THEME PARK ROLLER COASTER - PS2

by Electronic Arts

Product Details

• ASIN: B00004W4WI
• Item Weight: 3 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (48 customer reviews)
• Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #9,562 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)

  #29 in

  Video Games > PlayStation 2 > Simulation

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

At its core, this game is an updated version of Sim Theme Park for the PC. In fact, it should become obvious moments after you plug this game into your PS2 that this title has "PC port" written all over it. For some, this will be heralded as good news, as Theme Park Roller Coaster is unlike nearly any other game ever published for a video game console.

The game, using an unnamed mascot, nicely guides you through your very first park. The mascot tells you how to get golden tickets, which you'll use to get into other parks with different themes, such as Halloween, space, and dinosaur ages. The menus are a little convoluted, and the loading time for a park approaches one minute, but once inside you get access to that park's attractions.

Once you've set down an attraction's layout, you can then ride on it in first-person 3-D--an experience that is just about as vertigo inducing as its real-life counterpart. There is even variety in the roller coasters available: hanging steel, wood coasters, and even water rides.

The name Theme Park Roller Coaster implies that you'll spend most of your time designing and riding these roller coasters. Unfortunately, the game has more insane micromanagement features than SimBureaucrat. Every stage has at least three goals. The first is to stay in business for a specified period of time. The second is to make a certain amount of money within a year. The third is to get a certain amount of people to visit.

But if you are a roller coaster buff, or you enjoy the business simulation aspects of games like these, you'll want to add this game to your PS2 collection. --Todd Mowatt

Pros:

• Offers up something different for console gamers
• Creating and riding your own roller coaster in first-person mode is a blast
• Building your own park in this game is much cheaper than going to a real theme park

Cons:

• Game's fun factor is watered down by business objectives
• Very steep learning curve will turn away younger, less patient gamers

Product Description

At its core, this game is an updated version of Sim Theme Park for the PC. In fact, it should become obvious moments after you plug this game into your PS2 that this title has "PC port" written all over it. For some, this will be heralded as good news, as Theme Park Roller Coaster is unlike nearly any other game ever published for a video game console.

The game, using an unnamed mascot, nicely guides you through your very first park. The mascot tells you how to get golden tickets, which you'll use to get into other parks with different themes, such as Halloween, space, and dinosaur ages. The menus are a little convoluted, and the loading time for a park approaches one minute, but once inside you get access to that park's attractions.

Once you've set down an attraction's layout, you can then ride on it in first-person 3-D--an experience that is just about as vertigo inducing as its real-life counterpart. There is even variety in the roller coasters available: hanging steel, wood coasters, and even water rides.

The name Theme Park Roller Coaster implies that you'll spend most of your time designing and riding these roller coasters. Unfortunately, the game has more insane micromanagement features than SimBureaucrat. Every stage has at least three goals. The first is to stay in business for a specified period of time. The second is to make a certain amount of money within a year. The third is to get a certain amount of people to visit.

But if you are a roller coaster buff, or you enjoy the business simulation aspects of games like these, you'll want to add this game to your PS2 collection. --Todd Mowatt

Pros:

• Offers up something different for console gamers
• Creating and riding your own roller coaster in first-p

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absorbing gameplay and good graphics, December 13, 2000

By	Christopher Jantze (San Anselmo, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: THEME PARK ROLLER COASTER - PS2 (Video Game)

I recently picked up this title after reading several favorable reviews. To sum it up I have not been disappointed. There are several themes available (Jungle, etc.) and the gameplay becomes intuitive very quickly.

You start with one park and one theme available and set out to meet certain goals. Some include attracting a certain number of guests, earning a set amount of cash, staying in business for a minimal amount of time, etc. Completing the goals earns gold tickets which can be used to open up other parts of the game. The interface is easy to navigate as descriptions for the buttons are always on the screen. There is also a helpful, although annoying sometimes, tutor that will guide you through handling problems and the various interfaces.

You have to decide which rides to build and their placement. The coaster design system is fairly simple to pick up on. The only problem I had was trying to tweak one ride where it would go from 'boring' to 'sickening' with just one tweak of a pylon for my coaster. But that is also what makes it fun. You can even get awards for really good coasters. You also have to hire staff such as security, researchers, janitors and entertainers.

This isn't an adrenaline fueled game. I really enjoy because I can kick back on my couch and relax while having a great time. One of the highlights is that you can walk around you park, play the games and ride the rides and coasters you have constructed. This one requires a little more in the congnitive department than a fighting or shooting game. But pick it up, it's definitely up there with SSX and Madden.

67 of 74 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a cool game!!, November 5, 2000

By	"emmagriffin_uk" (England, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: THEME PARK ROLLER COASTER - PS2 (Video Game)

I have this game on my playstation and its so cool! If you had the first game, Themepark, then you'll notice the difference! It has brilliant 3-D graphics and you can go on the rides yourself, build themeparks in different worlds like in space, or in a spooky place or in a cheerful happy flowery land. You have researchers to research new rides, features or shops, I definatley recommend this game!!

32 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Theme Park Blows everyone else away, December 12, 2000

A Kid's Review

This review is from: THEME PARK ROLLER COASTER - PS2 (Video Game)

I played this game from 7 am to 9 pm with breaks in between, but I wasnt bored with it. It has so many different things to do. The graphics have improved greatly over its playstation cousin. The way the game feels is different, and letting you ride the rides is even better, and with improved everything on the ps2, it makes it all the more realistic. If I were any gamer, I would hand over the money quickly, because a rental just isnt enough.