I bought this game when it was first released and continue to play it regularly to this day. It is almost as much an economic simulator as it is a railroading game. Victory conditions are varied. Some maps require you to connect specific cities/regions, others mandate that you meet certain haulage goals, others call for building company net worth, others to buy out all your competition, and still others to build your personal fortune past a certain point. Some maps require combinations of these. There is an unofficial 1.06 patch (try a Google search) that expands available cargos, improves the AI (though not enough to make it a serious competitor), and makes other improvements under the hood. There is also a wealth of player-created content including maps and engines not found in the original game. While not always hyper-realistic it is both challenging and fun to play. It is possible to have as much fun playing the stock market or building an industrial empire as it is to lay track and run profitable trains. You can also micromanage your cargos and routes or let the AI pick the best available consist and shortest distances. The graphics have held up well for a 2003 game and players can zoom from high up in space down to a close-up view of individual buildings. The music is really sets the mood. Anyone with an interest in either railroad or railroad-based economic simulations should buy this game!
