. There are basically two forms of
locomotion in this game: The Mascon which sets your acceleration speed ,
either all the way up to speed 8 (full speed) or the Brake which stops the
train up to a level of 5 (full stop). The trick is to decelerate just
enough to glide into the station and stop completely at the stop mark in
front of the station. The player must also travel as quickly as possible
through the other stations that the train does not stop at to score points.
There are a number of obstacles that will deter the player from accomplishing
his task. In addition to keeping an eye on the time, the player must also
keep to a certain speed and obey certain rules like sounding the horn at
tunnels and bridges.
The player gets a number of points for station pass-bys and stopping on the
stop mark. On the other hand, the player can also lose precious time by not
slowing down to the posted speed limit or not passing by stations by the
prescribed time. After each stage, a cute train conductor girl grades the
player's performance and then you may advance to the next stage, which is not
as easy as one would think.
There is no real music in the game itself besides the opening, introductions
of the different trains, and the ending which are all quite nice for a train
simulation game. What music there is ranges from a mix of gentle ballads
to hard rock. The graphics are about the same as the original, but with a
few changes such as the different passengers being tussled about and the stations. The sound
effects are phenomenal, as they totally immerse the player in the whole
traveling by Japan Rail concept. From the train horn to the electronic
ding dongs that sound off before the train is about to depart, this game
promises to truly make the train simulation as real as possible!
There are five different rail lines represented in this game, the
Akita-Shinkansen "Komachi" Series E3 (Tokyo to Akita - Max Speed 275km/h),
one of the fastest shinkansen train and the Touhoku-Shinkansen Series 200,
located in northern Japan, the other Shinkansen train. Other train lines
included in this sequel are: the Hokuhoku Line HK100, located near the
northern sea coast of Japan, the Limited-Express "Hakutaka" Series 681-2000
(Kanazawa to Echigoyuzawa - Max Speed 140km/h), located on the southern-most
island of Japan, and the Keihin-Touhoku Line Series 209, located south of
Tokyo. You have a cute mascot dressed in a train operator's uniform that
guides you through the steps on how to be a great train operator via the
Beginner's mode section of the game. There are other modes in the game such
as an Arcade Mode and a Train Museum where you can view all the different
trains in 3D.
DENSHA DE GO! 2 definitely promises a lot for the train lover and those who
enjoy a challenge. The game is not necessarily easy to beat on the first
run and can be quite frustrating after the 10th go around. Suffice to say,
DENSHA DE GO! 2 is a very playable game and it is even better with the
special controllers that you can by packed along with the game to give the
player an even truer-to-life train simulation. If you're not into
simulation games, much less train simulations, then don't bother getting
this game, but if you can try it out someplace, definitely give it a
GO!. 
Rating: 8.0/10 |
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