The Train: Escape to Normandy

The Train: Escape to Normandy
Developer(s)Artech Digital Entertainment
Publisher(s)Accolade
Platform(s)Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, DOS, ZX Spectrum
Release1987
Genre(s)Action game
Mode(s)Single player

The Train: Escape to Normandy is a video game released by Accolade in 1987 and themed loosely on the motion picture The Train, starring Burt Lancaster. In the video game, the player assumes the role of a train hijacker who has commandeered a steam train to escape Nazi Germany during World War II. When the train is in motion, the player must maintain the correct speed, steam pressure and other operational parameters. Also, the player must attempt to shoot down Nazi fighter planes which occasionally strafe the train by aiming and firing anti-aircraft guns mounted to the engine. When the train sometimes stops briefly for resupply at various stations, the player must also provide cover fire against attackers in the station buildings for comrades resupplying the train.

The Train was initially released for several 8-bit computer platforms, including the Commodore 64. The game was also later released on IBM PC.

Reception

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Computer Gaming World called The Train "a rousing action game". It criticized the graphics' quality as below Accolade's standards, but said that the train-engineering portions were excellent.[1] A survey of strategy and war games gave it two stars out of five.[2]

The Spanish magazine Microhobby valued the game with the following scores:[3] Originality: 70% Graphics: 70% Motion: 70% Sound: 60% Difficulty: 80% Addiction: 90%

References

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  1. ^ Wilson, David M. (May 1988). "Planes, Tranes, and Gunboats / Hijacking "The Train" For the Honor of France". Computer Gaming World. p. 32.
  2. ^ Brooks, M. Evan (December 1991). "Computer Strategy and Wargames: The 1900-1950 Epoch / Part II (M-Z) of an Annotated Paiktography". Computer Gaming World. p. 126. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  3. ^ (Spanish) The Train: Escape to Normandy - ZX Spectrum (1988) - article on Soloretro
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