Westward IV: All Aboard continues the excellent gaming tradition that is the best-selling Westward game series. This fourth installment features the same great resource management, time management, and adventuring elements that made Westward’s games great hits in this genre.
Westward 4’s story focuses on the railway, the mighty locomotive that connected the wild west with the prosperous cities of the east. There are many great stories and adventures related to the railway; From tales of exploring a dangerous land, to daring raids by robber barons and hostile Indians, to inspiring stories of pioneers trying to make their fortunes on the new frontier.
Westward 4 tells the story of the Turner Railroad, a small family business trying to prosper in the Wild West. You play the role of the brave and tough Anne Turner, or the resourceful mechanic Henry Turner, both sons of the founder of the Turner Railroad. The adventure begins when the brothers return home after a few months of absence, only to discover that their father has disappeared and that their home has suffered from a lack of proper care. You then embark on your great adventure to find your father and transform the family business into the most prosperous outpost in the west!
The game starts off pretty slow, teaching you the basics of the game while introducing the setting and story. The first few quests will teach you the basics, such as gathering resources, searching for buried treasure, building farms and homes, and assigning workers to various jobs around town. All of this happens while being introduced to the story involving the current condition of the Turner Railroad and the mystery of his missing father.
The game becomes more complicated as you progress, as you learn the blueprints for more buildings and must skillfully manage your limited manpower, money and construction resources. The buildings you can build range from the simple farm and house that are available to you from the start, to the more complicated hall and blacksmith that require blueprints and more resources to build. Resource management involves making sure you have enough gold and wood to build the various buildings you need, as well as enough coal to fuel your rail network. Labor is also important – you will need to ensure that all of your workers are properly housed, fed and employed.
You will also have to face bandits and rescue damsels in distress. No game set in the Wild West is complete without shooting and rescuing hostages from the train tracks at the last moment! Also, the game doesn’t just revolve around the growing township of the Turner Railroad. There are plenty of other places (all connected by rail, of course) to explore and expand.
The mechanics of this game are very similar to its predecessors in the Westward series. The simple interface that uses mostly the mouse has an elegance that prevents the game from becoming too complicated. The graphics and music are top-notch as before, giving the game a polished feel and making you feel like you’re part of a western movie.
Westward 4 is a highly engaging and immersive game that is guaranteed to transport you to the Wild West for hours on end. So come help the Turners find their father and transform their farm into a bustling city. And when you’re done, you can check out the other games in the Westward series.
Rating: 4.0/5.0