JR EAST Train Simulator

There are enough original and original projects in the simulation genre. Some of them have no equal in the industry throughout its history. One of these games is JR EAST Train Simulator. What are its features, differences from competitors, advantages and disadvantages? Let's start with the basics.

Driving a train the Japanese way

JR EAST Train Simulator is a real simulator for train drivers and staff of the Japanese company, which provides passenger and freight transportation in the country. The realistic project was created by ONGAKUKAN studio together with a joint stock company operating in eastern Honshu. This company uses their joint product to train new employees and re-qualify already experienced workers.

Thus, JR EAST Train Simulator is more than a game. It is a full-fledged simulator, albeit with its own unique story and backstory. Although depending on the level of difficulty it is also capable of turning into a fun pastime.

A quick way to become a real machinist

The plot of the game is based on the hiring of a new employee at JR EAST. He will have to be trained and become a driver of a modern electric train. There are three routes to choose from:

• Tokyo-Shinagawa
• Takao-Hachioji
• Matsumoto-Azusabashi

Each of them is operated by a particular model of rolling stock. Therefore, it will take time to learn the dashboard and the intricacies of locomotive control. At first, the user takes on the responsibilities of an apprentice driver. And eventually gets the opportunity to become a senior driver of the train.

The movement is carried out on three existing lines. For their detailed elaboration, the creators of the project used photos and videos from real routes. Therefore, residents of eastern Honshu will have no trouble recognizing their native places in the simulator.

The game has three levels of difficulty. In beginner mode, you can control the game in a simplified way. And on a difficult level you need to keep in mind dozens of minute details, down to the exact schedule of the train and the time of his stops at the nearest stations.

Unlike Trainz: A New Era and other similar products, JR EAST Train Simulator is much closer to operating a real train. You can feel it even in beginner's mode. The only game that can even slightly compare with it in terms of realism is Microsoft Train Simulator.

Advantages and disadvantages

The project deserves attention already because it belongs to the world's first franchise, which became the official train driving simulator of an active company from Japan. Also among its pluses most often sounded:

• Photorealistic graphics
• Detailed recreation of active routes, branches and lines
• Accurate reproduction of the instrument panel and the train cabin

At the same time the game has a primitive, but still worthy of attention story. And thanks to the different levels of difficulty locomotive control is greatly simplified.

The main disadvantages of this simulator are too cartoonish visualization of the train cabin and a small number of branches available for research. However, in the near future, the developers are going to add new routes to the project. And in time they are planning to improve the "soap" graphics.