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Rollercoaster Tycoon 3 Review - PC

The Rollercoaster Tycoon series probably shouldn't need an introduction, but in case you haven't met: the original RCT was a theme park management game which focused on the rollercoaster design aspect of theme park management. The game was a huge success and a few years later its sequel, RCT 2, was released. RCT 2 was largely regarded as a flop and received a lot of criticism for its dated graphics and lack of additions from the original. RCT 3 sets out to set the record straight on all that nonsense, this is a theme park management game for the year 2004. Very flashy graphics, quirky side-treats and a generally impressive 3d theme park management games are what lie in store for you here. What's more, the game comes in a very flashy box!

And on a side note Chris Sawyer can now breathe easy in the knowledge that the series he founded has somewhat restored its former glory, albeit without his direct input. Rather interestingly the company who developed RCT 3 are none other than Frontier Development, the company headed by David 'Elite' Branben who created the 3d space trader game Elite. Apparently Chris and David have a habit of messing around in each others projects.

Gameplay

The main mode of play in RCT 3 is the career mode in which you must work your way through various scenarios as the head of a theme park. There are three levels of success which can be achieved in these scenarios. The first 'bronze' level, when achieved, will unlock another scenario for you to play. The highest 'gold' level will unlock complex pre-made ride designs for you to use.

The goals that must be achieved in the scenarios include: obtaining a specific monthly ride income, increasing the park value to a certain level, luring at least a certain number of guests in to the park at one time, satisfying picky VIP guests and building rollercoasters of a certain excitement level and length. Sometimes the goals seem rather easy to complete and the game entertainment perhaps comes from a little active imagination and desire to design a scenically rich park rather than from the challenge.

There are many factors to managing a theme park and RCT 3 has probably taken it to the most extreme level yet. You will be in charge of advertising campaigns, rides, rollercoaster designs, fireworks displays, shop prices, the amounts of various condiments on food sold, a huge array of decoration, landscaping, etc. Each one of these factors can be customised in an impressive way; for example, the landscaping tools in the game are probably the most complex I have seen in any sim game so far. This is definitely the most complex theme park styled game on the Market.

The menu system and control system in RCT 3 may be slightly daunting or difficult at first, but after streaming through the tutorials it's easily picked up. Considering the amount of (continued next page)