What is it about construction and management stimulation video games that make them so enticing to many people? What is it about these games that often bump them into the less popular category? It's been 8 years since the release of "RollerCoaster Tycoon 3," but this gap did not stop Chris Sawyer Productions from creating the portable sequel, "RollerCoaster Tycoon 3D," set for release on Tuesday, May 22.
The "RollerCoaster Tycoon" series is a trilogy of video games that simulate amusement park management. Players are ultimately challenged with open-ended amusement park management and development, allowing them to construct their own roller coasters and keep the park visitors, known as "peeps," happy. This fourth installment in the series will be the first portable edition of the game on Nintendo 3Ds, exclusively.
The storyline of "RollerCoaster Tycoon 3D" is of a man who does not have time for his son. The father is too busy with his own" tycooning," so he instructs an old retiree to train his son, an aspiring theme park architect, instead. This narrative-focused tutorial mode is called, "Coaster Story" and according to ign.com, it eases players into its "stimulation of money management, attraction construction and virtual vomit clean-up."
New gameplay features include the CoasterCam, which allows gamers to "ride" roller coasters and other rides, and the MixMaster, in which the player is able to organize firework shows and time them to in-game music.
Players can definitely expect the same substance of fun that was promised by the previous installments. We were introduced to the franchise in 1999 and although it may have reminded many of "SimCity" which is a city-building stimulation game, the "RollerCoaster Tycoon" series certainly had its own flavor. The franchise is meant to give the player a sense of control and creativity.
Nonetheless, roller coasters will always be viewed as a very thrilling machine, and being able to hold the power to create such a colossal wonder (even if it's virtually) will remain just as exhilarating as it was years ago.