The 3D views makes sense for this game (not like some games that get boring very quickly after the novelty of the "special effects" wears off). It is great to be able to zoom in an out of things easily, turn the maps, etc.
Railroad Tycoon 3 keeps the interesting decisions in the game, while allowing you to delegate some decisions (such as car consists) that can really get tedious to do manually later in the games.
Nice job Poptop!
I also like it better than Tropico because there are victory conditions. You know whether you did well or not in Railroad Tycoon and you can work to improve your performance. In Tropico, as good an economic sim as it is, too often you feel like the game just ended without any particular success or failure.
And aside from the business sim issues, the railroads and historical context make it fun on another level.
It is not, however, for kids (as one reviewer suggested). The stock market element and the semi-complicated supply and demand issues would be way too complicated for even a nine year old.
The 3D option is terrific! You can almost jump inside the cabin of any train or follow its way with the camera fixed on it, rotating the view as you wish.
The game is really easy to play and very realistic. ie, passengers now travel only to cities and not to fruit orchards.
You have many scenarios or campaigns to play and if you just want to lay tracks and run trains there is a special option called "sandbox" which allows you just specifically that.
I do not give it a 5 star due to the lack of a good tutorial, not my case but necessary IMHO, and the editor is not quite easy to use.
I have not had any problem at all installing it, although I'm aware there have been problems. Read the technical specs prior buying it.
But, if you like trains this is game you should definitely have.
I still recommend this game because of its very high replay value and the fact that it is just fun.
