I'll say right now that I'm basing my experience off of the PlayStation 5 version. Any comments I make about how the game plays, chances are they'll apply to how it's played on the PS5. Maybe the other versions play different, maybe they don't, the PS5 was just what I could access. With that out of the way, let's begin.

Wonders of Sodor doesn't have a traditional storyline like the other Thomas games, but for what this game's going for, it doesn't need one. It's instead a simulator where you can drive around Sodor, do some jobs and interact with the engines. And right off the bat, the way Sodor is presented in this game is gorgeous. Not only are the graphics top dollar, but the island itself takes elements from both Awdry's map and the TV series, with a few extra details to keep it fresh. And not only is this railway huge with plenty to do as you explore the railway, but you can also explore the stations and even the towns surrounding them. The game keeps it interesting by hiding both easter eggs from the series and collectibles like whistles, conductor hats and Railway Series books, practically rewarding you for wandering through the catacombs. Sodor isn't the game's setting, it's an actual world. Granted, some of the areas you can explore can be a little barren, but that doesn't really hurt the game.

But how's the gameplay itself? I'll admit, it took a little bit of time getting used to the controls, but they're pretty smooth. Nothing feels too imbalanced - every character is an absolute breeze to control. Even if you do derail, A. it doesn't take long for you to get back to what you were doing, and B. the derailments are really funny. The engines just go flying, it's amazing. And what I like is that every character has a different speed, like how bigger engines like James or Gordon can go past 100mph or how smaller characters like Thomas or Diesel max out at 75mph. Top that up with some fun rolling stock combinations and you get a pretty fun line. It's a neat feature and I like how each character plays different...which reminds me.

Let's cap this off by talking about the story scenarios. There's a blend of stories based off the Railway Series stories and original stories, all narrated by Mark Moraghan. And each one plays in a unique way. These scenarios are really fun, but if I had to name a favorite, I'd have to say James and the Van. Not only does it play really well, but it's such a funny concept, James being forced to bring a van with him on his passenger run. My one nitpick is that some of them can get a little repetitive, particularly when they're on Thomas' branch line. Go to a station, load passengers, go to the next station, rinse and repeat. There are some that mix it up, but after a while, they do start to blend together. This doesn't detract anything, however, but I do wish there was a bit more variety.

Overall, Wonders of Sodor is not only a great video game, but the perfect Thomas game. Is there room for improvement? Sure, but this game is a Thomas fan's dream. If you're an avid Thomas fan and gamer, or if you're just curious, then this is a must-play. And with that, this game was very close to a perfect 5, but I'm giving this game a 4.5/5.

Final Rating: 4.5/5

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It seems in today's world that there are a lot of people who seem to have a problem with bringing a character with a physical difference to the center of attention even if it is only for less than a minute and those same people will say that it is 'disrespectful to kids with special needs and it's offensive'. But shouldn't hiding a character that's different from everyone else be more offensive?  Isn't censoring a character with a disability more disrespectful to people who actually might have similar issues?  Those kids need representation too, those kids need a character to look up to just as much as any other kid perhaps even more so. I'm reminded of a story about an autistic kid who looked up to Drax from 'Guardians of the Galaxy', he saw someone who acted like he did and was still a hero. Even Julia from 'Sesame Street', kids can see a character like her and say 'hey, she's just like me'.  This kind of representation is important for kids especially kids who might already get bullied at school for being different, it gives validation to who they are and the struggles they go through.  Here, Bruno is different: he loves schedules and timetables when everything goes to plan, he can flap his own ladders to tell you if he's upset or really excited, he can use his items to show you how he's feeling but he is also a very relaxed character who uses his comedy to get past situations sometimes so the possibility of people censoring Bruno because he happens to look and act different from the other engines could actually be seen as worse than just leaving him be.  Do you really believe that Mattel of all companies would be malicious like this?  In the end, it's a sad testament to the power of words but it's important to bring up when speaking about Bruno.  But enough of talking about Bruno, let's get on with the show!

Now, stories regarding the engines learning about being patient is nothing new when it comes to Thomas the Tank Engine since they have been a thing for the franchise as far back as the original Railway Series books and television series but that doesn't mean it can't still be enjoyable if they can do something new with that concept.  Considering how many children and even many adults whether or not they are on the autism spectrum struggle with the idea of patience, it only seems right to have our schedule-obsessed brake car be the one to learn this lesson when an important ship is delayed.  So with this being Bruno's final spotlight episode for this season of All Engines Go, have we reached a point where we don't talk about him anymore or is there more to this brake car than what you might think?  Well, right off the bat, I love how they humorously acknowledge the whole "mechanics versus engines" conflict that longtime fans have when it comes to who repairs the engines in this reboot as well as having Nia freaking out when her "perfect plan" for deliveries goes awry which leads me to think that someone on the writing team has been listening to the fandom's complaints about Nia as a character.  With that said, I love seeing how the engines cope with the sudden delay by finding things that they like to do to pass the time and finding ways to anticipate things in the future whether it be Kana racing around to help ease her stress or even something as simple as playing a game with your friends which thankfully isn't Hide And Peep like it was back during the Hit Era.  As for Bruno and him having to learn to wait, you'd think that he wouldn't learn anything about being patient and obsess over schedules yet I'm surprised that he actually does grow as a character here with the help of his friends...even if it meant having to hear the word "mechanic" over and over again to the point where it could be turned into a drinking game by the adult fans...although I don't recommend it. The hangover is not great. 

So overall for an episode about waiting that could've dragged on forever, I am amazed at how quickly "The Waiting Game" went by which debatable if the pacing is a bit wonky with this one showed our cast of engines that patience really is a virtue and for that earns this a 3.5/5.

Final Rating: 3.5/5

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