Alright. Choo-Choo Charles is done and dusted. This was a pretty fast paced sandbox action horror set on an island isolated from the rest of the world ATM. I don’t think I’d really call it survival horror since there’s really only one resource (scrap) to collect, which is quite plentiful; and the only penalty for dying is losing a couple scrap. Anyway, it was a fun little game.

The aforementioned scrap is used to upgrade your train’s damage, armor, and speed; and can be used to repair your train as well. Speaking of trains, you ride one around the map, leaving it to investigate locations, meet people, and fulfill quests on foot.

Each quest will offer you something relevant to trying to survive long enough to kill Choo-Choo Charlie, a half train half giant demon spider (or giga spider as one NPC calls it lol) rampaging about the island you’re on. For your efforts in completing quests, you’ll receive scrap and weapons you can interchangeably install to the back of your train. You start out with a machine gun, but quickly get a small array of much cooler weapons. I used the flamethrower for the final boss fight, personally.

Many times throughout the adventure, Choo-Choo Charles will show up to try to chase you down. When you’re on the train, doing enough damage will scare him off temporarily. On foot, you’ll need to hoof it into a building or back to your train to avoid getting eaten. Fortunately, you can run pretty fast.

There are also sequences where you’ll need to sneak past enemy NPCs. They’re armed, but you’re not, so stealth and running for your life are the proper tactics. Although you can bait them onto the train tracks and run them over if you so desire, lol.

There are collectibles in the form of paint cans used to give your train a make-over; and notes which offer expanded lore about the island, its inhabitants, and of course Choo-Choo Charles.

Graphically, this is a nice looking game with the highlight obviously being Choo-Choo Charles himself. A funny thing with the the quest giving NPCs. They’re voice acted well, and are generally fun characters, but they stand in whatever pose they’re given initially, their lips don’t move, and it basically makes them intentionally comical. Enemy NPCs tend to whistle while they work. In general, the audio in this game is exceptional in every way, from the OST to the in game sounds to the voice acting.

And that’s it in a nutshell. Not a particularly difficult game, although the final boss battle with Choo-Choo Charles was somewhat challenging. Pro tip. Make sure you have spare scrap going into that sequence.

Choo-Choo Charles took me about four hours to complete and I bought it on sale, but in reality, cost vs value is there at retail price. I enjoyed the game and there’s a solid chance that you will as well.