Ticket to Ride Review (xBox live)
Release date: June 25th, 2008
Website:http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/Product/Ticket-to-Ride/66acd000-77fe-1000-9115-d802584108ec
Developer: Next Level Games
Platform I played on: xBox live (downloaded content)
My Impressions
When setting out to start working on this game, the developer’s prime directive must have been: let us bring Ticket to Ride the Board Game to the unwashed masses that inhabit the xBox live community. And they succeeded. The xBox live version is just like playing the board game on TV.
Now about the board game, it’s not my favorite incarnation of this series, mostly because of its penchant for running out of space. See, the game map is always the same size regardless of how many participants there are. With two, there still is the option of playing nice; with more there is practically no way to avoid cutting someone else off. The map size is great for two players, fine most of the time for three, and unbearably tight for more.
So it comes down to choice. I don’t mind a game having that component of allowing the screw, I just don’t want to have to play that way and I don’t want the focus of the game to be that method of play.
I think I will just see how the Ticket to Ride Europe version turns out. Here is a crazy idea; I could just play the board game. I’m such a rebel.
Review
Game play
The overall structure of the game is the same as the board game. You collect train cards that are then spent on completing routes – the longer the route the more points are earned. Collect the most points and become the ultimate Train Tycoon.
Graphics
The graphics are exact duplicates of the board game. The only addition is the sound and depending on whom you play with, you might have that playing the board game as well. =)
Replay ability/Multiplayer
Well you can play online over xBox live and you can play locally with your friends. Though I haven’t tried either. The Demo doesn’t allow it.
New sets of routes create new challenges every time, as do having different opponents, even though the map doesn’t change.
In theory, having the game be online creates the chance for infinite upgradeability; more maps then the board game provides. Sadly I found no mention of any such future expansion beyond what has already been created for the board game.
Game finished
The demo did not impress me enough to want to purchase the whole online game.
Things that bothered me
-Inconsistency with the board game.
I am not sure if this is an intended error or not, but on the board there are some routes that are parallel to each other. This means that two different people can utilize the same route.
Not so in the xBox live version. Although graphically it still shows the double routes, when one is claimed both of those routes become blocked off. It’s almost like the people who created the xBox version only skimmed the rules. To me, this is an evident mistake. I can’t fathom how no one else noticed.
-How many trains?
The game ends when one player runs out of train cars to place. Vital information right?! When playing the board game all the train pieces are in front of the players, making it that much easier to keep track of everyone’s progress.
The xBox live version just has a small number by each character portrait. This important information should be displayed more prominently.
Time played
About two hours total. Ran the tutorial and played the first map, then again just to make sure that the double route bug wasn’t something I was making up.
Last Thoughts
xBox live does not a better game make.
