RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Rating:
Summary: Boring For Those That Played Out Rollercoaster Tycoon 1
Review: If you've never played the Rollercoaster Tycoon series, than by all means, quickly buy the sequel because it's probably one of the most enjoyable games ever. It has a simple concept behind it yet the game keeps you hooked for months. If you love designing and creating, this IS the game for you as it's basically a layman's theme park builder. For those that did play the first game, I have a small warning for you: Unless you're hopelessly addicted to the first game and its many expansions, you probably won't get much out of the sequel. It's almost a carbon copy of the first game. Some of the rollercoaster building mechanics have changed, there are new attractions, and you can now play on maps that are realistic portrayals of the popular Six Flags theme park chain. Other than that, everything is the same, even the graphics (which are usually the first thing to get updated in a sequel) don't look any different. My recommendation for anyone that is the patient type and wishes to buy this game is to wait a month or two. There are already two expansions for the sequel. Games like these are quickly packaged into bargain combo packs and I imagine it won't be long before both expansions are available with the original game at a low price.

Rating:
Summary: More Stuff, But Gameplay Suffers
Review: I was disappointed with RCT2, but not for the same reasons cited by a lot of RCT fans. Yes, the sound and graphics are essentially the same, but that did not bother me.

My biggest gripe was with the game itself. The scenarios are more difficult, too difficult in fact, unless you enjoy constant micromanagement and clicking your way to carpal tunnel syndrome.

In RCT1, you had to work hard to get your parks up and running, but once you got everything right, you could sit back and enjoy your success. That formula has been tossed out with RCT2. You'll lose huge chunks of cash for no apparent reason. Your guests will complain about being sick unless you literally install first aid stations every fifty feet. Your park rating will plummet unless you are constantly clicking away at the mouse. I guess this makes the game more challenging in a tedious kind of way, but the original game was a lot more fun to play.

RCT2 provides new features like a scenario editor, a feature that I find totally unneccesary. You can design new roller coasters outside of the game environment, but they only work on flat ground and are often too expensive to incorporate into the games.

For all the talk about "new roller coasters," you really get the same thing over and over again with a few different types of cars or scenery.

The bottom line for me was that the new additions were nice, but the gameplay is worse. RCT1 had its limits, but it was FUN. RCT2 has more features, but it is a chore to play.

Save your money.

Rating:
Summary: add ability to ride the rides
Review: I revieved this game from my husband for Valentine. I wanted it because it has rollercoaters from SF parks. I rode quite a few of these rides and the PC game rides are like the ones I rode. I wished you could ride these rides on the computer game. It would make it much better. I really enjoy playing the game I don't even play my PS2 rollercoaster game now that I have this one.

Rating:
Summary: RollerCoaster Tycoon: The Marketer's Expansion
Review: The words of the title basically describe this long-awaited "sequel" to RollerCoaster Tycoon. Fans had aspirations of being able to ride on your own ride, night/day, fireworks, more original sounds, more intricate shops, a restaurant, parking lot, etc. That list was out there... on many notable RollerCoaster Tycoon forums. What did Infogrames and Chris Sawyer do? They inked a deal with Six Flags, called a combination of RollerCoaster Tycoon and Loopy Landscapes with a few new features a "sequel." This game would have faired as an expansion, but to call it an original game doesn't sound right at all. The same outdated (but yes, eyefriendly) engine has been used, rides look same... everything is how it was, with a minor interface change. Other than that, it's the same game with a large Six Flags presence. I loved the first games very much. Loopy Landscapes was great, but some of the parks were too "busy" and the actual looks of the parks seemed to take away from the simple joys of building a RollerCoaster and food stand. Anyway - back on topic - If you recently got the first game and the LL expansion, then don't bother with this one. You truly aren't missing anything. I'm very sorry that this series seems to be going where the Sims has gone - countless expansions without an actual new game.

Rating:
Summary: Fun to run your own amusement park
Review: As simulations go, building and managing an amusement park is tons of fun. RT2 has a lot of interesting detail in the construction of rides, the actions and thoughts of park guests, and the selection of park concessions. The graphics rendering is very detailed, although the zoom function sometimes seems a bit limited to fairly awkward angles. Also, the zoom doesn't really go in close enough for me (working at a high resolution). The geometry of the game is based on a grid layout, which means that construction (especially of walkways) is a little too angular. Didn't see any walkway curves, although with enough artistic talent, you can make somewhat ragged ones yourself.

Two quibbles with the game. The business model is not very realistic. You can view a small spreadsheet where you can see your financial performance, borrow money from the bank etc., but it falls short of feeling like a real business. (It's oh so close).

Secondly, the interface controls are completely non-standard. Selecting objects to modify is a pain. The building tools, the undo (bulldozer tool), and the walkway tools require mysterious series of clicks to delete or select. I'm never sure what I should be doing with the mouse.

I only tried the rollercoaster builder a couple of times. The object selection is particularly hinky. Backing up with the bulldozer icon sometimes leaves gaps in the construction, and it's not clear how to reconnect sections. Also, sometimes entrances and exits don't appear to mate properly with walkways that bring guests into the ride. This seems to be a problem with elevations, as it's not always clear that a building is constructed at a different elevation than the ground level.

Lastly, I was a little disappointed that there is no first person perspective on the rides. After building all these wonderful creations, I'd like to experience them from the inside. When I bought this, I was hoping to "ride" my rollercoasters as well as build them.

Overall, this is an impressive and delightful game, which could be better.

Rating:
Summary: RCT2 - more of the same - and better!
Review: Roller Coaster Tycoon 2 is definitely an "E" ticket purchase.

What this game does better than any other coaster designer game is let you simulate building entire amusement parks, complete with rides, food and drink stalls, and other attractions. The roller coasters are the main attractions, but you can design and build entire parks with this game. RCT2 includes a massive number of different coaster designs and examples of each type, and also allows you to try to build your own roller coasters. There are many other types of amusement park rides, including log flumes and water slides, merry-go-rounds and ferris wheels, go kart race tracks and car rides, and many others. There are also over a dozen scenarios ranging from fairly easy to fairly difficult. The fact that all the scenarios are accessible from the beginning of the game is a big plus.

Your park's rating (how much the people like the total experience) depends on a mix of everything - from the types of rides you offer and how fun they are, to the amount of food, drink, and other amenities you offer them. You must provide staff - maintenance men to clean the paths, empty the trash, and cut the grass; mechanics to repair and inspect the rides; security guards to keep vandalism in check; and entertainers in costume to keep kids happy while in line. Finally, you must make enough money to be successful - most parks start with loans you must pay off in order to win with a positive balance, although it is possible to win with a negative balance.

It also contains themes for your park, including the new and highly anticipated "Six Flags" parks and rides, and others that allow you to create Jurassic Park rip-offs, Futuristic fantasies, Children's Wonderlands, and many others. I especially enjoy the addition of themes - many real parks have themes such as the Wild West, the Far East, Americana, and others, and themes give you a chance to make your park look more real.

The replay value of this game is great. I find myself coming back to see if I can better my previous rating or ending park value, or both, or add something to my previous parks to make them more interesting. I know I've spent countless hours designing little tweaks to make my parks or rides "just right".

And my original complaint has finally been answered - there is a scenario design package included with this version. RCT2 allows you to begin designing an entire amusement park in minutes in whatever way you desire. You decide where the scenery goes - as well as the buildings and other features. You decide what it takes to win - money, rides, happiness, or other goals. You can then upload them to the official RCT2 site and share them. More importantly, there's a roller coaster designer utility that lets you design and build new coasters and try them without spending the money to design them "in game". You can also share rides you have designed and download other people's rides. There's also a utility to help keep your rides organized, which was a nice touch. Even better, there's many more scenarios to download and install from the RCT2 web site, some of which have been updated from the old game, and some totally new, as well as a couple of patches and the "pink water" scenery add-on.

If you've never tried Roller Coaster Tycoon, and you like amusement parks, you'll love the ability to design and build your own amusement park. RCT2 gives you almost everything that the old game had. But if you've already tried RCT1 you may find that this game just isn't different enough from the original, even though it includes the new scenario designer and other new features. The graphics haven't been updated much at all - and the graphics were already a little dated in RCT1. This game is a great beginning, but I feel like that it's not as updated as it could have been. There's already an expansion pack called "Wacky Worlds" due in May. This shows that more material could have been added at the beginning. I don't know about you, but having already spent money on RCT2 and finding out everything wasn't included on one disc, I feel a little cheated.

However, I believe that if you've never tried to build your own amusement park, and had a secret yen to try it, that RCT2 is a great game. Watch out Walt Disney - here comes Roller Coaster Tycoon 2!

Rating:
Summary: Slow loading with XP, but it is a great game overall
Review: Sometimes, I do have trouble getting it to load on XP, but it is worth the wait. Just painfully slow. I click on the button to go into the game and then wait about 1 - 2 minutes and it comes up with the loading bar and eventually lets me in. I have a pretty fast computer too. At any rate, the graphics are heightened a little, though there are not a lot of scenarios, they do have downloads of old favorite scenarios at the RCT2 site. In addition, they have a scenario creator which directs you through making and saving your own scenarios, so the sky is the limit really. You also have tools to make a number of customer rollercoasters too. The interface is pretty much the same as the older version, so for people that have the older game and all the add on's like myself, it was really easy to get started. It does provide tutorials for those who have not played it before. The only thing I would like to see in the future is the ability to trade scenarios online, rather than just rides. Well worth the money in my opinion.

Rating:
Summary: Could Have Been So Much More--But Still Loads of Fun!!
Review: I don't know why I neglected to write this review back in June of 2002 like I should have--oh yeah, come to think of it, it was because I was having WAY TOO MUCH FUN playing this game!! After having demo'd the original ROLLERCOASTER TYCOON (yes, with all of its expansion packs) and getting majorly addicted to it in early-2002, I was at the Tacoma Mall on the morning of June 5th to purchase the eagerly-anticipated ROLLERCOASTER TYCOON 2. Now that I realize that I haven't played it in awhile (and being rather shocked that the price has already plummetted to ten bucks), here's my belated scoop on it: IT ROCKS!

Sure, it does seem kind of similar to the original; nevertheless, it gives you a much greater opportunity to build the park of your dreams MUCH faster than the first edition. Now you don't have to worry so much about that pesky tree here & there; the game's "brain" figures out the little annoying logistical details for you! That makes it much easier to plop down pre-existing rides, as well as to create your own. Also, the varied pre-built coasters (there's many more of them this time around) come with their own paths (which you are free to change once you plop them down); again, this saves a lot of time!

The variety of rollercoasters is much more up-to-date: in addition to the regular Steel-Looping, Inverted and Corkscrew designs from the first game, we now get the Boomerang Shuttle designs (in both regular and Inverted form), Floorless, Flying, Lay-Down, Hyper, Hyper-Twisting and EVEN the Multi-Dimensional Coaster (a la "X" at Six Flags Magic Mountain). You also have much more flexibility when it comes to designing your own rides. In ROLLERCOASTER TYCOON 2, you call the shots now more than ever! Now, if they only allow us to ride our own coasters and give us a 3-D design for ROLLERCOASTER TYCOON 3 when it comes out...

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, ESPECIALLY FOR SIM BUFFS

Rating:
Summary: More of the same....fun, engaging, but sometimes complex
Review: After many of the 'Tycoon' style games that have been popular over the last few years, the reigning king was a simple family style game called Roller Coaster Tycoon. After two successful expansion packs, developer Chris Sawyer waited well over a year to launch Rollercoaster Tycoon 2. The sequel is based on a no brainer..."Build it and they will come". Seeing that the first game and its expansions still sell well, Infogrames already has a large base of built in fans looking for more of the same, but will these fans love '2', and will this attract new fans? Time will tell.

Overall, the look and feel of the game remains relatively the same. A 3D isometric overhead view allows players to build a theme park from scratch and carry it through pre-defined scenarios. These scenarios have conditions such as have a park rating of X by year Y or have X guests by year Y or build N coasters of type T with an excitement factor of X.

The game ships with about 25 scenarios that are grouped in categories of difficulty: easy, advanced, expert, and Real Parks. The website RollercoasterTyccon2.com promises to have future downloadable scenarios, and one major enhancement over the original game is the inclusion of a scenario editor. Players can now create their own parks/games and trade among friends. You can control all variables from size of park, weather, rides available for research and more.

The 'Real Parks' are actual Six Flag parks from around the world that are pretty close to real world counterparts. You can choose to just manage them or alter them at will.

Game enhancements:
1) Park sizes can be double that of the original game and it supports a much higher screen resolution rate.
2) Scenery: All the original scenery from the RCT and its expansions are present as well as new ones including: Pirate, Scary, Medieval, Gears, Wild West, Giant Gardens and more. There are also more fences, water themes, roofs and walls and the ability to stack scenery makes it much easier to create buildings.
3) New rides: Well obviously there are more coasters but also other attractions as well on top of all the originals.
4) Coaster and ride options: There seems to be much more customizations available for coasters including new car types, special banks, queue line options, supports, signs & banners, special track types and more.
5) New shops and stalls: Again, all the originals and more including sun glass hut, ATM's, First Aid station, more food choices.
6) More music options. Many more styles of music can accompany your rides.
7) Coaster construction: Tool here has been revamped and now you can make/test/save/see coasters better than ever.

Now not everything is perfect in this game:
1) Graphics: Even though the screen resolution and park size has increased, the view is still the same as is the graphics engine. While there is more 'eye-candy' per-se, the overall look is still cartoony and has some 'jaggy' issues. Not to mention that hills, waters, mountains still look slightly un-natural as it did in the original.
2) Lack of scenarios that ship. There are only 3 easy scenarios, a handful of advanced, and more expert. This may prove complex for players who never had the first. Hopefully new ones will be available from the official website soon.
3) No major innovations in game play. I'd like to see new objectives, or disasters to overcome, or new behaviors of park guests, mechanics, handymen, mascots...still the same.

The largest adjustment fans of the original will have to make is getting use to the new construction and customization tools. While they have been expanded (a large plus), they have also taken on new 'handling' characteristics which is proving somewhat confusing for me. For old players, it's retraining how to this new interface and sub-menus...lacking in the 1st game. While this new interface does seem to be much more rich and deep, I truly found it wasn't as intuitive as the RCT 1. I was looking for information that seemed to be present in the 1st game easily, now I have to dig to sub-menus I'm not familiar with.

These were some of the reasons I chose o give it 4 stars instead of 5. Something's are just better off simple, not overly complex.

Rating:
Summary: The programmers must have fell asleep!
Review: I am a huge fan of RCT, and this second edition is very disappointing. I am absolutely amazed by the bugs and glitches I've found after playing just a few times- I'm talking about very simple things that I can't imagine them not catching during their QA process. For example, a cool new feature is that many of the rides that formerly required you to build from scratch come complete with a track, queue lines/paths and even built in scenery ready to place- a great idea. However, if you change your mind and delete the new ride, only the ride itself disappears- you're stuck with all the paths, walls, bushes, etc., which you may or may not be able to remove! I'm also having trouble with the placement of stalls- you think you've put it just where you want it, and the next thing you know, you get a message that people can't get to the stall. When you go back and rotate your view, you find that it's actually floating in midair! Doesn't it seem that they would have played the game a little to make sure everything was working before it was released?

There are a lot of other nice updates, and RCT2 has the potential to surpass the quality and enjoyment of the original. However, I would recommend that you stick with the first version until a few patches and updates are made available- otherwise, the frustration will overshadow the fun, and you'll wish you hadn't spent that $ until it was more worth it.