Nostalgic Train Review (PlayStation 5)

Rating: 7.4
Author: Jim Smale

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.

Nostalgic Train:

Official website.

Developer: Tatamibeya 畳部屋

Publisher: Tatamibeya 畳部屋

Store Links –

PlayStation

8/10

Graphics - 8/10
7/10

Sound - 7/10
7/10

Accessibility - 7/10
7/10

Length - 7/10
8/10

Fun Factor - 8/10

7.4/10

Summary

Nostalgic Train is a visually stunning game with beautiful graphics that immediately draw you in. The game, which has a modest download size of 715.7MB, offers a platinum trophy for dedicated players. As a walking simulator, it opens with an intriguing scene where you disembark from a train in the deserted village of Natsurigi. The game features two modes: free mode and story mode, with tutorial pop-ups appearing as needed. Players can crouch, run, jump, and walk around, enhancing the immersive experience.

However, the game has its drawbacks. Memory spots do not disappear after being read, making it difficult to track progress and often leading to accidental re-triggers. The absence of cutscenes or stills to accompany the text can lessen the impact of the story. Additionally, the game employs invisible wall-style blockades that, while providing reasons for their presence, can still be frustrating. The inability to pause the game and the lack of accessibility options are notable shortcomings. The game is better suited for handheld devices with headphones rather than a big screen, and it is often unclear when the game has been saved.

Despite these issues, Nostalgic Train has several redeeming qualities. The special senses button highlights memory spots, which, when activated, reveal the story of the character and the world around them through text screens. The game is played from a first-person perspective and offers customizable controller settings, including axis inversion, sensitivity sliders, and control remapping. Text size can be adjusted, and free mode settings allow for changes in train stop times, weather cycles, and daytime choices. The story is well-written and presented, with the ambiance playing a significant role in drawing players in. The writing provides hints and guidance, helping players know when they have explored everything in an area and where to go next. The narrative delves into the history of Natsurigi, a village where people mysteriously vanished without a trace, captivating players from the very beginning. The village itself is beautifully rendered, with powerful weather effects adding to the atmosphere.

In summary, Nostalgic Train is a game that excels in its storytelling and visual presentation, despite some gameplay and accessibility issues. Its ambiance and narrative depth make it a unique experience that is best enjoyed on a handheld device with headphones. While it has its flaws, the game’s strengths in creating an immersive and intriguing world make it worth experiencing firsthand.