It wasn’t too long ago that I was managing messed up train routes for an archipelago in Railway Islands, but I’m already preparing to don a similar hat once more and get on board with Railbound.
Coming from Afterburn, the developers of the rather creative Golf Peaks, Railbound is described as a ‘comfy track-bending puzzle game’ featuring a pair of dogs. It sounds promising and there’s certainly potential for a chilled brain workout to be had here. So let’s find out whether you’ll see the Railbound journey through its final destination, or be looking to get off a few stops earlier.Â
Get ready to join a couple of canines looking for adventure as they travel across the globe in Railbound. The only problem in regards to proceeding with their plans is the fact that the railway lines are disjointed and disconnected. You’ll need to re-route a whole host of tracks, ensuring carriages can safely reach the pair’s locomotive. Sounds straightforward enough, right?
For the most part, it sure is.
There are ten worlds, each with a differing amount of regular levels within, as well as unlockable bonus ones. What this means is that over 200 levels are present throughout, which is pretty darn impressive. The sheer volume of content is a real asset, assuming you find that the puzzles have enough new mechanics introduced regularly in order to keep the challenges feeling fresh.
The opening gambit sees you faced with a passenger carriage situated four tile spaces behind the locomotive, and there’s just a single piece of track in place. As luck would have it, you possess three pieces of track in your inventory, which simply need putting down in a straight line. If you hold down the track placement button, then drag the cursor towards the next tile, it will automatically be laid in the correct orientation for the direction your route is heading. Another perfectly viable option is to go one piece at a time and alter each one manually. Obviously, further levels get bigger and the number of track pieces at your disposal increases accordingly.
The general objective of using the limited inventory, in tandem with the railway parts that are already set in stone, to create a working route is at the heart of the puzzling. A host of complementing ideas are also thrown into the mix as progression is made. For example, increasing the number of carriages conjures up a real conundrum as they must arrive in a specific order. This is where looping layouts and forks in the railway allow the carriages to be reorganised.
The rest of the additions include tunnels that work as teleportation portals, switches to alter the direction of a forked piece, imposter trolleys that need to be kept out of the way, and stops where there are passengers to pick up using certain carriages. It’s the barriers that have the biggest effect however, halting carriages to a stationary position until another passes by. Other than track pieces, barriers are the only other mechanic you have influence over and so putting them in the right spot is no easy feat.
All of the above do bring about a more interesting affair as you prepare routes, test them, and then adapt the setup until triumphant. Whether there’s adequate variation present to hook you in for lengthy sessions, I’m not sure , mostly due to it naturally becoming a bit samey with so many levels to tackle.
Railbound does also become quite difficult with those variables having to be factored into eventual solutions. It certainly could be a worry for anyone not up to the task, because this might result in you contemplating bailing out of the journey prematurely. Thankfully though, Afterburn have included two standout accessibility features to ensure even the most inept puzzlers can experience the entire world tour.Â
The first is the option to unlock all levels in an instant, which means you won’t get stuck on a level forevermore. And then the other is a hint system that’s absolutely perfect for everyone. This is due to the way that only a few of the correct track placements are shown each time help is requested. Therefore, you could just receive a small helping hand to kickstart, but figure out the majority of the solution yourself. Alternatively, multiple usage of the hints can essentially map the whole layout of a level. The choice is yours as to how much of a struggle you want in exchange for the joy of success.
Should you implement either option, there’s absolutely zero chance of ever getting frustrated by the problems at hand. Especially given how lovely the whole atmosphere is from start to finish. In terms of visuals, the environments aren’t overly detailed, but the colour palette changes often enough and delivers a consistently cute style. On the audio front, the background music sounds quite serene, with the toot-toot of the train gleefully signalling success as it departs.
Railbound really puts you to task with its whopping amount of track manipulating levels. It’s a case of trial, occasional error, and frequent elation, which makes for a very good puzzling experience that’ll last a fair few hours. The accessibility options are crucial in preventing any annoyance arising, by allowing everyone the opportunity to succeed. A few more fresh ideas wouldn’t go amiss though, with the concept feeling a tad monotonous when you’ve worked through a large chunk of the vast number on offer.
If you want a tricky puzzler that retains its relaxing vibe for the duration, then you should choo-choo-choose Railbound!
