Theme Parkworld

In Theme Park World (known as Sim Theme Park in the USA) you build and run your own theme park. You do this by planning and placing rides, shops, side-shows and a host of other features. You must hire staff, and fire them if they’re not up to the job. The 3D graphics allow you to walk around your park and experience all the rides as though you were actually there.

When starting to play Theme Park World, you are given a golden key. This enables you to gain access to either Lost Kingdom or Halloween World. By successfully building up and managing these theme parks, you are given more golden keys which allow access to Wonderland and Space Zone. Success in any park is based on undisclosed factors, and there is an advisor who will give you little clues as to how you can earn golden tickets, how to earn mystery rides and how to get the coveted golden keys that open new parks.

MY OPINION

Theme Park World is in-depth, challenging and very time-consuming. There is so much to do, and so many things that need attention. Not only do you have to design exciting rides for your customers, you have to provide a range of shops selling all manner of food, drinks and other goodies in order to make a profit. I especially enjoyed designing and building rollercoasters and rides, and then being able to experience the thrill from a customer’s view-point.

On the downside, I feel there are just too many details to manage once your park becomes large and successful. The initial planning and building for each park is the game’s best point because you have time to watch your visitor’s reactions, but once your park becomes large and popular, it becomes a chaotic mix of advisor messages and rides needing repaired. There is no longer any time to just sit back and enjoy what you have created, which I think, takes much of the pleasure out of the game.

The graphics are bright and colourful and the sounds help to convey the ethos of a real-life theme park – people screaming, children laughing, background sounds from the various rides and there is specific music for each of the four themes.

Theme Park World has a very clear and informative manual which, coupled with the hints from the advisor, soon get you well into this game. All in all, I think Theme Park World is a fun challenge.

SCREENSHOTS

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