stse's Full Review: Rollercoaster Tycoon 3 (Platinum) for Windows
Introduction
First, before we should buy or play any game, we should be aware of the system requirement. And here it is.
System Requirement
Operating System: Windows? 98/Me/2000/XP (Windows? XP recommended)
Processor: Pentium? III 733 MHz or compatible (Pentium? 4 1.2 GHz or compatible recommended)
Memory: 128 MB RAM; 256 MB for XP (256 MB; 384 MB for XP recommended)
Hard Disk Space: 600 MB free CD-ROM Drive: 4X CD-ROM or faster (8X or faster recommended)
Video: Any ATI Radeon™ or GeForce™ 2 with 32MB or higher; or other video card with 32MB and hardware T&L (ATI Radeon™ 64 MB SDR or GeForce™ 2 Pro or other video card with 64 MB or more memory and hardware T&L recommended)*
Sound: Windows? 98/Me/2000/XP-compatible 16-bit sound card*
DirectX?: DirectX? version 9 (included) or higher
OBJECTIVES
There are two objectives of the game.
The basic objective of the game that I found it amazed is that I can actually ride on it in a way. By using the camera mode, you can visually and virtually experiencing the ride with sound as well. The camera modes can be front, back and nose. It is fun to watch the simulation characters scream.
Other than that, you can pick up a character to go from place to place. You can also pop their balloons. You can also check what their thoughts anytime. This fun simulation offers better than just building it. You somehow interact with the characters in the park more like playing the sims but you don't actually control what they are doing.
Now the main objective.
The title tycoon says it all. You want to get as much money as possible by building your roller coasters and amusement park. Actually, I think the game title should be called Amusement Park tycoon simply because you have to add a lot of stuff in the park besides building your own roller coasters. There are pre-built rides, facility like ATM machine, Toilet, Fast food Restaurant, Gift shop and so on. I will elaborate that later. And to become a tycoon, you have to be apprentice first, then, Entrepreneur, then Tycoon. Within each level(Apprentice, Entrepreneur, Tycoon), you have to accomplish certain things.
It can be monthly profit, and it can be the length of the roller coaster you build and it can be how satisfy the VIP person enjoy. (VIP is another simulation character that will judge your creation or roller coaster). Overall, this is called Career Mode
If you need to learn to know how to play this game, there is a mode called tutorial mode . It will guide you step by step.
If you want to build a longest, highest, craziest roller coasters without the limitation. You can go to Sandbox Mode Basically, this mode will let you do whatever you want.
Be creative
Of course, there is more to it. You can design your peeps. Peeps in Tycoon are like sims in the sims. They are characters who will play in the roller coasters. You can also create your sceneries. You can pick any trees, terrain, water. It is more like building your own park with your imagination.
You can color your coaster, rainbow colors, anything you like. There are 3 paint buckets. Each one represents each area of your roller coaster part or the track. If you are creative individual, spend some time, you will have a beautiful amusement park.
How to play
Basically, it is very menu driven.. You drag the station/track and you can build your roller coaster. Right before the end, just do autocomplete, and it will finish for you. However, you still have to know a little bit trick. For example, when the track is going up, you have to use chain, and the higher it is, the faster speed it will be and your loop can be done. Otherwise, even though it is completed, your roller coaster may not work. In other words, the game is involved with some law of physics, it is good for kids too.
There are something not so clear in the game which the sims may do better.
Zoom and turn - It is not easy to turn around. In the sims, you can click on the arrow and you can turn your screen. Here, I recently found out the help section is in the configuration. Q , E are the keys to turn left or right. Many key functions can be found in that configuration section (the wrench icon). So, many times when you have to get closer, you have to move your head up even those your screen is not moving due to the fact that it is not that smooth when you try to zoom in to see the peeps or the anything.
Creating of tracks - You may get frustrated with some tracks that are not able to be connected. This will take some time. I found out that the track is that some roller coaster will not take certain tricks or tracks like Helix, loop, twist, and so on. However, you will get used to it when you play a few times. But remember one thing, the only thing you need to do is to make sure chain is highlighted and it will pull the coaster up, then at certain point, you can turn down. And with the power of physics, your roller coasters will run in no time.
Conclusion
I like this game because you can be creative. It's involved a little about physics, it is educational and yet you may get addicted. It's stimulation game. At the same time, you can enjoy the ride. I am sure you can overcome the part of turning around the screen and connecting tracks. Buy it for the family, it is educational! Better than playing other violent games!! It's great for the whole family. It's also great gift idea!
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