I have no idea what that means in English, but I that's OK--all you really need to know is this is yet another 3DS train simulation game from the masters of the genre, Sonic Powered.
Or maybe I should say it would be yet another 3DS train simulation game if it didn't throw a wrench into the works by featuring the world-famous Thomas the Tank Engine character.
Although I've never played any of Sonic Powered's million (give or take a few hundred thousand) 3DS choo-choo sims, I've long wanted to do so.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiidcjd8PwteNiB4XEmVLT2FFqy5BeEG-qwYipmRdAMPRrnCwC2Y17N4s3MmeYYN3NC6omgZy9089F_umbu4oMH3km_U-gA3leEHiqnfhtsaggQ06TG9nHwU9B77GoPD3PyE5Clow/s400/Tetsudou-Nippon-Kikansha-Thomas-3DS.jpg)
As for why the one starring Thomas the Tank Engine has me thinking of biting the bullet, so to speak, well, I'm not sure. OK, so that's not entirely true. After reading about the game on both japanesenintendo.com and tinycartridge.com yesterday, and in the process discovering that this title's Thomas mode switches out the Japanese Rail Sim series' realistic trappings for ones far more colorful and toylike, I was smitten.
That doesn't mean I've already pre-ordered Tetsudou Nippon! Rosen Tabi: Kikansha Thomas-hen Oigawa Tetsudou! Nor does it guarantee I'll do so between now and when the game is released in late July (carrying a price tag of 6,264 yen, or about $57).
I am seriously considering it, though. Should I go through with it, I'll of course do my best to share some impressions in a future post.
Are any of you similarly attracted to this curious import? If so, please tell me (and others) why in the comments section below.