One of the most enjoyable aspects of the RollerCoaster Tycoon games has always
been coaster design. RCT3 comes with a number of pre-designed coasters, but any
true coaster aficionado will want to design and construct his or her dream
coaster. You can lay the track, set the elevation of the hills, add features
such as loops and tunnels, create the loading station, and more. The interface
for coaster design in the game is good, but coaster design is not as easy as it
sounds. You’ll need to do some planning and make adjustments as you go along in
order to create a track that makes a circuit, ensure that the cars have the
momentum to make it back to the station, and that you don’t create a “vomit
comet” that will make all of its riders ill. Completing the track is easier in
RCT3 thanks to its coaster completer that will automatically finish off your
design for you. You can see how your coaster performs in the other areas by
performing test runs and seeing if your cars stay on the track, make it back to
the station, and provides excitement without danger or nausea.
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| Riding your coasters is a blast. |
RCT3’s 3D graphics let you see your park from any angle and zoom in to the level
of your park’s visitors. If you thought it was fun just watching your park
before, you’re in for a real treat in RCT3. The level of detail is great without
sacrificing the game’s fun, cartoon-like look and getting a close look at the
reaction of your guests when they walk off your latest coaster design is
priceless. But all of this isn’t even the really cool part of the 3D graphics
engine because the true star of the show is the ability to go on the rides
yourself. If you think it was fun watching your park from the ground, wait until
you see it as you spin upside down on the swinging arm of one of your rides. Or
better yet, design your dream coaster and then hop into one of the cars on its
maiden ride. Seeing your park this way is really amazing and goes a log way to
bringing it to life. The animation is so smooth and realistic, you may not want
to ride your double corkscrew creation right after you’ve had dinner.
RCT3 provides the same level of personalization as in prior games, allowing you
to name your park, rides, and even visitors if you want your family and friends
to enjoy your creation. New to RCT3 is the ability to select the music that
plays at each ride, even allowing you to import your own. Now you can finally
create Speed Metal World! The only complaint that I have about the music feature
is that the only way to hear the music is to zoom in very closely on the ride or
to ride it yourself.
RCT3 is perfect for both the sim fan and the casual gamer who just wants to
build rides. It is expertly designed to be fun and challenging to all skill
levels and is suitable for all ages. If you enjoyed the previous games in the
series, or just love theme parks, you’ll certainly have a lot of fun spending
hours with this game.
In The End, This Game Hath Been Rated:
90%. Anyone who loves theme parks will love RollerCoaster Tycoon 3.
System Requirements: Pentium III 733 MHz; 128 MB RAM; 32 MB
Video RAM; 600 MB Hard disk space.
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