Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 is a fantastic game in the Roller Coaster Tycoon series. When I was younger, it was the only game in the series I owned. This version on the Nintendo Switch might not be perfect, but it does allow players to take their theme parks on the go, which is pretty fun. Roller Coaster Tycoon is a great game, but don’t expect this version to knock the player’s socks off.
Roller Coaster Tycoon is a game that is all about building dream theme parks. There are a few ways to enjoy this game, and they all stem from the desire to make the most money from a theme park. Players can dive into the career mode where the park is built for them or craft the theme park from scratch in sandbox mode. Players can build the park of their dreams with the easy cursor gameplay. It’s slightly similar to the PC version, but it doesn’t feel the same. Players will move the cursor around to a wheel where they can select the different properties and things to build. It’s simple and effective, hiding things when they aren’t necessary. It might not be a mouse, but it’s just as easy to use.
Career mode is built from Thirty-Nine different scenarios. Each scenario starts players off in a different state. Players will need to work hard to raise the funds necessary to complete each stage. Fundraising can be challenging, depending on where the park is and the amount of money given at the start. Just think about how much fun the guests are having, and it will eventually work itself out. The good thing about career mode is that the goals change. Some of the goals become time-dependent while others give the player infinite time. This mode is good for those who want structure and helps keep players on track. It’s not as fun or creative as Sandbox mode, but it is one fans of the series have come to expect and still holds up to this day.
Sandbox mode is arguably more creative. Players can craft the park of their dreams in this mode. With 300 rides to ride, 500 scenery pieces, 60 shops, and 20 animals to raise, the sky is the limit. Players can build fantastic parks and have fun exploring them, helping out guests, and making them parks worth visiting. When I was younger, I always enjoyed Roller Coaster Tycoons’ coaster cam. I’ve never been much of a ride guy, but riding the rides in the game was always fun. It may not be as fun now, but it is cool to be able to ride the rides. Players can imagine what their characters are feeling as they fly down the track. Any ride is ridable using this feature to ride them all and find out which one is the best of them.
This game as a management-sim allows players to check on their guests. Guests can and will tell players what they think about the park. The guests can also inform players which people will ride which rides. All of the stats are easily viewable and will help players make informed decisions as they craft their dream theme parks. It’s a very in-depth system that allows players to look at the park as a guest and as its owner. This version contains the two DLC for the game. Players can enjoy all the fun they can handle in the base game, but these other two modes add to the excitement. In Wild!, players can build their very own Animal Kingdom styled theme park, while in Soaked!, it’s up to them to craft their own Sea World. Both of these other locales add fun new rides, characters, and attractions, so check them out. The DLC adds extra content that does change up the game. This game came out years ago, when DLC wasn’t so prevalent, and it shows. The DLC adds to the wonder of the game and creates new experiences for the player. This game might not be the prettiest, but it does hold a lot of content for players interested in digging in.
Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 Complete Edition is a decent version of the game. It isn’t perfect, but if anyone has been dying to make a theme park, this might be the game for them. With all the DLC and a ton of different items to customize the park, it’s the perfect time to build it. Will the theme park crash and burn, or will the player become the richest in the land?
Disclaimer: A review key was provided
Reviewed on Switch
Also on PC