Life on the Old Frontier
Before we were surrounded by concrete jungles, before we lusted after the latest touchscreen smartphone, there was a simpler world to be lived on the old frontier. It was a life that may have had a slower pace that what we have today, but it was a satisfying lifestyle that was filled with the spirit of adventure.
Making your way across the country yet one more time, it is time to explore the newest addition to the Westward franchise. As you hop on board the train back to your home town, you soon discover that your father has gone inexplicably missing. Further still, supplies have stopped coming into town, making life much more difficult for everyone involved. What could have changed in your absence?
A Real-Time Quest-Based Adventure
Instead of solving basic puzzles or searching for items on a cluttered screen, this adventure allows you to explore your world in real time, completing all the real quests that you encounter along the way. The rustic feel of the game is definitely there, complete with dusty roads, old miners, and a soundtrack that could be pulled out of movie about Davy Crockett.
The user interface is not quite as simple as some people may have experienced in other casual games. That's because the action here can be more complex than in those simpler games. There is a toolbar that sits near the top of the screen, but when you click on your character, a larger toolbox appears near the bottom that grants you access to a range of functions and actions.
Further still, you'll need to manage the different resources that are involved as part of your journey. As you come across piles of lumber, you'll want to snatch those up. More wood can always come in handy when you'll be erecting new homes on the range. The same can be said about cash, coal, and more.
Expanding Tasks and Neighbors
Even though the real-time nature of the game may lead you to believe that it is an open-ended environment with very little guidance, the plot line does move along in a logical and progressive fashion. For instance, one of the first stages involves earning enough money for a train ticket, visiting your dear mother at home, and helping the neighbors build a new house.
To move your protagonist, who is either Anne or Henry Turner, select them first with a left-click on your mouse. From there, you can either drag the character to your desired location with a click-and-drag interface or you can simply hit the right-click button on your mouse.
This is the same thing you would need to do to interact with environmental elements. For example, you can pick up an item by dragging your character to it (at which point the mouse pointer turns into a closed fist) or by right-clicking on the object of your desire.
A Rich and Rewarding Experience
It truly is amazing when you behold the skill set held by Anne Turner and Henry Turner. When you're the children of the Turner Railroad Company's owner, you naturally start to pick up on some talents that other people may not have! Lead Anne and Henry as they blast dynamite, repair train tracks, rescue kidnapped citizens, build coal mines, and so much more.
