Roller Coaster Tycoon was, and still is, arguably the best management title of all time. Fond childhood memories still burn brightly of my mother prying me away from the computer after an entire day of building coasters. As an adult I have to police my own self-control, but I guess I’m not very good at it as I am still shocked to discover how quickly I can blow through hours of amusement park madness on my iPad. All this being said, to say I was positively elated to try out this supposed modern contender is an understatement. To utter this pierces a knife into this reviewer’s heart—THEME PARK SIMULATOR for Nintendo Switch by BLG Publishing is profoundly disappointing.
Developed by Best Ride Simulators, this game lacks substance that makes up a riveting, can’t-put-it-down title. Perhaps I should have taken the word ‘simulator’ with more gravity, because in this respect there is no false advertising. The game is exactly that—a simulation of rides at a theme park. Choose from 10 rides, all replications of fairly well-known attractions: Inverter, Kamikaze, Techno Jump, La Olla Tagada, Tokaido Rollercoaster, Viking Ship, Love Express, Wild Mouse, Twister, and Bumper Cars. To simulate the theme park experience in its entirety, one would think this would also include shops, food stalls, and nauseous guests puking on sidewalks (okay, so maybe that’s best reserved for Roller Coaster Tycoon, but you get my point.) You can mess around with the camera angles and even ride the ride as an actual guest, but the list of activities stops there.
The only substantial commendation I can give THEME PARK SIMULATOR is the graphics. The details are fun, adding a layer of realistic whimsy to carnival rides and theme park classics. Vibrant hues bring a visual sparkle to an otherwise lackluster experience. Vivid pinks and greens made me smile, temporarily blinding me to the realization that there was not much else to do.
As a VR game, THEME PARK SIMULATOR has some potential. The visceral sensations of being on a ride brought to the small screen is something I can safely assert many people would have a blast with — myself included. Churning up that bubble in your gut as you hang upside down, or the sensation of your stomach escaping out your nostrils as you free fall is something that just gets lost in translation on the Switch platform.
With all the great Switch games out right now, I would spend your money elsewhere.
Not recommended.
Check Out the Theme Park Simulator Video:
Theme Park Simulator is now available on Nintendo Switch, exclusively on Nintendo eShop.
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Kendra grew up in the era where playing Donkey Kong in the dentist's office was a thing. Her creative mind enjoys the imaginative genius that goes into the intricate worlds and enticing narratives that have become the new wave of gaming. Forever a devotee of Crash Bandicoot and Spyro, Kendra has stepped into the next generation of gaming with favorites like God of War, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Spider-Man. She is always looking for the next gaming challenge and utilizes her fancy English degree to articulate her detailed reviews for hungry gamers like you.
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