Railroad Tycoon II: The Second Century

Kicking off in the late 1930s, The Second Century is an expansion pack that takes existing Railroad Tycoon II fans from the post-Depression years through to 2030 and beyond. There are 18 scenarios, more than a dozen non-campaign levels, new industries, new trains and some tweaks to the interface. Crucial elements missing from the original game are now present -for example, the ability to store goods at stations where they can be collected by other engines. Bankrupt companies are now penalised with a 50 per cent share issue, bridges now span much larger expanses of water and there are new, easier methods of laying track. There's also a slight shift in the revenue balance, with reductions in the rates paid to passenger hauliers and increases in the rates paid to freight companies.

The maps and challenges are spread across three clearly defined chapters covering World War II, the post-war boom and a fictional, futuristic period called Geocore. Each has its own goals and emphasis. In the WW2 chapter, there's a heavy emphasis on moving armaments in the shortest possible time. You get to pay a visit to Blighty to rebuild the bombed rail network, and you also visit other European destinations immediately after the war has ended. More modern scenarios deal with commuter networks, light rail systems and the problems of nuclear waste disposal - you can't, for example, send trains throbbing with atomic energy through busy passenger stations. Each is a little puzzle you have to solve before moving on.

Despite the fact that The Second Century does nothing to address our earlier criticisms of poor realism - there are still no tunnels or any ability to deform the landscape - it represents good value for money and is an essential buy for existing RT2 owners.