Sim Theme Park

"A fun but flawed game"

First, you're probably asking if it's better than Rollercoaster Tycoon. Well, I have to say that it's about the same. While Rollercoaster Tycoon gives you more chance to customize your worlds, Sim Theme Park doesn't allow that as much but in return has some of the coolest rides you've ever seen.

So my review will begin. But remember, this game is for people who love trying to make money on a computer game, which I haven't ever been that great with, but this game does throw in some fun with all of the financial business it has.

GAMEPLAY- 8/10

The objective of this game is to basically construct a huge theme park and earn lots of $$. This is not Rollercoaster Tycoon, first of all. And plus, each park has a "theme." Actually, there are only 4 parks to my knowledge: one is based around the Jurassic period, another on Halloween, the 3rd is some sort of flowery land, and the 4th takes place in outer space on some planet. So the game's theme parks are all different. Just wish that there could have been more of them. The rides are all different in some way. In each theme park, there is one regular rollercoaster, one water ride, one race kart track, one water rollercoaster, and one hanging seat rollercoaster. The other rides also vary, but the list could go on of different ride kinds, because there are so many of them. However, don't expect to have all of these rides immediately when you open up the park: your researchers must research the rides, and then you must build them. And speaking of researchers, your park can have lots of staff, including police officers, mechanics, entertainers, researchers, and janitors. Each one helps you in some way. One annoying part of the gameplay, though, is the advisor. I have to tell you, the advisor will get on your nerves at times. What he basically does is pop onto the screen and tell you whenever you've got a ride that's broken down, a place needs cleaned up by a janitor, or whenever you've got some news (good or bad...). This can get very annoying, especially when he keeps reminding you that you're out of money and that you need to get a loan (when you don't have any left!). Luckily, you can turn the advisor off. And since I was just speaking of loans & money, there's another big point of the gameplay. You start your park with $50,000, and the average ride will cost about $2000 (when I eliminate the rollercoaster prices, which are usually $10,000!). There are also food shops, sideshows, and miscellaneous items that you can buy for your park as well. And you must keep your visitors happy if you plan on succeeding. That can be difficult, though, since most of them always have something to complain about. :) So there's a lot going on besides building your rides.

GRAPHICS- 4/10

Okay, this is the major bugger of the game. It's not that I hate the look of the worlds & the rides, shops, etc., but because the game can freeze up, and is choppy for most of the time. That's the worst part of this game. I think it's nice that the designers did all of the rides and stuff in 3-D, but yet everything is so CHOPPY! Especially when you've built up a huge park: that's the worst of the choppiness. So you've been warned about the issues of the graphics. Don't say I didn't.

CHALLENGE- 9/10

Very challenging, I tell you. I guess it's just because I've never been good and games involving $, but I'm telling you, it is not easy to build a big park without having to pay off loans before you go bankrupt. I usually go bankrupt eventually when I play this game, but there have been a FEW times where I got lucky and built a huge theme park and didn't have to worry about my money amounts any more.

LENGTH- 8/10

Even if there are only 4 theme parks, you must get "golden tickets" in your theme parks in order to unlock new ones, which makes the game last for quite some time. You get golden tickets by making your visitors really happy, creating fantastic rides, or simply achieving a big goal that most people would have lots of trouble getting to.

MUSIC- 6/10

The problem with the music is that it plays the same tune for the same theme park over and over. There is no variety at all. Some of the tunes are fun to listen to, while others are increasingly annoying as you go along.

REPLAY VALUE- 9/10

There is tons of replay value thanks to this being a game of money and finance. That's one of the good things about $ games.

OVERALL- 8/10

Positives:
- Nice 3-D environments
- A fun, financial experience
- The rides are very cool
- Some music is nice
- The advisor is helpful at times
- Each park has a theme
- Lots of fun to replay
- Challenging

Negatives:
- The game tends to freeze up
- Very choppy graphics
- Music doesn't vary
- The advisor can be VERY annoying

So there you have it: my review for Sim Theme Park. A nice game, as said in my tagline, but has many flaws. Rent or buy? I'm going to have to say buy at this point. It's a game that I guarantee you'll be replaying. Thank you!

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 10/15/07

Game Release: Sim Theme Park (US, 10/31/99)