Review – RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 Complete Edition
Courtesy of the folks at Frontier Foundry, today I’m taking a look over the fairly substantial package which is Rollercoaster Tycoon 3 Complete Edition on Nintendo Switch
The Basics
RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 first released way back when, and yes today we’re covering yet another retro title which has released in the here and now. It’s another one which also could have done with a little polish on the visuals, and unusually for Frontier maybe a tweak or two on the control scheme which can be a little awkward at times.
The title contains the base game for RollerCoaster Tycoon of course hitting the Switch for the first time, now alongside the Soaked and Wild expansion packs so you can turn your theme park into a safari or a fully fledged water park. With these two additions the complete edition has 300 coasters and wides, 500 scenery pieces and 60 different shops and services as well as 20 animals.
There’s a fair amount to get to grips with, and as well as a wide number of different parks with their own win criteria you can also customise your guests and even light shows and fireworks displays.
Parent’s Eye View
RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 Complete Edition is rated by PEGI at 3 and above, and by the ESRB at E for Everyone. There’s nothing to worry about here in terms of content, but controls on the switch can be a little fiddly. With that in mind, if your micro-bandits have good dexterity, this one can be fun for them, and I’m happy to day it’s quite suitable..
Accessibility
In terms of accessibility, RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 Complete Edition is getting a rating of Moderate. That’s not to say there’s not a lot to do here, but with simple mechanics, and the on the go portability of the switch, it’s really quite easy to pick up and put down. You can spend time micro managing the research budgets, and you’ll have to spend a little time ensuring that your staff are well trained and working hard and in the right areas, but I’ve found it is a decent one to fill a few minutes rather than having to devote hours to it in order to enjoy it
The Run Down
Visuals – Fair: While the menus are slick and look great, I’d have liked to see a bit more work go into bringing the in game visuals on this one up to date. As well as some pretty lumpy visuals up close, here on the Switch I’ve found a strange day night cycle which lasts for just a few seconds and confuses me every time.
Audio – Good: When up close and personal with rides here, the sound effects and music are a nostalgia trip which pulled a few of my heartstrings.I’d have liked some more in terms of background music while in the more panoramic views of the park but overall I’ve enjoyed the various sounds which come with this one
Narrative – Fair: As park creators go this one is fairly standard, and while it doesn’t offer a gripping page turning narrative the various parks and challenges are exactly what I would expect from the genre
Replay – Great: The replay value is strong here with the base game and two additional DLC packs bundled together. There are a great number of campaign missions as well as sandbox, customisation options and more to keep you dragged in. This is one which has managed to pull me back in
Can you spare enough to buy us a coffee? In order to keep videos ad-free and independent, we instead ask for those who can to support Pixel Bandits through Ko-fi
[kofi]
The Verdict
Overall the Pixel Bandits I want to get off Mr. Bones Wild Ride Level for RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 Complete Edition is that you’ll likely find it Enjoyable .
It’s important to remember when coming in to this one that while it is the complete edition, it is a 16 year old title. I would really have liked to have seen some more upgrades to the in game visuals and unusually for Frontier, while they’ve done a fairly good job of cramming all the required controls onto the limited Switch controller, it can feel fiddly and has led to me renaming instead of placing rides and attractions on an ongoing basis.
While it’s not perfect though, it is another one which I have had fun with overall. There’s a lot to get involved with, and plenty to build and customise. Bringing it on the go with the switch is a nice touch, and it’s got a decent price point for budget conscious gamers. It doesn’t tick all my boxes, but if you’re a fan of the original or just park builders in general it’s worth a look
Pick It Up
If This one has tickled your gaming tastebuds, you can grab it on;
Links provided above may at times be affiliate links. While you will find no additional cost as a consumer, Pixel Bandits may earn a commission from sales made via the above links