Watch Thimas and the Magic Railroad is a 2000 family adventure film directed by Britt Allcroft, based on the children's television series Thomas & Friends created by Allcroft and Peter Hewitt. The film combines live-action and animation, following the adventures of the steam engine Thomas as he tries to save the Magic Railroad from the evil Diesel 10. The story begins when Thomas discovers that Mr. Conductor, a magical being who keeps the Magic Railroad running smoothly, is in trouble. Mr. Conductor's supply of gold dust, which powers the Magic Railroad, is running low, and without it, the entire railway could be shut down forever.
In terms of graphics, this game – by NES standards – looks great! They game employs lots of colours and has more diverse areas than the previous iterations in the series ranging from outdoor environments, to dungeons and towers! The sprites also look great, and some of the bosses are very large! While the game still suffers from flickering, I never found that it got in the way of enjoying the game. The music and sound effects are also exceptional. They were so good in-fact that my brother bought my the vinyl for Christmas last year! For importers, the Famicon version has even better music (because they added an extra chip into the game cartridge).
Unlike Castlevania, however, Castlevania III is non-linear Trevor, the main character, can be assisted by one of three possible assistant characters, and after completing the first level, and at several other points throughout the game, the player is given a choice of two branching paths to follow. The upper route takes the player across the lake to the main bridge, entering Dracula s castle through the front gate, and is generally regarded as the easier of the two routes.
Conductor's supply of gold dust, which powers the Magic Railroad, is running low, and without it, the entire railway could be shut down forever. Determined to help, Thomas travels to the Big City with his friend Lily, where they embark on a mission to find more gold dust. Along the way, Thomas faces numerous challenges and encounters a variety of colorful characters.
Honest Thoughts: Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse
Man, was this a brutally difficult game. This is quite easily the toughest NES game I've ever beaten. Harder than Contra, Mega Man 2, and even Friday the 13th. As hard as it may be to figure out what to do in Simon's Quest, as much the dithering and lagging hampers any ability to enjoy Castlevania Adventure, understand that of the four titles I've covered so far, this one easily tops them all in terms of difficulty. And it's all in the design.
Having said all that, this game is pretty freakin' amazing, all things considered. Definitely the best game I've covered so far. But note for all you newcomers looking to playing the ClassicVania titles, understand that this game will kick your ass. Especially if you're playing on original hardware rather than on an emulator like I did. So, food for thought.
Okay, first off, when trying out my Perfect Playthrough, I came to the realization that you simply cannot run into both Sylvia and Alucard. Castlevania III has all sorts of branching paths, and even though there are roughly ten stages that you can run through (level 2 is completely optional, unless you want to recruit Grant), you simply canot find everybody. Because of this, I wound up using a Save state to recruit Sylvia, and then load up said state to go back and recruit Alucard--the fan favorite and future star of what many consider the crown jewel of the Castlevania franchise--Symphony of the Night. This assured me right from the start that I would be playing through the hardest and longest route in the entire game right after Sylvia. But at least I can bs my way through some elaborate platforming sections thanks to Alucard's ability to fly.
Oh, yeah! You now have multiple playable characters to choose from, all with their own unique abilities and attributes. The main character, Trevor Belmont, pretty much controls exactly the same as Simon Belmont in the earlier entries. And for those of you wonder, this game is a prequel to the original game set hundreds of years in the past. But the other playable characters include the acrobatic Grant atop the optional level 2, Sylvia at the end of level 3, and Alucard can be found at the level 5 underground.
Because I ultimately went with the Alucard route, I can't comment on how Sylvia plays; however, I do prefer her ending over everyone else's, and she does rely almost exclusively on her own subset of magic powers rather than weapons.
Grant, however, is a fast and nimble character who, unlike the rest of the cast, isn't committed to his jumps, and be steered in midair. The downside is that he's frail, his main attack has absolutely no range (played the North American version), and because level 2 is completely optional, you basically have to go out of your way to get him in one of the more difficult stages in the game, only to run into either Sylvia or Alucard and have to choose to either keep him or one of the others. Least he can equip the Throwing Dagger and the Axe so Trevor can stick with the Holy Water and Boomerang.
On the other hand, Alucard can't equip any weapons at all, save for the costly Stop Watch. Instead, he relies on his projectiles and the ability to turn into a bat--which is also rather costly. If you have enough Hearts saved up, you can completely circumvent some of the trickier platforming sections in the game. Considering that things like spinning platforms and breakable blocks are a thing, and there are so many fast-moving enemies moving in erratic patterns to watch out for (it isn't just the medusa heads this time around), and there's even fixed vertical scrolling and autoscrolling in this game, needless to say, you absolutely want to be frugal with your Hearts if you wish to make it out of the later stages alive and in one piece.
As per usual, the Holy Water is pretty much the single-most busted weapon in the game, able to stunlock enemies and rack up a ton of damage along the way. It isn't terribly useful against airborne bosses, so be sure to swap it out for the Axe in the final level which will be far more effective against the later phases against Dracula (especially the final phase, since your attention will likely be focused on staying alive moreso than whipping him in the face).
As for Perfect Playthrough Conditions, unless you like to go for the much more difficult second run through the game afterwards, it's really just to beat the game. Remember that Sylvia and Alucard are both located in different branching paths and cannot be recruited in the same run; and Grant's stage is completely optional. Even if you were to play through the game both times, you still wouldn't be able to play through all 15 levels in the game, because Alucard's path has two level 6's depending on how early you complete his level 5. There are All-Path runs that exist on the Internet, that even provide you with four different endings--each one depending on who you brought along, if anybody. But since those runs are very clearly spliced (likely for brevity's sake), I don't really count these as Perfect Playthrough's. I don't know. Maybe I'm not one to talk. I mean I did go for Sylvia first before using a Save State to backpedal to Alucard's route.
All this without getting into the overall presentation. This game looks sharp and crisp, and slaying evil never sounded crisper. Konami was absolutely at their A-game when making this game. They put everything they had left in the tank for the NES as it would be the last game released on the system. Honestly, considering that you have to duck and jump as Alucard in order to turn him into a bat, I think it's safe to say that the limitations of the NES controller are what ultimately led to the decision to move production for the fourth console entry to the SNES.
Having said all that, it's definitely one of my favorite NES games played so far, and easily the best of the original trilogy. I'm giving it a 9 out of 10, again with the caveat that you absolutely need to come into this game prepared for a swift kick in the butt at the cost of a dollar.
I just finished watching season 2 of the Netflix Castlevania series, which got me interested in playing more of the games in the series! Similar to other games in the series, Castlevania III takes a Belmont through Dracula’s castle, but adds a ton more to the series – making it the best iteration on the NES!
He befriends Burnett Stone, the caretaker of the Magic Railroad, who holds the key to its survival. Together, they must outsmart Diesel 10, a villainous diesel engine determined to destroy the Magic Railroad and take over Sodor. As the story unfolds, audiences are introduced to a world of imagination and wonder. The film seamlessly transitions between live-action sequences and animated scenes, creating a visually stunning experience for viewers of all ages. The animation brings the beloved Thomas & Friends characters to life, while the live-action elements add a sense of reality to the fantastical world they inhabit. Watch Thomas and the Magic Railroad is not only a visually captivating film but also a heartwarming story about friendship, courage, and the power of belief. It teaches children important lessons about perseverance and the importance of working together to overcome obstacles. With its catchy songs, charming characters, and thrilling adventures, the film offers entertainment and inspiration for the whole family. In conclusion, Watch Thomas and the Magic Railroad is a must-watch film for fans of the Thomas & Friends series and anyone who appreciates imaginative storytelling. It combines live-action and animation to create a visually stunning world filled with adventure and heart. Whether you're a child or a child at heart, this film is sure to captivate and entertain. So hop aboard and join Thomas on his magical journey!.
Reviews for "Thomas and the Magic Railroad: A Lesson in Bravery and Courage"
1) Alexandra - 1 star
I was really disappointed with "Watch Thomas and the Magic Railroad". The storyline was confusing and choppy, with multiple plotlines that didn't seem to connect. The animation felt outdated and didn't capture the magic of the original Thomas and Friends series. Overall, it felt like a poor attempt at cashing in on the success of the franchise without putting in the effort to create a compelling and well-crafted film.
2) Michael - 2 stars
I found "Watch Thomas and the Magic Railroad" to be a letdown compared to the beloved Thomas and Friends TV show. The characters lacked depth, and the dialogue was uninspired. The film seemed to rely heavily on special effects to distract from the weak plot and lackluster storytelling. It just didn't live up to my expectations and left me feeling unsatisfied.
3) Sarah - 1 star
"Watch Thomas and the Magic Railroad" was a complete disappointment. The storyline was incredibly convoluted, making it difficult to follow and enjoy. The film also introduced new characters that didn't fit well within the Thomas and Friends universe, which disrupted the overall experience. The animation and visuals were lackluster, lacking the charm and attention to detail of the original series. I wouldn't recommend this film to any fans of Thomas and Friends.