This just came out Dec. 20 and it's already on sale on PlayStation for 40 percent off for PS Plus members, which doesn't seem like a good thing. But I've been pondering getting this. I have their earlier game Japanese Rail Sim: Journey to Kyoto and I like it. I especially like the fact it uses real footage, though the navigation is a little bulky. Has anyone bought this and can comment on it?
IfICanDream Thank you for the valuable information. Just please, it is Hakone (箱根). Coming to the point, for anyone as yourself, familiar with the "鉄道にっぽん!" series, it is safe to assume that the game will closely resemble general expectations. Key elements are, as always, lush (but serene) scenery with seasonal variations, strong emphasis on exact timing and spacing of stops etc... This game in particular is smaller in size, compared to the previously published Kyōto one, but also more recent, featuring a few added "gimmicks" (so to speak) such as manually controlled water sprinkling, to reduce friction noise on tight curves. I cannot tell whether this correctly relates to the prototype but, for this kind of game, it seems a cool addition anyway. Apart from the considerable fame that the Hakone scenery has acquired even outside Japan, the game also possibly benefits from the partnership, which TSW players should know very well, between Odakyū and Rhätische Bahn.
