Enter the Dreamcast era. Following up on a less than stellar translation to PlayStation, GOD Games and Tremor Entertainment have decided to get together and do the PC version justice. Bent on erasing the memory of the low-resolution mess that found its way onto Sony's machine, the Dreamcast port will be much closer to it's home computer counterpart. Luckily for us, it looks as though the experienced development team is on the right track (ahem).
If you're unfamiliar with the concept behind Railroad Tycoon, it goes a little something like this; Build your fledgling railroad company into a track-laying giant in the span of 100 years. Beginning in 1800 and finishing up in the early 20th century, you can use any number of methods to force your company to prominence. Play the stock market and risk all your earnings, build optional routes for cities that would benefit from an additional link, or just follow your mission guidelines and finish what you need to finish. Open-ended and deep as the ocean, there's a lot of freedom lurking in the recesses of every terrain.
While the graphics cannot match the ultra tight resolution we could find on our desktops (not that anyone could, numbers that high just aren't possible on our home televisions yet), they'll nonetheless be very attractive. Worlds beyond the bleeding, low-quality imagery we saw on the 32-bit console, the developers have reworked the engine entirely. Moving the whole enchilada into a free-roaming 3D environment (complete with adjustable camera), the polygon trains and structures will quickly make you forget all about TV limitations.
Another welcome change to the game comes in the form of added scenarios. Complete campaigns set all over the world including Canada, the United States, China, Europe, and more only begin to scratch the surface. You can even re-live World War II missions and reenact the supply line from ally to ally. Play a single mission or an entire career all with the push of a button. Made easier with a revamped interface set to cater to the Dreamcast controller, Railroad Tycoon II is easily a worthy improvement over it's PS cousin.
Of course the most exciting feature the sim has in store comes in the form of Internet play. Able to choose from among 33 multi-player scenarios you and five of your buddies can race against time via your telephone lines. One of the first titles to offer Internet play, novies, business fiends, and experienced net jockeys alike are sure to grab the game on the merit of this option alone.
Only a hop, skip, and a jump away from hitting store shelves, Railroad Tycoon II poised to become one the Dreamcast's premiere titles of 2000. Internet play, an improved graphical engine, and over 60 types of different engines and trains could be enough to steal the show from flashier, less brainy entries in the video game world. Look for it this June, all aboard!
-- Jeremy Dunham, Contributor
