Battle Train Review (Sir. Thomas Biggsworth 4)
As someone who has played the demo for over 50 hours and just beat the main story. I can say that this game is good. It takes the mechanics of a “Build train tracks to destination” type game and gives a combat edge. With fun characters and a.. Fun-ish story.
That is my main issue with that game, well more one of two. The story is pretty much what I expected. We establish Grand Conductor Aalvado, the fact he's a bit of a jerk, his one sided rivalry with other show Todrick’s tower hour, how Todrick’s has been beating Battle Train in the ratings. Todrick is invited on Battle Train to improve the ratings, Todrick wins and becomes new champion but eventually, and I do mean eventually, Aalvado wins again and becomes host.
My main grips come with how the story is paced and its lack of characters. Like, minus Aalvado, we have five Champions. But only two are used in the main plot. Three don’t even get speaking roles outside of battle’s.
As for pacing, I feel like the Todrick takeover section went on for way too long. Like it turing more and more into a kids show at first in funny. Then it keeps going on and on, with that game literary getting worse as it progresses.
To me the story should go more like this. Most of the beginning stays the same. We establish conductor Aalvado, the fact he's a bit of a jerk and his one sided rivalry with other show Todrick’s tower hour, how Todrick’s has been beating Battle Train in the ratings. But we instead add more cutscenes of the other campaigns being dissatisfied with that satais quote. Wishing someone else would take Grand Conductor away from Aalvado.
Then Todrick is invited on Battle Train to improve the ratings, he wins and begins making changes, and the champions slowly realize their mistake. From their everything would play out mostly the same. But instead of just Todrick helping out in the final battle, why not all the champions as well? Maybe they could even help the playing field.
Which brings me to my other main issue with the game, It's difficulty. It just feels like if you don't pay attention to one little thing your enemy will notice and make you pay. Or a boss will fuck you over with one of there ability cards. Granted you can do the same given the circumstances, but it feels like more often that not its in then enemies hand rather than the players.
Now in the demo my main issue at first was that the game was too easy, but I feel like the devs could have overcorrected too much. I feel like there really should be some difficulty options. Rarity of curtain drops, your starting HP, ect. Or heck even a “easy, normal, or hard” difficulty option would suffice.
Overall I would recommend this game. Just be wary, you think you have it in the bag. Then the enemy is able to destroy most of your track and take a train to your base. Play the demo and if you give with it, then buy the whole game.