Metro Simulator 2 is a collaboration between KishMish Games and Ultimate Games SA. First releasing on PC, the game was released on the Nintendo Switch on February 21 this year, before being ported to Xbox One and the Series X/S on the 21st of April.
Metro Simulator 2 – Gameplay
Starting with the first scenario, my introduction to Metro Simulator 2 was driving (or attempting to, at least) a post-soviet train through four Russian stations. Straight away I was met with overwhelmingly long instructions on how to operate the train and to actually get it moving and – more importantly – stopping where I wanted it to.
Thankfully, during this tutorial level handy arrows indicated the many buttons I needed to press in order to achieve forward momentum, so it was just a case of pressing the buttons that the big red arrows were pointing to. However, the long-winded explanations gave the process of moving a train an unnecessarily daunting edge that lent little clarity to what I was actually doing. In fact, having spent several hours in the rickety cabin, I still have a lot to learn before applying for my train licence.
By way of mercy, the developers have had the foresight to include a way to zoom in and out of the control panel. With some of the buttons being so small, it’s still sometimes difficult to press them but being able to zoom in and out using the left and right triggers proved to be a massive benefit when it came to operating the smaller buttons and the traffic lights (although, I will admit that the mild stick drift my control pad is experiencing didn’t help matters).
The first scenario in Metro Simulator 2 is little more than a short journey to get you to grips with the game, yet they seem to throw you in at the deep-end with a primitive train and the need of an engineering degree to control it. Featuring just 4 stops, this opening level should be as easy as pie but the realization that this wasn’t to be the case was quickly realized, partly due to game-breaking bugs.
Bugs on the Line in Metro Simulator 2
After struggling through the first scenario, I was twice met with bugs that meant I had to start again on my quest to transport my passengers. The first time happened when I finally rolled up to my final stop (on time, no less) to be met with textures popping to an extent that I couldn’t see anything that was happening. Brushing it off as “one of those things”, I bravely stepped back in to my cabin and once again managed to safely transport my passengers to the end-line in time and with no incident. However, it was here that I was asked to press ‘Y’ to change cabins and end the scenario, yet pressing ‘Y’ did absolutely nothing.
It’s needless to say that this added to my frustrations and gave Metro Simulator 2 a place in my mind forever, although for all of the wrong reasons. It’s simply another case of lazy developers not testing ports before release. It’s not something that should be happening in today’s day and age and I’m not holding my breath for a patch.
Metro Simulator 2 – Summary
Metro Simulator 2 would be an ideal for a serious train enthusiast. It’s intricate in a way that puts you in full control of the train but also in a way that will possibly be daunting for most. Having little interest in trains, I found it hard to look beyond the bugs and persevere but die hard enthusiasts will surely find some enjoyment in this frustrating title.
REVIEW
OUR SCORE - 4
4
SCORE
Having little interest in trains, I found it hard to look beyond the bugs and persevere but die hard enthusiasts will surely find some enjoyment in this frustrating title.