Play Station 2

Train simulators for Sony's PS2

The PlayStation2 is a most popular and versatile game console, there are many, many games available, including train simulators, albeit only in Japan. This means that you beed either a Japanese PS2 or a modded machine (Sony does not like this option ;-)) The enourmaous popularity of the PS2 also led to the introduction of many accesories, of course there are train controllers that are optional for use, but greatly enhance the feeling of being a train driver.

PS2 console trainsims:

Densha de Go! series

By: Taito

Densha de Go! 3 A selection of trains and routes from Kyushu, the Kinki and Kanto regions. The Kyushu section has the widest choice of trains.

The trains you can 'drive' with Densha de Go! 3

The controller that is most suitable for Densha de Go! 3. The box has a USB connection to the PlayStation 2 console. I don't like the colours, the older black controller looked a lot better!

Densha de Go! Shinkansen Run Shinkasen trains on the Sanyo Shinkansen line yourself! Choose between a '0' series 'Kodama', a 100 class 'Grand Hikari', a 300 'Hikari' and the stunning 500 and 700 class trains.

Densha de Go! 4 Run trams and light rail trains at home. Very nice is the Enoshima railway simulation, with dense rail and street traffic, crossing pedestrians and bikes a real challenge!

Densha de Go! Professional 2. New routes, New trains! Included are the Seto-Ohashi bridge route, the Kosei line (voltage change!) and Tsurumi line (short line in the Yokohama port area). Taito improved the controls of the game and put in a 'target gate' which should assist you in correct stopping at stations.

Densha de Go! Final. The latest in the Densha de Go! series. Game includes the Chuou and Yamanote lines in the Tokyo area and the Tokaido and Osaka loop line in the Osaka area. This edition is more biased to urban railways with frequent stops. However, there are a few very nice express trains included, such as the E351 'Super Azusa'. New is that you can take the role of the conductor as well as being the driver.

Train Simulator Real

by Sony Computer Entertyainment Japan

Train Simulator Real (TSR from now on) is a video-based train simulator game. Basically the simulator is video footage of which you can control the playback speed. Train controls are superimposed on the video footage. Advantage of this system is the very realistic image, drawback is the 'stuttering' at very slow speeds. As far as I know two tiltles have been released in this range:

- Train Simulator Real Yamanote Line.

This is a video-based simulation of a communter train on Tokyo's famous Yamanote Line, the Tokyo equivalent of the London Circle line

- Train Simulator Real Keikyu Line

Again a simulation of a Tokyo commuter line, this time the private Keikyu line that runs from Yokohama to Shinagawa in South-Eastern Tokyo. A special feature is the high speed that some trains run, 120 km/h on a route between houses and with many level crossings!

The future

Sony will introduce a successor to the PlayStation 2 later in 2005 and this machine will have almost everything improved. It is said that this machine will be powered by the new 'Cell' super PCU chip. More on this when this machine is released. No doubt that there will be new train simulators for this machine!

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