Meina's Train Cruise by Oradimi

[raw]
made by Oradimi for Ludum Dare 59 (JAM)

Guide Meina to her goal! But beware of speed restrictions!

Hold left click on the handle and drag to change your train's speed.

Recommended to put on your favorite chill music in the background on your way to the destination.

  • Patch 1 (playable here)
    • Make randomness less random
    • Fix a certain message not appearing correctly
  • Patch 2
    • Add daytime tint to speech bubbles and the train's smoke
    • Adjust train's "physics" (toppling over should feel more fair now)
    • Fixed some typos or speech bubble behaviour
    • Increase refuel station spawn rate
    • Other minor adjustments
  • Post-Jam Update (only on itch.io)
    • Add ability to pick up Lyara
    • Add new content
    • Add new dialogue
    • Add dynamic weather
    • Add optional music by Hagali
    • Add train whistle
    • Add more varied background mountains
    • Add trees and forests
    • Change clock display
    • Other balance adjustments

Ratings

Overall 538th 3.423⭐ 54🧑‍⚖️
Fun 632th 3.029⭐ 54🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 556th 3.163⭐ 54🧑‍⚖️
Theme 599th 3.356⭐ 54🧑‍⚖️
Graphics 440th 3.731⭐ 54🧑‍⚖️
Humor 266th 3.255⭐ 51🧑‍⚖️
Mood 246th 3.933⭐ 54🧑‍⚖️
Given 45🗳️ 74🗨️

Feedback

Mischa-98
Apr 21st · 07:20 UTC
After the refueling station nothing happened.
I didn't know if had reached the end of the content.

Edit: Nvm i continued and there was a hint "we're close". I drove 35 in a 30 and died...
msipp27
Apr 21st · 07:54 UTC
i'd like to have a personal word with the fdesigner behind the 15 mph tracks
alpacalypse
Apr 21st · 08:01 UTC
This is charming with a good day-night cycle, though the longer slow stretches can be a bit agonising.
Asieke
Apr 21st · 11:06 UTC
Love your art style! Not much wiggle room to slow down in a slower speed zone before crashing, might be a good idea to add something like a "slower speed zone ahead" sign.
ouhiiiii
Apr 21st · 14:22 UTC
I like your hand-drawn style, and the mood of the game, it's like a poem, a girl takes a train all night to meet her friend, which is romantic. It takes me a minute to get how to control, I think it would be better if given more hints, like 60 'km/h' on the road sign
pacific14
Apr 21st · 14:54 UTC
Very funny game!
JCoMcL
Apr 21st · 14:54 UTC
Really cute. I wish there was more to the gameplay.
Divarium
Apr 21st · 15:03 UTC
I like your game very much. It's cozy and feel good. The graphs are simple but very effective. Well done !
Crygos
Apr 21st · 15:04 UTC
The 15mph limit made the train too slow to really enjoy it. The other speed limits are fine though. Maybe it would be good to add one stage on the handle that keeps the current speed.
insomniapill
Apr 21st · 15:16 UTC
Very cozy game! Enjoyed it very much. The game is minimalistic yet adorable and represents true travelling experience :)
Horsedetroia
Apr 21st · 16:34 UTC
The mechanics are very good, and the game idea is too. I think a tutorial showing which buttons to use would be very helpful!
Juutis
Apr 21st · 16:39 UTC
That was a chill journey! Dropping down to 30 from full speed was brutal, though, and cost me a couple of runs. :grin:
azsteak
Apr 21st · 18:19 UTC
Cute visuals
PastMoments
Apr 21st · 19:45 UTC
The train theme is great, and the overall style is very cute.
NiceKot
Apr 21st · 22:43 UTC
At first I was Awawawa.... but then I "Lyara, I'm here!"

Very cute and nice game was interesting challenge and concept. Cool!
LDJam user 426288
Apr 22nd · 07:08 UTC
I really love the theme and atmosphere of this game. If the scenery could change a bit or if background music were added, it would make it even more beautiful 🌟
LDJam user 371996
Apr 22nd · 08:08 UTC
I love the overall atmospheres and audio! Just like my train journeys in my childhood. :train: :train: Really relaxive.
Hi Im Greg
Apr 22nd · 19:42 UTC
The overall vibe and artstyle was great, very zen and chill little game. I noticed you added "Play some chill music", it would have been nice if some chill music was included haha.

Enjoyed it, definetly got a little boring at times on some of the longer stretches, but being a gamejam and all I can't complain much. Would play a full version of this on my ipad or something on a day I want to de-stress.
Alex de la Cour
Apr 22nd · 20:32 UTC
Super cute and very chill! I really loved the art style, and as frustrating as some of the super slow sections could be, it was really satisfying seeing that 80 sign getting closer.

I assumed the train would auto refuel at the station and ended up driving right past it, then I ran out of fuel just after Meina said she was almost there. But I don't mind, I enjoyed it still!
Soothsayer
Apr 22nd · 22:19 UTC
Probably too chill? Honestly didn't find it particularly engaging, there's not much to do nor look at. I think it's entirely possible I'm just not the target audience. I do like the art though!
TobaccoLeopard
Apr 22nd · 22:36 UTC
The artistic style is so cute! (Maybe show the speed limits more often to make us feel more involved with Meina? :))
Wizard
Apr 22nd · 22:58 UTC
enjoyed the calmer pace of this one. I put on a LoFi playlist and just chilled out. I did like it when Meina spoke, added a bit of charm to her. Deffo one of the better chill cosy games I've played in a while. Nice work.
kuviman
Apr 22nd · 23:27 UTC
nice chill game, i enjoyed it a lot
gamebuilder
Apr 23rd · 01:25 UTC
Great! I love the sound effects and raw graphics in this game. It's almost surreal—an unusual mood which hits home. I wish there was a bit more variety (perhaps in the sky, or with the hills?), but still I had fun. Well done.

![t.png](///raw/967/21/z/72662.png)
red-horde-games
Apr 23rd · 06:12 UTC
Relaxing game, liked it!
Tanjou
Apr 23rd · 08:47 UTC
Absolute cinema!
Garaptic
Apr 23rd · 11:55 UTC
A very cute and cozy game. I loved Meina's short monologues along the way. Some calm music over the top would have created the perfect atmosphere. And I love the hand-drawn style!
Skyeward
Apr 23rd · 15:07 UTC
This is an incredibly simple, minimal game with no music, very few art assets, and incredibly straightforwards gameplay. However... It's going for a vibe and it NAILS it. It's minimal in all the ways that really work. I'm glad this game doesn't have music; the clunking of the train down the track BECOMES the soundtrack of this peaceful, serene, lonely night of travel. This game does an excellent job of recreating a feeling I've had of walking home through an empty city at 4am; or getting out of my tent in the middle of the night on a camping trip and strolling up the mountain to stargaze. This game is a vibe.

I really like the character art, the cresting hill always rolling towards us, the little refueling stations breaking up the simple gameplay. But mostly, I like the simplicity. Simplicity can be a negative, but this a situation where it really isn't.

I recommend playing this at night with your lights off. Hell, if you can take your laptop out to the countryside and play it under the stars, even better.

Thanks for the game!
Emmatw
Apr 23rd · 20:21 UTC
Very cozy game, I love the art style and overall atmosphere!
LDJam user 280189
Apr 24th · 19:52 UTC
I liked how simple and chill this is! I totally agree with one of the commenters above about simplicity. You don't really need a lot to make a nice game. Less is more. Great job!
half-animal-half-beast
Apr 25th · 01:06 UTC
i felt really bad for the character every time i tipped her little train over 😄

it’s impressive how such a simple idea can be this engaging. nice work!
LDJam user 423693
Apr 28th · 15:33 UTC
Simple but really cosy and nice to play, we especially liked the hand-drawn design which gives a real charm to the game !
Akuta Zehy
May 02nd · 16:37 UTC
Awawawa...the rollover reminds me of when I overshot a corner while speeding in Euro Truck Simulator, so I need to be extra careful when driving a train on the tracks...

![cb903998-30db-46ca-9f0b-638399165a4a.png](///raw/771/66/z/73083.png)

A simple but charming sim-like game, and the fake 3D design is really cool!
MemoLoop
May 02nd · 16:47 UTC
I love the art and I enjoyed it. It's very a relaxing game.
Tetracold
May 02nd · 20:33 UTC
I enjoyed it, especially the style! even if the gameplay is simple I thought the mechanic is engaging enough for for what the game is going for!
Nanamaki
May 03rd · 12:57 UTC
A simple, relaxing concept that makes for a really chill experience. The 3D visuals and the day–night cycle are especially impressive. I literally put on some of my favorite music while playing and had a nice time.
(Though I couldn’t help worrying Meina's hair might get caught in the wheels awawawa...)
tailchaser
May 03rd · 20:39 UTC
I enjoyed it! Artwork is charming, and the concept is simple yet fun and relaxing. Great job!
Emsea
May 06th · 07:59 UTC
Dropping a long over due comment here. Really appreciate you giving me the opportunity to play this game [on stream.](https://www.youtube.com/live/KSYoPmFIwTA?si=RayPRpoSiwPsyclP&t=142)

My thoughts are shared in the VOD.

Here is the [train game I tried to remember](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tinytitanstudios.TrainChu).

Hope we see you back for LD60. ✌
🎤 Oradimi
May 08th · 17:23 UTC
@mischa-98 @msipp27 @alpacalypse @asieke @ouhiiiii @pacific14 @jcomcl @divarium @crygos @insomniapill @horsedetroia @juutis @azsteak @pastmoments @nicekot @shivvvy @rubatotree @hi-im-greg @alex-de-la-cour @soothsayer @tobaccoleopard @wizard @kuviman @gamebuilder @red-horde-games @tanjou @garaptic @skyeward @emmatw @kazuren @half-animal-half-beast @unreststudio @akuta-zehy @memoloop @tetracold @nanamaki @tailchaser @emsea

Thank you everyone for playing! I'm glad a lot of you resonated with the atmosphere of the game.
I've taken some of your feedback into account to create a post-jam version!
## [Play the latest version on itch.io](https://oradimi.itch.io/meinas-train-cruise)
In this update, you will find more interaction with Lyara, a dynamic weather system, ambient background music that matches with that weather, and more!
Feel free to leave your thoughts about this post-jam version on the itch.io page!
This is only the result of working more on the game for a few days, as I wasn't able to keep working on it for the entire rating session's duration.
I'm planning more updates in the future, including different paths, more NPCs, more environments and hazards.
Until then, you may follow me on Twitter to stay updated with the latest developments on the game if you are interested.
I'll also try to make devlogs on the itch.io page.
See you in next Ludum!