SimCoaster 

DEVELOPER : Bullfrog
PUBLISHER : EA

 

System Requirements Pentium II 266 Mhz, 64 MB RAM

Recommended Pentium II 400MHz, 64+ MB RAM, TNT2 Video card

Ratings
Code Issues Graphics 8.5 - Very nice graphics that make the theme park come alive. Audio 7.5 - Standard Theme Park fare. Interface 8 - Very easy interface to use, but building rollercoasters can get difficult.	Play Issues Solo Play 8 - The objectives combined with the challenges make for an engaging single player experience. Replay Value 4 - The load times will keep you from replaying this one. Learning Curve 6 - The game is easy to play, but building roller coasters isn't.
Other/Notes Documentation 7 - Thin book that gets to the point and tells you what to do without giving away all the secrets. Whether that's good or bad is up to you. Pros: Great graphics, good incentives to keep you playing the game. Cons: the load times just take too long. Overall: 8.0

EA, one of the industries leading software publishers, is definitely one of those big companies with an eye on the bottom line. So when a man comes along (Chris Sawyer) and creates a mega-hit game (Rollercoaster Tycoon), a company like EA will stand up and take notice. And than attempt a knock-off of there own. Now it's not exactly fair to accuse EA of such a thing. After all they were one of the first to do it with Theme Park from many moons ago. When Chris Sawyer's game won both critical praise from the critics and sold a whole lotta units off store shelves, EA decided to strike back with Sim Theme Park (the Sim moniker taken from another gaming legend's collection of games). Having met with moderate success, we now have the sequel in the form of SimCoaster (Get it?? Combine Will Wright's well known 'Sim' and add Sawyer's own Coaster to the title and you have what any marketing genius would consider a sure fire hit.)

The comparisons between Rollercoaster Tycoon (RCT) and SimCoaster must be made for the simple fact that both games offer the same gameplay. They both give the player control over developing a thriving theme park. You will have control over layout, rides, prices, hiring personal, etc. The first difference that you will come across between the two is graphics. While Rollercoaster Tycoon uses rather flat 2D images (which means it can run on a lot of computers), SimCoaster uses fully 3D polygonal images, full of bright colors and dazzling effects (you need a moderate to high-end system to run it). The graphics are definitely nice and really add to the atmosphere. One of the reasons they went for the 3D images is because Simcoaster allows the player to actually RIDE the rides in the park (luckily there is no height requirement). While it does get old, it is a nice addition to actually enter the park. The images for the people within are cartoony, but it reminds you that an amusement park is supposed to be fun. You'll need this reminder at times because there is an extensive business sim tucked away underneath the eye candy.

Simcoaster actually has a quasi story going on that connects the game into a cohesive whole (RCT played out more like separate scenarios). You play as a young executive who is being groomed to replace the current president, Mr. Maybury. To help you out with this endeavor are a number of advisors: Mr. Banks (Finance Director), Miss Buckle (Facilities Director), Mr. Topp (Public Relations Director), Miss Moody (Human Resources Director) and Professor Newton (Technology Director). Why waste time in a review to mention these people's names? Because Bullfrog (the developers of Simcoaster), have gone out of there way to personalize the whole experience. The graphics make you feel the theme park is real, the advisors help heighten the boardroom 'drama' so to speak. What drama?

There are three theme parks, each further divided into different areas. You have what amounts to your normal theme park, than a snow theme park and the third and final is an Arabian Nights theme park. You'll begin with one section of the park to develop. You have a goal to reach put forth by Mr. Maybury. These objectives serve as ultimate goals, but within each stage you will have the opportunity to accomplish extra side tasks offered to you by your advisors. This could range from selling a certain amount of hot dogs to keeping your workforce happy. Each task has a time limit that you must finish it within. If you fail five tasks, you stand to be fired. Accomplishing such tasks will reward you with golden tickets. Golden tickets allow you to create special rides to attract more customers. They also help expand your park. Okay, so maybe it's not so dramatic…

Besides the objective and different tasks you may volunteer for, your main goal is to turn a profit for the park. To do this, you need to create a park that the people will love. The interface is very easy to use. You'll be laying paths down and placing rides in no time. The rides are varied in nature from children's to megacoasters. While Simcoaster does come with a pre-built coaster for each different type, they are not as plentiful as in RCT. The reason may be because this is called Simcoaster, and the game just wouldn't be fun if you didn't at least try to build your own coaster. You also have an added incentive, after you build it, you can ride it in all its 3D glory.

To build the rides you need to research them first. Here things get slightly more complicated. In RCT you just assigned cash to the R&D department. In Simcoaster, you need to first build a lab and than hire scientists. Personal are key. You'll need Engineers to maintain your rides and do repairs; janitors to clean bathrooms and sweep the vomit and debris from your pathways; Security guards will be used to kick troublesome kids out of the park; groundskeepers will mow the grass, entertainers will keep the crowds smiling while waiting on that long assed line, etc. Again Bullfrog adds a personal touch. By building a training center, you can have your personal learn a skill. This helps in maintaining the park and is necessary in completing certain game objectives. Security guards can learn first aid; Engineers learn how to upgrade rides and Groundskeepers will learn different ways of changing the environment to help expand the park. Of course you'll also have to deal with them on a personal level as they ask for raises or threaten to walk.

The game can get complicated at times. While you have three different theme parks, they are all going on at the same time. You can switch between them at any time, which can actually lead to confusion, especially considering the long load times. And that may be the biggest downfall of the game. You'll end up forgetting what you had planned if you're not careful. While Simcoaster is definitely just as easy to get into as RCT, it seems to take longer to get the same results. If you liked RCT but wanted better graphics, than this is your game. The cohesion factor is a big plus, but the load times are intolerable.

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Reviewed by Anthony Sage