Nostalgic Train Review (PlayStation 5)

by Jim Smale · September 5, 2024

Nostalgic Train Review, The jury selection of the 22nd Japan Media Arts Festival. I woke up alone in the countryside, where people had disappeared and I lost my memory. What is the truth that I see at the end of my journey through the memories of Natsugiri? ……

Nostalgic Train Review Pros:

Beautiful graphics.
715.7MB download size.
Platinum trophy.
Walking simulator gameplay.
The game opens up with you getting off a train in Natsurigi and there is no one around, even the train is now vacant of life.
Two game modes – free mode and story.
Tutorial pop-ups when needed.
You can crouch, run, jump, and walk around.
The special senses button shows memory spots.
Walking into memory spots brings up a memory text screen and gives the game its story of the character and the world around it.
First-person perspective.
Controller settings – Invert the axis and sensitivity slider, remap controls, and set the move and left settings to strafe or face forward.
Text size can be set to large or small.
Free mode settings – train stop time slider weather change cycle slider, and daytime choices.
A very well-written and presented story.
It’s a game where the ambiance really draws you in.
You get story hints on the menu.
The writing helps you in terms of telling you when you have seen everything in a place and where to move on.
You learn about the history of this little Japanese village called Natsurigi and how it has vanished where people straight up disappear without a trace.
I was grabbed from the first few minutes.
Such a beautiful-looking village. The weather effects are quite powerful.
It’s a game you need to experience yourself as saying too much would rob you.

Nostalgic Train Review Cons:

The memory spots don’t disappear after reading them so it can be hard to know what you have or haven’t done and accidentally trigger them again and again.
It would be nice to have cutscenes or stills of what we are reading as it loses some of its impact with just words.
Invisible walls style blockades but instead of just stopping you it gives you a reason why you cannot go there.
You cannot pause the game.
It’s a game that isn’t necessarily a great fit for the big screen and is more suited to a handheld with headphones on.
Doesn’t offer any accessibility options.
Never sure when the game has been saved.