Sometimes the simple things are the best
Gameplay
Okay, you have the money, you have the building tools, you've got the power. The task in this game, well, in a "sandbox" mode (free-run basically) you're task is to establish transport lines (whether it be goods or passengers) between industries and towns, and earn an income. Sounds easy, right?
Well, this is what a good preportion of the game is like. Even on EASY, the AI move very quickly, and as there is no tutorial mode, it's quite hard at first. It's a simple layout, with a toolbar at the top to show you your general icons, and a tiny bar at the botto mthat displays your total cash amount. So the overall layout is easy enough for even a child of, say, six, to understand.
All in all, the gameplay is challenging, but fun. You'll find yourself cursing at the insane amounts of rail/road you'll be slapping down over the course of the game.
Graphics
For a game of 1995, and compared to today even, it looks fantastic. Blocky sure, but it looks cute, in some twisted way. I can't really talk about the graphics, other than they're blocky, colorful, and simple. Truth be told, it looks sort of similar to the Roller Coaster Tycoon series, vaguely.
Sounds
Great. The tooting of train horns is certainly loud, as is the noise of other various buildings. The music can only give you so much though, so you'll probably end up turning the background music right down, or off even.
Learning Curve
It's a challenging game, and, being no tutorial, it'll take some time. I'd have to say probably four to six hours though, which isn't that long.
Rent it, or buy it?
You'd be hard struck by to find it for rental, but it'd be worth every penny, so buy, take no hesitations.