Developed by n-Space and published by Atari, RollerCoaster Tycoon 3D is out now in North America and releases October 26th in Europe and Australia.
RollerCoaster Tycoon 3D is the first portable game in the RollerCoaster Tycoon series. There are three modes in the game, which include Coaster Story, Coaster Creator and Park Sandbox.
Coaster Story is the “story mode.” In it, you must complete a sequence of challenges, starting from the most basic tasks (that teach you the game’s fundamentals) to more difficult ones. All the challenges are related to running a successful park. Throughout most challenges, you need be aware of your budget and the time. Many challenges dragged; in order to payoff a loan, for example, I annoyingly waited in a park for a long time just to make money via the facilities I scattered around the park.
At the start of Coaster Story, you select either a girl or boy to represent you. Regardless of which sex you choose, the dialogue remains the same throughout the game; the boy and girl have the same exact speech – word for word.
Coaster Creator allows you to build a rollercoaster with no cash limitations, save it, and then bring it into a park in Park Sandbox or Coaster Story. You can also share your creation with other Nintendo 3DS players via StreetPass. Unfortunately, the game does not feature SpotPass, which means you can’t show-off your creations online.
You need an SD Card to save progress in Park Sandbox, in which you can freely build a theme park without having to worry about a budget or the time. You can only create one park per SD Card, and you cannot share your theme park with others. If you want to make a new theme park, you’ll have to obliterate your existing one.
The controls have you using the Nintendo 3DS’ physical buttons, Circle Pad and touchscreen. You use the Circle Pad to move a cursor, the Control Pad to zoom and rotate the camera, and the touchscreen to construct your park. The controls were very frustrating at first, but felt fine once I completed the basic challenges in Coaster Story.
The game’s music and soundeffects are charming at first, but get quickly repetitive. In parks, you hear the same amount of annoying chatter throughout, regardless of how many (or how few) peeps are in your park.
The game’s visuals could have been better; some could easily mistaken it for a Nintendo DS game – minus the mediocre 3D effect. The peeps in your park walk around aimlessly and disappear right in front of your eyes when you move the cursor a tad bit away. Oftentimes, rides appear to function without riders.
If you’re a fan of the series, you may be disappointed with RollerCoaster Tycoon 3D. Newcomers can be introduced to RollerCoaster Tycoon by this title, but they’ll most likely think it’s dull and will not understand the popularity that surrounded previous games in the long-running series.
5/10
That’s a shame. :(
its shovelware who gives a shit about this game
RCT is a fantastic franchise, people obviously give a shit because one of their beloved franchises has been completely ruined. This game is insulting to us who have played RC2 and 3!
I bought RC2 at least three times when I was a kid, lol. It had to have been my favorite PC game of all time, and my brother and I kept on buying it whenever we lost the disc or got computer problems or something. That game was what made my brother suspect I was OCD for the first time, lol.
I used to play RC2-3 best games ever. I was gonna pick this up, now reading all these reviews I refuse to. I kinda feel bad because it would probably lessen up the chance of us getting another for the PC but I really cba to pay $40 for shovel ware.
Heh… I thought that this would be a piece of art since people were hyped for it. I guess not. I was not going to buy this anyway.
Played RC1. Loved it. Was looking forward to this, then screenshots were shown. I lost all hype for it. It looks very very disappointing.
I was hoping it would be something to surprise everyone and get the hype for RCT4 back up.
You guys are very sporadic with your reviews. I don’t really see the point of them if you don’t do them consistently.
You do know MNN is run by one guy, right? And it isn’t his full time job…
There’s two people, but yes, I realize it’s not their full time job. Let me elaborate: Their review choices are really odd. They don’t really review games that more than a handful of people are interested in. I’m just confused, I guess.
I don’t remember the last game they reviewed, if I was even on this site the last time they reviewed a game.
Well, Shit. And here I was hoping to have a version of RCT3 that doesn’t, you know, lag at night? But if it’s a bad game to begin with i’m very disappointed. I loved the RCT games. =c
This seems like a game I’d rather get when it’s cheaper, instead of buying it now. It could probably keep you entertained for about half an hour when you’re really bored. Aside from that, I really hope they make a fourth game! The first 3 RCT’s were the best! (RCT3 was my favorite.)
Quick question, to those that have played this, how much content is there? I mean, as in, are MOST of the rides, and stalls, etc. from RCT3 in this game?
I’m from the IS, and distribution of the game sucks. Can’t find it anywhere, and frankly, thanks to this review, I’m not going to look for it.
I’m really disappointed. I had high expectations for this game and as the continued to delay it, I had a feeling in this case, something was wrong.
There are too many quality games out right now, and even Angry Birds looks like a more polished distraction than this game. It’s doing surprisingly well, getting high ratings in the eShop review board.
*US
Have you noticed that there is some dick who works for Nintendo who is reviewing the stuff on the E-SHOP ??? do your games have a 5* rating in america ????
I am seeing some stupid shit and biassed reviews on those star ratings by Nintendo . the user ratings are great however..
I think I know what you mean, however I think a lot of kids and fans really do like some of te games we think are rubbish.
We can be sure, if it has low stars, it’s almost definately not good!
Yeh !!! if its 2 star that means its litteraly dig shite :)
Wondered what happened to your reviews…
Also, typical 3DS shovelware. What else is new?
Stewart little, what the fuck are even talking about? 3DS games are not all shovelware. RCT is not generally considered Shovelware, however between several delayed release dates, the few, grainy screenshots and reviews such as these, I’m not as inclined to buy this as I was in March.
I purchased “Code of Princess,” which is a fantastic game you won’t find on any other handheld or console. It’s a great game by Atlus, and an example of the great 3rd party support the 3DS is recieving.
This review was appreciated by myself, and put the final nail in the coffin. I’m def not buying this gsme as it appears to be (un)typical shovelware.
Not much, really. Each console gets its fair share of shovelware. The 3DS is no exception.
Have you ever played a Rollar coaster tycoon game? Every system gets shovelware. This, to the fans disappointment, was not to be on that list. Alas, it appears to have received half-ass development dispite it being a popular series.
Ahhh shut up. The 3DS has tons of amazing games and you know it , and the ones coming out soon between JP and the West put it miles ahead of pretty much any handheld ever….
Thanks MNN for making me avoid this piece of shit game. What is it N-space don’t understand about the 3ds’ hardware ??? heropes of ruin could of been amazing , but nooooooooo make it look like a dirty psp game with a low framerate…. Embarassment to british game devs…
They have tons of amazing games … IN JAPAN. They never get released here ;~; I want Bravery Default God dammit!
I’m just waiting for Luigi’s Mansion. Also Adventure Time and Epic Mickey: Power of Illusion if the demos are good.
I’m pretty excited for those + Professor Layton, Ive been waiting for it for sooo long!
Hey MNN !!! Any chance of you guys doing some Wiiu reviews ??? if so how many/ frequently ??
You better be able to do a replica of “MR. BONES WILD RIDE” , or else i’m not buying it.
So what you are saying is that this game has it’s ups and downs?
I love the pun in what you said.
It made my day but I’m off to bed.
⑨
Seems to be an equal amount of em
you buy weird games alba
I was so excited for this one, I even dug out RCT 3 and even bought a new copy of rct2 with the expansions. Although I kinda doubt I’ll bother with it which is a shame. I woulda been happy with them porting rct1 and changing the text etc to accomodate it.
Finally a RCT for nintendo!
I can’t wait…
Atari, I am disappoint.
I really don’t understand why the review. It’s a news site specifically and it seems an akward review at that. There was like 1-2 news stories on this game which had low trafficing and now a review idk I just don’t see it. I mean I’m all cool if you guys want to start reviews but if you are at least make it a different part of the website. Still love the site though.
thats a shame
We don’t want a half assed portable version! People who like RCT like the freedom and tools the game offers. We don’t want a stripped down consolefied version! Hell RollerCoaster Tycoon 1 was ported on Xbox and offered the same PC features. There is no excuse for this just because it’s a portable system. These days portable systems are quite powerful.
Hell just port RollerCoaster Tycoon 1,2 & 3 on Android and iOS and be done. Seriously!
Maybe also make them into a free web game? Or re-release on PC as special editions with added stuff!
Like add a co-op and a competitive mode so people can make parks with there friends or see who can make the most profitable park. We’d love this!
Open Transport Tycoon Deluxe offers Multiplayer and it’s free (open source).
They could have offered all the fancy features on the 3DS. No one gives a crap about a story mode and the 3D is not a good enough reason to pick it up without giving the fans the park building tools they expect from the series. Otherwise name this game something else!
Plus RCT3 can be played in 3D on PC anyways not portable though.
They can bring life into the RCT series. Just bring it on PC, consoles and on Android / iOS.
I think just taking the 3 games and adding Multiplayer modes and more items would be awesome. Maybe even provide tools so people can make custom items and share them.
Just make special editions of the RollerCoaster Tycoon Trilogy. Well love em!
Then work on RollerCoaster Tycoon 4. Or don’t.
We’d buy special editions of the first 3 if they had those features. You could combine RCT 1 & 2 too. As RCT 2 had more features but not the missions of RCT1. Maybe add a classic mode for hardcore RCT1 fans.
Or make it into one game (maybe call it the RollerCoaster Tycoon Trilogy Special Edition) and have the option to play 2d (like RCT 1 & 2) or 3d (RCT3)? People wanted the RCT2 controls in RCT3 anyways.
Throw in cross platform play too maybe between PC and Android / iOS. Perhaps consoles too? Would be awesome with Multiplayer and working on parks anywhere.
Someone at Atari listen to the RCT fans! You could easily revive the RCT series. This 3DS Title is not a revival.
Would others like my idea for a way to revive the RCT series? Post your thoughts!
I want this game very bad! its awesome:)
I actually want it too… even after reading the reviews lol
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