If you are a newcomer: Yes, buy the game (the Musashino Line starter pack is recommended), but ensure you apply Build 11779437 immediately. The base game on disc (Version 1.0) is broken compared to this refined state.
For the purist, Build 11779437 offers the most authentic braking curve simulation on the market. You cannot "cheat" the deceleration; the train weight calculation is live and unforgiving. According to data-mined strings within Build 11779437, references to "H5 Series Shinkansen" and "Hakodate LIDAR data" suggest that JR East is preparing a Hokkaido Shinkansen expansion. However, the build number indicates this will be a free core update preceding a paid DLC. JR EAST Train Simulator Build 11779437
Unlike Western sims that often "approximate" train handling, JR EAST Train Simulator plays back telemetry data from the actual driver’s console. If you brake too late, the physics don't just "feel wrong"—they are mathematically incorrect relative to the real train’s deceleration curve. If you are a newcomer: Yes, buy the