Recent reviews by MorMango

I've played the Submachine series since 05/06. I sadly had one last play of the games in 2020 when the Flash shutdown was on the horizon... and then, this.

The game itself is 95% similar to the Flash games I grew up playing, with some extra twists thrown in. I wish original versions of the levels were included with the game, but beggars can't be choosers.

9.5/10. Get it anytime, sale or no sale.

ERROR

I want to hate, but in all honesty, this is what the Shanghai Maglev does. Despite giving a "yes" review, consider my review more on the neutral side.

Aside from the short route (which again, is technically the full route), the $20 price tag and lack of detail are my only gripes. I'd recommend some cosmetic updates, but 99.99% of the time, DTG never updates a DLC after its published, even if it is a literal dumpster fire of bugs.

Conclusion: If you want it, just get it when it's on sale (50% or more).

I will say, yes, it's one of the best train sims on the market in terms of graphics, interactions, authenticity/accuracy, and so on, but with this being their third release, noticeable problems still persist.

DTG focuses more on producing more DLC than fixing underlying base game issues/former DLC issues (buggy DLC will get a "we're aware of the ___ bug" from DTG and 9 times out of 10, nothing is done about it). I think I speak for everyone when I say that I like variety (new DLC), but please fix the existing problems first before rolling out more buggy content.

On the topic of DLC, your pretty limited in where you can, primarily, drive: the UK, US, and Germany, with the latter getting the most attention and the US either having passenger services (primarily) in the Northeast or freight routes in remote areas. "But they have a French and Canadian route!" Yes, route. Singular.

As for the game and the bugs themselves, if you have a loco that appears on multiple routes (i.e. the Acela), you can select a service from the timetable and choose which route you'd like to drive on. If you chose Boston, it would show you NYC (and vice versa). All engines that appear on multiple routes have this bug. That's just one of the countless bugs in the game.

I sadly can't recommend TSW3 right now. Hopefully if DTG really buckles down and starts to scrub out the bugs and listen to their audience, the game will become more playable and this review will become a positive one. But for now, no.

Pros & Cons

Pros:
. NJT is finally in TSW!
. If you had Heavy Haul, this NEC is a massive improvement from the original route.

Cons:
. NYC is barely visible from Secaucus Junction (it's pretty visible IRL).
. No freight services (not even AI).
. No AI LIRR services (excluding a few cameos in scenarios).
. NJT: the PIS appears "Like This" when it actually appears "IN ALL CAPS" IRL, the gangway barrier next to the Multilevel and the ALP-46 is always unhooked (obv. safety concern if this was real), there's a bug in the ALP-46's brakes that prevents the train from moving, and the passenger lights are impossible to turn on/off.
. Amtrak: excluding Acela/Metroliner services, all ACS services feature NE Regional rolling stock, yet some services are described as being other than the default one (Silver Service, Crescent, etc.). Where are the baggage and Viewliner cars?

Verdict: 5/10 (currently)

I'm optimistic for the future of this DLC (mainly the NJT brake bug fix), but for now, it's a bit of a letdown.

Pros:
. Learn several dozen cocktails.
. Get a faint idea as to what it's like behind the bar.

Cons:
. Story mode is fairly short; NPC dialogue seems kinda fake and forced.
. "Mis-clicking" on a garnish (straw, cherry, etc) on a glass you're about to serve will register as an incorrect cocktail and you'll have to make the whole thing all over again, even if you replace said garnish.
. Despite my previously mentioning "several dozen" cocktails, that's pretty much all there is. About 60-70 something drinks (including wine, beer, and two mocktails) to serve).
. Unless I missed something at the start of the game, in the story, you can only play as a woman. Not the end of the world, but if you're a guy and, well, wanted to play as a digital version of yourself, you can't do that here.

Recommendations:
. An update addressing the "mis-click" bug (obviously).
. DLC releasing more cocktails/mocktails to make and environments to serve in in sandbox mode.
. Add a male playable character to story mode.

Overall rating 6.5/10

(GTA V Online) If you like:

. Cheaters/hackers using godmode and similar hacks and mods that make the game IMPOSSIBLE to play when they're online
. Constantly being kicked from your game due to server congestion (or just a mass sweep of hackers and you get caught in the mix)
. Watching a bot spam the public chat with its creators' YouTube, Discord, etc, blatantly advertising how to hack/mod GTA Online (and watching unfiltered threats, racial slurs, and IP dox attempts, too, from other players in the same chat... not good if you stream)
. Toxic players with poor sportsmanship (even if they're not using any mods)
. And much, much more!

Then this is the game for you!

Is it superb? No. Is it terrible? I wouldn't say terrible, but the cons do outweigh the pros...

Pros:
. Another tube to use on the Bakerloo Line with additional services and scenarios, too. Sadly, that's pretty much it!

Cons:
. AI doesn't shut off headlights at terminus stations, causing both ends of AI operated tubes to have their headlights on.
. Apparently the 1938 Stock is used for heritage rail (in TSW 2, at least); however, much like Diesel Legends, there are two separate timetables and they can't be operated alongside the 1972 Stock (with the exception of a scenario).
. Saloon lights don't turn off, and pressing "off" makes them brighter. Once brighter, they can't be dimmed no matter what you press.
. The "ride as a passenger for 20 miles" achievement is so buggy. I've sat still for the entire length of the line several times and only gathered 13 miles.
. No physical horn/whistle button present (at least not to my knowledge).
. If using a keyboard, the instrument and cab light buttons ("I" and "L") have to be pressed several times to activate and shutoff because it was programmed to both press the "on" and "off" buttons at once.

Overall rating: 5/10
Do I expect DTG and/or Rivet to fix these bugs? It would be nice, but let's be real: no.
Final verdict: for $20, if you have your heart set on this, wait for a sale.

I'm just gonna cut to the chase and say that LGV is DTG's best route release for TSW 2 yet. Instead of writing a long, jumbled paragraph, I've listed my pros and cons for the DLC below.

Pros:
. Finally! A route that isn't set in the UK or Germany!
. Beautifully modeled scenery which, in some places, are very realistic.
. Highly detailed, (nearly) fully functional cab.
. Changing the voltage from DC to TGV (and vice versa) while moving at 140 km/h. Quick side note: this one takes practice. I had to reset my first few services just because I'd get stuck in the tunnel after losing traction and power!

Cons:
. Despite the route itself being 58 miles long, it's too short in terms of stations. Yes, I understand it's a simulator and is modeled after the real thing, but wasn't one of the goals of TSW 2 to extend beyond 60 mile routes?
. Cruise control loses its traction when going down a decline, causing you to speed far beyond your set limit.
. Only the TGV can be driven (aside from scenario editor): it would be nice to see more SNCF locos in the future, such as other TGV variants and even their famous "broken nose" electric locomotive.
. Only 5 scenarios included with the route.
. During service mode, passengers never board/leave your train. No matter what station, time, weather, etc, you're just driving an empty train.

Overall rating: 8/10
If more French/TGV content for TSW 2 were to be released, given that it were to be on par with LGV, if not better, I'd get it in a heartbeat!... *Hint, hint* Dovetail

Simply put: it's an awesome game! I'm a huge fan of synthwave music and 80's Miami. Retrowave has both of that! As far as gameplay goes, it's a pretty straightforward endless runner-type game with a few extras, such as time attacks. Oh, and the vaporwave soundtrack is awesome!