Roller Coaster Tycoon: Loopy Landscapes expansion (with Corkscrew Follies expansion)
By: Microprose and Chris Sawyer
My ratings:
Graphics-8.5
Sound-8.5
Fun Factor-10
Lasting Appeal-9.75
Overall (weighted average)-9.3
Genre: RTS
I had passed up the opportunity to buy RCT's first expansion: Corkscrew Follies, because I was still enjoying the original and had not been extremely impressed by the reviews for it. Well, with the release of the second expansion: Loopy Landscapes, that looked much better than the first, as well as came with the first, I could not turn down the offer. Am a impressed with it? Read on my friend...
Graphics: Same as original, but with tons of new themes that add a lot of diversity to the look of your park. For more detail on graphics, please see my review of the original.
Sound: Same somewhat annoying sounds of the park visitors, but with a ton of cool theme music for your rides that significantly improves this area over the original. Not groundbreaking improvement, but definitely is nice. Again, for more detail, see review of original.
Fun Factor: The original got a 9.75, which already demands that you buy it. However, I had to show that LL is even more fun, and the only way to do that is, yes, give it the prestigious rating of 10. Yes, it's that good. In fact, this is the second game of all the games I've reviewed (and played) that got a 10 in fun factor (or anything else for that matter). The first was Microsoft's incredibly awesome Midtown Madness 2 game. With more added features than any other expansion I've ever played, tons upon tons of added themes, rides, shops, and options, LL is a must for any RCT fan's library. For more detail (don't go to the original's review), read on!
Lasting Appeal: Same addictive gameplay as original. It's a bit better in this area because of the tons of new features, but it's not quite earthshattering enough to bump it up to a 10. A 9.75 is certainly nothing to be ashamed of, though, so this is one game that will keep you busy for a long time. And even when you burn yourself out on it, a couple months later you'll find yourself burning more hours on it.
RCT is an easy game to add on to. It just fits. Games like fighters can only add levels and minor gameplay differences. An RTS, specifically one that has different rides and stuff, is a very fitting (sorry, I had to say it twice because it's such a...well, fitting word) candidate for an expansion. And Chris Sawyer (an AMAZING programmer...he did the whole game himself!) treated us with two. Sure, the first wasn't all it could have been, but since the second includes the first, those of us who have waited to get LL instead of getting Corkscrew Follies can have no hard time deciding if it's worth it. And after you read the following additions (an incomplete list!), you'll see why getting this expansion pack should be a no-brainer for any RCT fan.
The following are some of the new rides and attractions that both CF and LL feature (not limited to the following):
Transportation rides:
Gentle rides:
Roller Coasters:
Thrill rides:
Water rides:
Shops:
Themes:
And add to this list new queve lines, dirt styles and colors, new supports, new awesome ride entrance themes, cool ride music, etc, etc, etc. Tons of stuff for your park building craze. Not to mention tons of awesome new scenarios (including at least one that gives you unlimited money!), as well as some real parks (no Six Flags Over Texas one though...these British guys have gotta come see our 8+ roller coasters! Including the all new TITAN!!!). Wow. I can't say a whole lot more, other than I HIGHLY recommend that you get this expansion, provided that you already have the original. If you have the first expansion, then I would still say it's worth your money. Plus, you can get a $10 rebate on LL if you already own CF here. So, GET THIS EXPANSION!!! All fans of RCT who don't already have this (like I was not too long ago) are missing out on some serious fun! As well as a much longer lifespan for the destined-to-be-classic Roller Coaster Tycoon.
Pros:
Very clear, detailed graphics
Easy to use interface
Very realistic
Cons:
You can't ride your rides (you can watch them run though)
Repetitive
Objectionable Content: None
Other's Ratings:
ignpc-8.5 (original game)
ignpc-7.0 (Corkscrew Follies expansion pack)
ignpc-8.3 (Loopy Landscapes expansion pack)