One of the few instances where the sequel
outperforms the original.

There is nothing in this world quite like experiencing the product of genius. It's one of the true enjoyments in life (other than dating a supermodel) that makes you feel like the world really is a good place. In the PC gaming world, Sid Meier is a genius, and one of his early products was a game called Railroad Tycoon. Though the idea behind that game seemed limited, Meier was able to make one of the best strategy games of all time from it, and anyone who played it walked away with a real feeling of accomplishment. Now Pop Top Software is trying to improve on this great game with the release of Railroad Tycoon II.

It would be impossible for any gamer who played the original to go into this game without a little skepticism. It's like some artist out there thinking they can improve upon the Mona Lisa. It just doesn't happen that way. Pop Top Software actually pulls this one off, and in some ways has improved upon Meier's classic so well that the original games almost pales in comparison.

The object of the game seems so simple; build a railroad company that is profitable and meet certain scenario requirements (like running a train to a particular city without one) within a certain time frame. The games' simplicity belies its difficulty, however. Railroad Tycoon is a difficult game, but it is not so difficult that it takes away from its enjoyment. Rather, the difficulty adds to the enjoyment, a rare thing these days. You'll spend some time learning how to play this game, but you'll have a good time doing it.

The best part about this game is that it is damn good fun. Even learning how to play the game is a pleasant experience. It's got some micro-management, but not so much that you spend more time checking everything out than actually playing. And, best of all, if you are not a mission-based type player, you can choose to play a particular scenario almost infinitely, whether or not you meet the scenario goals. This is a welcomed twist, and it makes each scenario a full game in itself.

Graphics are excellent in this game, though you do need a video card capable of 1024X768 at 16m colors, though this is not a steep requirement by today's standards. No 3D card is required, which is almost a welcomed omission. The train animations and rendered station screens are absolutely excellent; one gets the feeling that they are perfect for this type of game. That's because they are. The sounds in this game are subtle, but again perfect, adding ambiance to the game while not drawing too much attention to themselves. Pop Top Software must have gotten hold of Sid Meier's secret book on how to make a great game, because they found all the elements and put them in the right place. I can't think of anything that could be added to this game which would make it any better.

The only drawback to this game is that some of the missions feel a bit out of place. This is an extremely minor gripe, but one that is noticed after logging in some hours on the game. I, for one, would have preferred a missionless game, one where you start out as a small time railroad company owner and work your way across the country, trying to beat out the competition. But remember this is a minor complaint, and one that most probably won't bother too many people.

There is really not much else to say here. Forget about the seemingly limited premise of this game and plunk down the dollars to buy this game. If you are still a bit wary, download the demo. If you are disappointed, e-mail me and tell me why. I'd really bet the house on this one. Though it does rely heavily on a game that was excellent to begin with, Railroad Tycoon II is a perfect example of how important execution is in a video game. Pop Top Software should be applauded for resurrecting such a great game and praised for showing everyone how to do it right.

Reviewed by John Misak, PC Gameworld.