Planet Coaster was really good, specifically on PS5, but it didn’t quite stir those fond memories of Theme Park like Park Beyond looks poised to. Due out 16th June on Sony’s new-gen system, here’s our first proper look at the gameplay systems – and how it’ll all work on a DualSense controller. And it looks good, even if we’re not totally sold on the style of the user interface.
At its core, the Theme Park comparisons are apt: you’ll place attractions, build pathways, and hire staff to maintain your venue. The management strategy seems to get really dense, though: you’ll need to think carefully about placement, demographics, and much more. In addition, there’s a creative aspect, as you’ll be able to design rides specifically to the tastes of your attendees.
All in all, we’re quite impressed with what’s on display here, we’re just concerned about how it’s going to feel on a controller. The early indications in this trailer are good – it looks like the developer’s done a decent job of mapping everything to the pad – but we’ll need to go hands on to come to any firm conclusions, because the realities could be fiddly and awkward.
Fortunately, we’ve not got to wait too long to find out.
[source youtube.com]
Comments 18
Ah man, the billions of hours I spent playing Theme Park as a kid. Thanks!
Extra salt on the fries and a soda vendor nearby. Hope it's more theme park and less roller coaster tycoon (like planet coaster is).
There's a few quality of life things I'd have loved to see in Planet Coaster, so I'm hoping this remedies them. But I genuinely enjoyed Planet Coaster, so I'm definitely playing this one. Of course, I was already sold at the Pac-Man. 😍
No that was planet coaster
@BeerIsAwesome try my park ‘Alton Flowers’. It’s very demanding as it’s so detailed so I’d say test it on a ps5 not ps4 lol
This looks pretty good, planet coaster was ok but, i think the problem with these games is they get a bit complicated at times. Theme park was great because it was pretty straight forward. Same with stardew valley simple but effective. This does look like it can get deep but looks simple as well hopdfully it hits the right spot.
Planer Coaster was okay, but the controls were wonky and unintuitive. The best one I’ve played is the FIRST Jurassic Park Evolution; it’s much better imo than the sequel and it’s still the standard I judge theme park games by. Anyway, I sure hope this Park Beyond game is good. I’m ready for an intuitive game that gives the player lots of customization opportunities.
Quick question: Are there any games like this that have more realistic, non-cartoony graphics? No offense to Park Beyond or Planet Coaster, but I’m kinda tired of games that look like The Sims. Photo realism would be cool. We are in 2022 with machines that can handle the technology.
This looks good but the only thing that seems to set it apart from Planet Coaster is the physics defying rides. Hopefully the wackiness is fully utilised and not just a gimmick for a handful of rides. I also hope they make it much simpler to build using a controller.
I love theme park sims but what I want is another game that's similar to Thrillville. You can build coasters and place rides but also walk around the park interacting with guests and playing with the attractions. A more chill take on the genre.
@Mikey856 I've seen some very interesting parks on the workshop, so I'll check yours out, if not at least out of sheer curiosity!
@Jayslow you have the wrong game. Planet coaster is a good 3d builder. But parkitect is an absolute gem and successor to roller coaster tycoon.
This game looks more like theme park. Looks fun
@Bez87 never heard of parkitect. I loved Planet Coaster. Literally platinumed it twice. But definitely required the use of the community downloads cause creating coasters was not my cup of tea.
@Jayslow I grew up on the original theme park (strangely we only had computers in the library and 1 computer had theme park on it) and then I moved onto roller coaster tycoon. Both wildly different takes on the game.
Planet coaster took theme park world as inspiration and made an amazing game, very complex and I know what you mean about the building coasters in planet coaster, alot harder than it looks.
Planet coaster for me wasn't my cup of tea, ill be first to admit I'm not huge on the 3d aspect and not great at it when designing in that space.
I always loved roller coaster tycoon though. Parkitect is pretty much the sequel to the original roller coaster tycoon games.
Top down side view, think roller coaster tycoon but modernised.
With the unlimited creation tools to make amazing looking theme parks.
If you like theme park games, then its worth checking out some gameplay of it.
But what was your problem with roller coaster tycoon, if you don't mind me asking. Your comment seemed negative against it
@Dloki you should see the creations now. They go above and beyond simplistic. Triuy amazing what people can make in both those games
@Bez87 I also grew up on theme park (as well as theme hospital and theme park world). I actually never got into Roller Coaster Tycoon so any criticism may have been out of ignorance. My only point was I prefer the games management focus rather than crafting rollercoasters from scratch. Which I've assumed was a higher point of focus in Rollercoaster Tycoon when compared to theme park.
Damn. I just remember a game I used to play during ps1 time
Hoping this will end up a solid theme park sim.
I grew up on RCT1-3 and Theme Park World on PS2 too and loved those games.
I did get Planet Coaster at PS5 launch, but the controls and menus really didn't click at all and I gave up.
The radial menus in RCT3 on Switch were far easier to use, so opted to play that game more!... Ironic as they're both Frontier titles. (although I think QLOC did most of the development for RCT3 Switch)
@BeerIsAwesome do it mate, I spent months on it lol. It runs like cack on ps4 though if ygm 😎
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