RollerCoaster Tycoon: Loopy Landscapes

"2nd update to that great Microprose strategy game..."

Wow, i'm the first one to review this. Surprises me a little but anyway... When RCT first came out everyone compared it to Theme Park, some saying Theme Park was actually still better. But then they PLAYED RCT and soon their opinion changed. The boundaries of theme Park had been strecthed to such phenomenal limits in RCT it just wasn't funny. You could do almost anything in RCT, from changing the speed that the launched cars get thrown out of the station, to choosing a costume for your entertainers, up to being able to choose the colours for your umbrellas. Detail was phenomenal and I still don't know how they managed to design it all.
The game soon became a cult classic. Everyoen who had ever enjoyed a strategy game bought RCT, and so not long after news of a update was recealed as being in the making.
The update soon came out to the name of Corkscrew Follies/Added Attractions. OK, it was the same engine, but why fix what ain't broke? The updated features included newly coloured paths, new and better rides, 30 new levels and even the chance to paint individual track pieces. Microprose did it again. Everyone who owned RCT bought this, and everyone who didn't bought both.
Now, in the last week, Loopy Lanscapes was released and this update is a hell of a much bigger than the last update. Updated features in this one now include even more costumes for the entertainers (Astronaut included), real-life parks, and again, more shops, rides, etc.
How does this latest update fair though? Is RCT still as good in an age where 2D is a thing of the past? In an age where emotions are being programmed into the games? Here's my review, so let's get started...

Graphics: 9

Yeah they're 2D but so was sensible soccer's and that was still a phenomenal game. Anyway the graphics in this ARE good. The detail that has gone into every different aspect of the game is unbelievable. You can see the little people eating their ice creams! You can see sick mixed with the usual vegetables on he floor! You can see litter hanging out of bins! Sure it's the same graphics engine as the original RCT, but my fave saying comes into action; why fix what ain't broke?
The rides themselevs may not look much piece by piece but when you have the world's biggest rollercoaster at ya fingertips they can often look like masterpieces to you. the use of paint on rides also adds something to your arsenal of art.

Gameplay: 10

Unrivalled. The RCT and CF/AA levels may have been repetitive but that has all gone now, you really do have different mission objectives! For instance, the 4th level consists of you having to complete 5 unfinished rollercoasters that HAVE to have a rating of over 6.70. Easy? Nope, because it is actually a hell of a lot harder than you think. A lot harder than the first games missions.
Making rides is just the same as usual and still as easy. Big thumbs-up here for quickness.
To be honest, it's more or less the exact same as RCT but with all the new missions which are a hell of a lot of fun.

Sounds: 8

Some you may think 8's a little low, but really, the sounds aren't THAT revolutionary are they? Never have been, never will. But it's the little things like people screaming and laughing, or the choo-choo train blowing it's thingy-me-jigg... WHOO WHOO!!!!... ahem.

Lifespan: 10

Could last for months. The levels aren't 5 minute affairs. They could take you a week to do some of them, unless of course you're sadistic and HAVE to complete all the levels as quick as you can. Why do people do that? Why do they HAVE to complete a game as quick as possible? It takes the fun out it in my view... anyway, even when you have completed it, you can then decide to start making some mega-parks, or rides. Limitless is the word.

Overall:

An excellent update. Chris Sawyer must be a happy man. He must be like, a tri-billionaire... or something like that. :) Anyway, this isn't just an update. CF/AA was just an update. But with this, you really feel like there's a huge difference between this and CF/AA. I love it, you should love it, hell, why don't we all love it? RCT's not dead, even if Theme Park is.

Rent or Buy?

If you don't buy this, ya as thick as two short planks... and you're even thicker if you don't have rct because you need that ya know.

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 10/19/00, Updated 10/19/00