World of Subways 1 – The Path

This game has a lot of lines, which is fun.

PATH is PATHing

graphics are awful and there is no manual

The first of WoS series. A well done train simulator to practice schedules

Fairly old game by now, but I think it holds up. I'm not a super serious simulator player but I thought the game was alright. Doesn't take long to figure it out, there are a few routes and time tables to play although so far I have only done the first one.

The camera angles are a bit lacklustre though, primarily it is in first person which is great and you can get a cinematic camera and a camera that looks into the carriages but there isn't any free roam camera that looks outside as far as I know.

The game does feel a bit lifeless, I know it came out in 2008/9 but even so some movement would have been nice. The passengers don't have any idle animation, they don't get up and leave the train or move from the platform to get on nor do they even teleport to and from. They just stay where they are. Passenger numbers getting on and off are represented by a series of numbers. There is an option for AI to be represented more "realistically" which I thought would animate them on and off but it doesn't seem to so I have to rely on the screen prompts to see the passenger count..which they dock you points for using.

Also, the way that you need to activate the mouse is odd...it acts as a camera, but if you want it to act like it does in the menus to use the screen prompts then you have to press a button to enable you to click on them and then deactivate it again. You only need to use one thing and that is the destination board that they put on the front of the train. It's a bit clunky but not so bad that it makes the game uncontrollable.

Even so, it is a rather pleasant journey through the tunnels and the lighting really makes it look half way convincing, especially in the cabin.

You are not overwhelmed with controls either...which is nice. Guess it depends how deep you want your simulators. i'm not sure how deep this is compared to others, nor do I know if the route is accurately sized and laid out compared to the real life route. I think I'm going to be going through all of the routes offered, I quite like the game.

EDIT: I think it's time to update this review a bit since the information I had when I first wrote it is now outdated.

I still remember when this first came out in 2008, at the time we had Microsoft Train Simulator (from 2001) as the major train simulation game, and this seemed like a huge step forward in many aspects. Sadly, time hasn't been kind to the first rendition of World of Subways. I would really like to give a positive review, because I believe this game can still be impressive today under the right circumstances.

WoS 1 allows you to drive subway trains through the Port Authority Trans-Hudson network as it existed back in 2008 when the current World Trade Center was still in construction. You can control functions of the train like the destination board, air conditioning, open and close the doors from either side, play audio announcements with passenger information like the next station and final destination. And, obviously, you have the basic train driving features like reverser, throttle, brake and headlights.

The network features four different lines, five if we count the via Hoboken services between Journal Square and 33rd Street. There are three types of trains you can drive, but they all perform the same and look very similar. There are AI trains, but they look very basic and have no interior. In the overground sections you run beside the Northeast Corridor, but you won't see AI trains there, just static bilevel coaches.

Now I want to cover the issues that make this a very dated product. It uses an ancient graphics engine meant for FPS games, and it shows. The drawing distance is very poor, this is especially noticeable on the overground sections where buildings and other props spawn almost right in front of your face. It uses a very obvious skybox that does not look pretty at all in our current times. The peds in the stations are mostly static. There are a few with limited movement, but you will never see them boarding your train, and the ones inside your train will remain static forever.

I must admit the tunnel sections look good. The illumination effects are still rather impressive. When you go through switches sometimes you'll see very bright spark effects which are kinda neat, but I admit they can be dangerous to certain people.

But the worst part of this game comes when you try to venture yourself into the lines that go to or from 33rd Street. Sometimes you can reach the end of the line just fine, but most of the time you will experience a freeze followed by a crash somewhere between Newport and 33rd. I think this does not happen on the other lines, but still, the map is already rather small and one of the sections being glitchy just diminishes the experience. At first I thought the crashes could be fixed by reinstalling the game, but even if that was the case (which is not) I admit it's kinda going too far trying to circumvent the issues of a poorly tested game. It makes you wonder if this whole game was made in a rush. There is a different version being sold at the Aerosoft store (and even an expansion pack for it) but I don't know if it's more stable or not.

With all of that said, I think WoS 1 can be good. If you are willing to deal with the unpolished nature of this game, this can be a pretty enjoyable experience if you like driving trains. But I strongly suggest to get this on sale, it's definitely not worth the full price.

It has enough good points to make it worth buying on sale. The graphics and environment are not bad and is fairly immersive if you don't dig for things to complain about. From the perspective of being inn the train the graphics are pretty good and the external views are not bad but they do make obvious the worst points of the game. I think the thing I found the most um well awful is the sky box or sky textures...... 1985 ? My second complaint would be the statues used for the people in the stations. Almost no animation or movement at all and many times they are duplicated clones standing next to each other. The same holds true for the vehicle traffic as the car and bus models are decent but all are stationary giving the impression of an eternal traffic jam.. Do not get me wrong I like this games and find it fun. The graphics are perfectly acceptable for actually driving the train around just not an over abundance of eye candy. If you like sims and have played and enjoy the likes of train simulator then this is a must have to add to your collection. I bought all 4 on deep sale recently so now I have all four of the WOS series for not much more than the cost of this one title alone when not on sale.

As someone who lives in North Jersey and frequents the PATH, I'd have to say that this is as close as it's gonna get to riding the real thing... emphasis on "close." With that being said, this ain't it chief. The sim hasn't been updated since its release and has missed out on some major changes on the line: new PATH trains, completion/opening of the new WTC station (The Oculus), etc. Going off of that, all the conductor PA announcements (that you have to operate or else you're penalised, btw) aren't the ones used on the PATH. It's some guy from (I'd assume) Germany speaking English through his thick native accent. If this doesn't bother you, then by all means get the sim.
While I do reccomend the game, that's only because I have two choices to choose from. Personally, I partially recomend this game due to the lack of full accuracy and lack of updates.

It's an okay product for $10. It's cool if you want to experience something different other than Train Simulator. Yeah some of the scenery is inaccurate and there's bugs galore, but what do you expect for a $10 game? The only severe issues I've encountered so far is that there is no tutorial mode for new players, none of the important buttons and levers (throttle, brake, etc) are mapped meaning first time users will have to manually map the buttons themselves, and the biggest problem is that the game crashes whenever you attempt to change the graphics settings. I don't mean crashing in game because you jacked the graphics to max settings, I mean you change the settings in the menu, hit "OK" to save it, the game crashes, and none of your changes are saved, meaning the game is perpetually stuck at the default graphics settings. I'll keep this game and play it as is because it was cheap and it's the only real simulation of the PATH line out there. However if the game cost any more than the current price, I'd be pretty unsatisfied. If you have experience with train sims and want a little something different, go ahead and get it. But if you're looking for something serious, pass this game up and get Train Simulator.

For the age, this game has some outstanding graphics. It looks like this game is no longer actively in development, since there are several bugs that are not resolved, but that is to be expected since they have newer versions out. Overall, excellent game.

This is a comment o Subways 4 -7th Ave. Line / I doubt anyone will read this but I feel I must make a quick comment. Although born and raised in Wash. D.c., all my family lived in New York or one of itw boroughs. I fell in love with the RED BIRF. The one i thengame is NOT it . There is no subway sound...no grinding hum when staarting or when decelerating. No hight-pithced wail whentearing down the tracks. No "electrical" pops when going over a short. Until these arfe corrected or addedI will savemyh money and continue to be disappointed.
Jerry Cohen

Good game for the most part. WOS 1's braking is pretty unrealistic. Every time I feel like I'm going to overrun a station, the train feels like it stops almost immediately. I also have problems trying to take more than one screenshot. When I screenshot one photo, the game screen glitches (whole game screen is gray) and I have to quit the whole game and relaunch it. I also think this game needs a PA-5, which would be nice to have.

This game is excellent and runs very smooth for me. Thumbs up overall.

Great for the price, good lighting and sound effects and you can also view the train externally. Easy menu options and fun to play!

Watch my quick review here
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jToTdRFxYrw

I'm a real into trains. I bought this game on discount without big enthiusiasm but suprisingly it's quite good as for it's time. The line is very interesting. Built more than 100 years ago to connect New York with New Jersey. You can really feel these old claustrophobic tunnels with sharp curves and a lot of speed limits. You have multiple choices for your journey so you won't get borred that quickly. There is no real career mode but if you wish you can make a whole day shift. As for realism I don't think it is very high - the breaking seems a bit too easy, but it's not bad either. Your train will speed up downhill and you can derail it. It's a good simulator especially if your CPU is not the newest one. A bit puzzling is the fact that you have no real speedometer on board. You will need some experience to comply with the limits (you can use a track monitor though which gives you the speed but it is considered a bit of a cheat). The manual says there are some random events implemented (like a man walking inside the tunnel) but I haven't encountered any yet.

I can't stop playing. Recommended.

Here is the map of all tracks in Path available to you: http://nycsubway.org.s3.amazonaws.com/images/maps/pirmann-2003-path-track.gif

I'd like to start by mentioning that this actually a really good game. Yes, it has a few bugs here and there but at least it is still playable. For such a reasonable price, this is a good game. Remember, it came out in 2009 so we can't expect anything special. But for 2009, it actually has quite good graphics. The PATH route is quite a nice length, not too long and not too short. You can get a shift over, within about half an hour. The graphics inside the tunnels are excellent, especially the dynamic lighting that lights up the cab as you drive along. Above ground, the graphics aren't all that, but I really like the detail on the track and the signals are very bright which means you can see them from a long way off. When driving east above ground you can also see the Manhattan skyline, which I find a very nice touch to the game. In stations, you can enter free roam mode which allows you to explore. However, there is a very annoying platform bug which means that if you accidentally walk off the edge of a platform, it is impossible for you to get back up again. Therefore, you have no choice but to end the mission and start all over again. The people on the platform are static but for a 2009 game, we can't really complain. There are about three trains that you can choose from, but they all seem to be exactly the same inside the cab, so it doesn't really make any difference. Something that can be really annoying when driving is that you have to control the announcements manually by pressing keys. This can get quite boring. The station graphics could be a touch better but they are not too bad either. Another thing, is that you have to manually configure all the keys before you drive. There is no tutorial, so I guess you are just expected to learn yourself. The speed limits in the game are also very harsh. They can just change at any time. You could be just driving along at 40mph and then you notice that the limit has changed to 15mph, with a tight curve approaching. A major disappointment was that there is no speedometer inside the cab. You have to totally rely on the route monitor screen. Tight curves can also derail the train, if you are not paying attention to the speed restrictions. There are AI trains in the game, but you can only see them when you are above ground, and not in underground stations.
Overall, I rate this game 7.5/10. It has some very nice features and but also some really annoying bugs. But for such a cheap price, I'd say it is worth buying and it doesn't require a high spec pc to run either, although I strongly recommend you check the minimum requirements first, just in case.

This is a great subway simulator, even though it is from 2009 I don't consider it old. I like this game because it focuses on subway train simulation instead of regular train simulation, freight, steam engines etc. There arent many train simulators that have simulation for subways. However, World of Subways vol.1 offers a simulation that is based of subway train simulation in the USA. I recomend buying this if you are looking for subway simulation in the USA.

The game by itself it's not bad, the real problem it's the performance.
My computer it's better than the recommended requirements, but for example, in WTC the game can't get more than 15 FPS.

My favorite of World of Subways. It truly looks and feels like a true subway simulator. The first of a Series, yet the best one at simulating a subway. But does crash sometimes and has a very difficult way of configuring controls. Can't modify them within the game.

A cool, older train simulator, for enthusiasts. Don't compare it to more modern and/or extensible simulators.

Pros:
-physics
-quite good graphics for it's time
-easy to learn, hard to master, challenging
-realistic schedules and shifts
-chance to drive already retired trains
-runs on a P4 toaster
-fully customizable controls

Cons:
-freezes sometimes
-schrecklichen englischen Sprache
-when in schedule mode, if the real train had a 10 minute wait, then you have to wait 10 minutes too. 15-20-30 on NWK, or at night.
-not extensible (no custom trains, routes, schedules anything)
-the expansion is not sold on Steam

It was a major step in genre of rail simulator on these days. Definitely must have! Still challenging and fun. Very atmospheric.

World of Subway's 1 - The Path, is a game which is not for the hardcore train simulation fan's, some may like it, some may not, but in my opinion, it saves a spot in my book.

So when you get the game for the very first time, you can see that the menu is very basic and plain, but remember this is a game which came out in 2009, not 2015.

When you choose the timetable, the type of train you have selected and the location, the loading time takes about 10-15 seconds, so you dont have to complain about the time it takes to load.

Then you come to the one big downside of the the game which really ticked me off, when you get into the subway train for the first time, some of the controls are unbinded on the train itself which is annoying, so your going to have to go to the options menu and bind all the train controls that way.

The other thing that people may not like is the graphics, there very Mircosoft Train Simulator like, which doesn't bother me at all and the next downside to the game is the intercom voice when you arrive and depart every station, this can be also very annoying when your trying to drive.

The controls on the train are hard to master, but once you know and get used to the brake, reverser and everything else on the train, it can be easier once you do get used to the train controls.

So my final verdict is that this is not for hardcore train sim fan's, it's plain, simple, easy and fun, but If you are looking for a challenge, I should recommend World of Subways Vol. 3 - London Underground Circle Line, it has much more of a realistic like physics engine and you can get in and out in the train! Which is a pretty sweet feature.


I recommend World of Subway's 1 - The Path for newcomers to train simulation, remember the controls are hard but you can bind them to whatever key you want on your keyboard, so it can be a bit easy for you.

You can't compare a game that came out 4-5 years ago to a game released this year..that's pretty absurd.

Anyways, yes, the game is pretty basic in terms of control. It's a simulator based on simulating one thing, controlling the PATH train. There actually is a career mode, but it's not in the sense of career mode most people are used to. It's called 'Shift Duty' in this case. You can play any time-table of which I'd assume was the PATH schedule back in that day with three different types of cars. The camera angles are limited but, hey, it's a simulator, you're suppose to be driving a train, not go ape-shit wanting to view the doors open from the outside, you're suppose to be in the cab; plain and simple.

I must admit though, the game is definitely not worth the $19.99 at this day in age. They do have other versions, not sure if released on Steam though, Vol 2 in Berlin and Vol 3 in London I believe. They also have a Vol 4 coming that would feature the (7) line in NYC.

By the way, I'm using Windows 8.1 Pro with no issues of crashing like other users are experiencing.

Plain and simple, if you want a pure simulator operating a train and just doing that, go for it. If you want to only view the trains from exterior views and have fun watching doors open from the outside, this train simulator may not be for you.

Just remember, this game came out in '09. Not '14.

If you've ever played Train Simulator 2015, prepare to take a step down in terms of interface and controls and general functionality of the game.

I would say the price is a little high, perhaps $9.95 (US) would have been more appropriate than $19.95.

The camera controls are basic, there's no zoom, FOV or adjustment of exterior camera. You can't open the train doors unless the camera view is in the driver's cabin, so you can't see the doors opening and closing, or passengers boarding.

It's a very basic sim, there's no career mode or any of the usual things you find in games. It has an indie "pet project" feel about it for sure!

It might appeal to someone who is familiar with this actual line in real life. If you've lived in NY, this sim might be interesting, but even then it's still niche.

Train Simulator 2015 has an excellent feature where you can move the camera from the front to the back outside the train, and zoom in and out and around, and still maintain control of the train. World of Subways has nothing like that. TS 2015 is a lot more expensive though, so the comparison isn't entirely fair. But now you know what you're in for.