Attack Pla-Rail

Overview

Attack Plarail is a train driving game developed and released by Namco (along with Tomy) for arcades (using PS1-based Namco System 12 hardware) in 1998.

Based on Tomy's Plarail line of toy train sets, Attack Plarail puts players in first-person control of a battery-powered toy train as they drive along a long-winding track to the end while fighting against time (shown as battery power), avoiding derailment (by maintaining a safe speed at turns), and braking at certain scenarios (such as bridge crossings, construction workers on the track, animals on the track, and station stops).

The game's controls includes a simple master controller lever that acts both as a throttle (when pulled backward) and a brake (when pushed forward), as well as three buttons: Left, OK/Horn, and Right. The buttons are used primarily for the main menu, as well as for changing paths in junctions.

Route & Trains

Players choose from one of six trains, split into two difficulties: Shoshinsha Course ("Beginner Course") and Pro Course. Each train has three stats associated with them: Maximum Speed, Handling, and Battery Usage. The Beginner Course trains are more forgiving with the battery usage, but they do not run the entire route.

Shoshinsha Course (Beginner Course):

• JR Kyūshū Sonic 883 (2/3/2)
• Narita Express (3/4/2)
• Nankai Rapi:t (4/5/3)

Pro Course:

• Nozomi (4/4/3)
• Tsubasa (4/3/4)
• 500 Series Shinkansen (5/3/5)

Route

The game only includes one route that splits into eight "courses", with players starting at Momo Mountain and then proceeding through the remaining courses (4 for Beginner, 7 for Pro) at random. The game tries to hide the randomness by having players choose between two paths at junctions (similar to similar to the Outrun and Darius series).

• Aqua Port Course (Sea Side)
• Bridgewater Bay Course (River & Bay)
• Doboku City Course (Civic Center)
• Flat Town Course (Bedtown)
• Guruguru Hill Course (Hill)
• Momo Mountain Course (Hill & Mountain)
• Techno Sunshine Course (Metropolis)
• Tobimas Lake Course (Country & Lake)

If the player makes their way through the route on a single credit, they can play an Extra Game where they run Doboku City with no stops between the start and the station at the end, and are graded based on time.