Driving the Rails of Berlin and Hamburg
When you’ve been on an underground system in any city around the world, whether it is London, New York, or Berlin, you do ask yourself questions about how it all works. What happens if you get stuck in a tunnel? Why does the train suddenly stop at stations without any reason? Why is that man opposite singing ‘Somewhere over the Rainbow’, looking me straight in the eye?
Well, with SubwaySim 2, you might not get answers to all the questions, but you should be able to gather a better understanding of how the day of a train driver works.
Twin Cities, Endless Tracks
We’re here with SubwaySim 2, but I don’t think it matters a jot as to whether you have played the first game or not.
In this game, you get to explore a few underground tracks across the two German cities of Hamburg and Berlin, taking in and driving around some 41km of track, with a lot of it being overground. There are 51 stations to arrive and depart from, with a lively commuter feel and dynamic weather as well. There isn’t a story though, unless you want to give yourself a mind-generated backstory about how driving the train has saved you from a life of crime, much like I did.
So there is a tutorial to do, which is worth it; honestly, it is. I have played a lot of these type of games, mostly in the form of the Train Sim World franchise, and even though some things are the same as here, there is a more local detail to setting up and running with these German trains. When you feel comfortable with that, then a good place to start is the Career mode. Here you customise from a limited number of presets, and off you go on your first train journey.
The Driver’s Routine
SubwaySim 2 is set in the first person, as you dive into your cab and have to go through a series of safety checks, manual logins across a security screen, and then you are ready to push the accelerator and off you go.
Driving from this point is quite straightforward – basically accelerating and braking. As is standard for these games, you’ll need to stick to a timetable, try not to run any red lights, and then pull into the station. When you get there, open the doors to let the passengers in and out, then close them and off you go again.
That is very much the basic routine of your train journeys and gameplay, and some will love this. Others will probably just about get to the first station before binning it off.
Beyond the Rails: Scenarios and Variety
Luckily, SubwaySim 2 has a thing called scenarios, where in each of the cities on offer you have some problems that you have to deal with. This could be heavy rain, or sending a carriage back to the depot because it’s been graffitied over. There is even one that has you dealing with crowds from Oktoberfest.
It’s a welcome addition to keep the interest up and provides some fun things to do. Of course, if you’re a bit of a purist, you may just prefer to follow the routes, taking in the cities on offer, and that’s fine; SubwaySim 2 caters for all.
Visually, SubwaySim 2 looks good throughout, with its authentic trains on offer. The landmarks of Hamburg and Berlin are visible when the train goes overground, and the weather effects are well-produced. But, much like in other games of this ilk, there is a big problem – loads of identical twin passengers. The sound effects are good and the train noises, announcements are all great with some jolly music underneath it all.
A Solid Subway Simulation for Aspiring Drivers
Is SubwaySim 2 any different from the plethora of other games in the genre? Well, the trains and locations are different, and the way the train operates and what you need to do to get it going are pretty unique. But the general gameplay – that of being a train driver – is essentially the same.
Whether you’ll find enjoyment with SubwaySim 2 or not will depend on how much you like picking up passengers and working your way across routes in an allotted time. That said, the scenarios on offer are good, adding a bit of variety to the usual gameplay, almost adding in a story.
If you’re a train fan, hit the tracks with SubwaySim 2 – Germany awaits.
Important Links
Mind the Gap – SubwaySim 2 Brings Realistic Berlin & Hamburg Undergrounds to Xbox Series X|S, PS5, PC – https://www.thexboxhub.com/mind-the-gap-subwaysim-2-brings-realistic-berlin-hamburg-undergrounds-to-xbox-series-xs-ps5-pc/
Buy SubwaySim 2 on Xbox – https://www.xbox.com/en-gb/games/store/subwaysim-2/9ngm2wp0m537
