Densha de Go! is a Japanese train simulation game series originally produced by Taito and more recently by Square Enix (who purchased Taito) and Railfan Holdings Co., Ltd. The game originates from a 1996 arcade version. There are also PC versions released by the Japanese publisher Unbalance. All of the games in the series are available in Japanese only. The latest chapter in the series was released on June 15, 2011 for Apple iOS devices.
GAMEPLAY:
Each Densha de Go title contains actual train (or tram) routes based on real services in Japan. For the most part, the user's task is to drive the train and adhere to a very exacting timetable, including stopping at stations to within as little as 30 cm of a prescribed stopping point, ideally within half a second of the scheduled arrival time.
As a train conductor in a populous Japanese city, you are responsible for bringing a legion of salarymen, school tykes and kogals to and from their daily rounds. Pull into a station and watch the ridership step lively onto and off your train. Keep an eye on your schedule and hit the platforms just right for perfect scores and happy riders. Your train journeys take you from the morning to afternoon to night and weather conditions affect your ability to control your train. Rainy weather means the tracks will decrease braking efficiency and you'll have to adjust your speed and brakes accordingly. Players travel through Kyushu, Kanto and Kinki on the Kagoshima, Sasaguri and Sanyo main lines.
Three districts, six lines, and 16 different engines are available as you attempt to make it to the station on time through careful manipulation of the special DDG controller (now with separate whistle pedal peripheral).
The big technological advancement in DDG3, along with the expected graphical improvements that PS2 makes possible, is the addition of more realtime progression elements in the game. Day and night will pass realistically (you can start in the morning, afternoon, evening, and night), and the weather will change depending on the time of day, the season, and the region you're passing through. That will affect gameplay, since rain will make the track slippery and affect your acceleration and braking performance.
The Shinkansen Controller for the PS2 comes with a LED screen display of speed and controls and a foot pedal to blow the horn, whereas the Shinkansen Controller for the Wii lacked these features, replacing the LED screen with a representative sticker. The Wii version of this controller commands much higher prices than the PS2 version by virtue of relative rarity.
Densha de GO! Final is another entry in the popular Japanese series of train driving simulations. Players can drive a number of the trains on the following lines: The Yamanote Line and the Chuo Main Lines in Tokyo, the Osaka Loop Line and Tokaido Main Line. Densha de Go! Final features new routes as well as classic routes from the entire Densha de Go! series, 50 schedules, plus more than 60 train varieties.
New to this game is a chain system which rewards flawless gameplay with a higher score and introduces a more arcade emphasis. Afterwards these points can be used for unlocking new trains, slide shows and videos.
There is also a Conductor Mode, in which you have to announce the name of the upcoming station and open and close the trains' doors on the appropriate sides.
A new "Enjoy Mode" lessens the difficulty by giving players recovery-style items and is targeted towards beginner conductors. The game offers support of the optional Densha De Go! train controller that simulates the actual driving controls of the real thing.
The limited edition of Densha de Go! Final was released on May 26, 2004 and shipped in a special cardboard box. No one bought the game for the box however but they did buy it for the Yamanote Line/Series E231 train toy which was packaged inside. The E231 series debuted on the Yamanote Line in 2002 and achieves a maximum speed of 120km/h to ferry salarymen, students and harried housewives to their daily rounds.
MANUFACTURER'S DESCRIPTION:
GO in the "train increments in mind the last whistle! "Marks the final! 60 or more models appeared! 50 or more diamonds play! Carefully selected routes that had been recorded in the past series, I record series longest (Kyoto-Kobe) the Tokaido Line Yamanote Line (all lines), center line (Tokyo - Takao), and Osaka Loop Line (all lines),! Enjoy the culmination of the series has evolved further!
FEATURES:
- First person perspective.
- 3D graphics
- Cartoon graphics
- Trains theme.
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