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The third game in the series arrives, 3D graphics and all. I spent many late hours playing RollerCoaster Tycoon and its many expansion packs. The game was so simple yet insanely addictive, you always wanted to get that better ride or observe how happily visitors would pay another dollar in admission fees. Although RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 came and went, RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 has addicted me once again.
The big draw of the game is the ability to manage your own theme park and try to make it succeed. The game’s main single player mode throws you in the situation of reviving a failing park back to its glory days. There are a number of objectives, ranging from easy to difficult, that you’ll need to accomplish. It isn’t all about having a clean park and a variety of rides, either; some of them are rather specific and focus on particular aspects of the park. The game includes many different scenarios, but also allows you to build a park from scratch if that is your thing.
As always, you can zoom into your park and notice the excitement of the characters after they get off that thrilling rollercoaster. Getting a large loan to build a ride, and then watching it have a perpetually long line is an exciting and gratifying experience to be sure.
To make sure you can build the perfect park, the game allows you customize pretty much whatever you want. You can set ticket prices for rides (and an admission fee for the park), research new rides and attractions, manage repairs, and employ staff members to clean the park or repair rides. You can also build your own rides, which is made easier thanks to the game’s excellent engine, although the time required to make an exhilarating ride is probably best spent earning some money and buying one of the pre-made ones. The game includes many rides and attractions divided into a number of themes, ensuring fun to be had for a while to come. Additionally, you are able to edit fireworks to make an attraction livelier. The game’s camera system doesn’t inhibit any of these activities.
The game’s visuals are pretty impressive given the scope. All of the different environments in the game are detailed enough and offer much diversity. The rides are excellently modeled, and really look the part. The 3D engine was an excellent addition to the series, which is readily apparent. The game includes a first person perspective for rides which allows you to effectively take the ride out for a try and the experience is quite exhilarating. The characters that populate your parks are simple and a bit blocky, but there are so many of them that you won’t care.
The game’s sound is appropriate. The sound effects are nothing out of the ordinary, but do manage to bring the park to life. The tunes included for the rides aren’t all that hot, but thankfully you can import your own music to the game.
RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 is a very fun game. You can easily spend tens of hours playing the different scenarios and even more building your own parks and just generally enjoying everything the game brings. -- Jose Liz, PGNx Media
---- Nov 17, 2004
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