Tom is an expert in all things Fortnite or the latest RPG release, but is probably spending too much time on the latest EA FC game.
Published:
It’s been 12 years since the last widely praised Rollercoaster Tycoon game was released. The likes of Adventures and World have tried to recapture the magic, to disappointing effect. With Wonderworks, Atari is trying a new formula, combining the old and the new, and I think it might just work.
We got an extended look at the game in action at Gamescom, with the developers showcasing how everything works ahead of its early access launch. The overall aim is to be simultaneously the most customizable Rollercoaster Tycoon game ever, but also the easiest to play.
This time, the aim is to build a global empire of theme parks. You’re a modern-day Walt Disney, and everything in the park is at your discretion. That’s the main new feature in Wonderworks: you can customize almost everything in, but you also have to deal with the consequences.
You still pick from a catalog of rides, and research new ones as you progress, but not every rollercoaster or thrill ride has to be the same. Gone as the days of filling empty space in your park with yet another identical Ferris Wheel or swinging pirate ship. You can fine-tune every ride’s speed, acceleration, duration, and more, potentially creating some of the wildest rides a theme park builder has ever seen.
That also brings back one of the most fun aspects of OG Rollercoaster Tycoon… injuring your guests. No, I’m not some kind of crazed mechanic; it’s just a fun thing to do. If you crank the speed up on your new launch coaster and point the top of the climb towards the center of your park, you can launch a carriage full of thrillseekers at the crowds waiting for their overpriced burger or $5 toilet break. Or you can dig a hole in the ground and fire the riders into it, leaving them stuck for eternity.
A few seconds later, a medical chopper will arrive to take the injured ones away, while another will appear to fix the destruction. Rides don’t just break down when you mess with them, too. If you build a coaster with an overly tight corner, it’ll become a stress point and wear over time. Eventually, the ride will break in that exact place, scattering metal all over the paths below. You can even hire lawyers to get you out of sticky situations when guests die at your park. They’ll ensure your budget isn’t massively affected by having to pay massive compensation to the families you tore apart.
Wonderworks isn’t a serious park management game all the time; you can mess around with the physics as much as you’d like, or try to avoid disaster as much as possible. The choice is yours.
Thankfully, Atari has done a lot to ensure actually building your rides is as easy as possible. Adding track, changing angles, and deleting sections couldn’t be simpler, ensuring newer tycoon fans aren’t scared off. The game will even automatically add chain lifts to vertical sections of track when it’s necessary, should you want it to. It means rides work pretty seamlessly the moment you connect the two ends, instead of having to mess around for hours with the intricacies of the mechanics.
Away from rides, placing shops, benches, and bins couldn’t be easier. Your aim is to build things to make money, or cause havoc, and the game does everything it can to ensure you’re not wasting time on placing paths and attractions in exactly the right place. Yes, some players want that ability to design every single aspect of their park, but there are other theme park management games that let you do that. Rollercoaster Tycoon Wonderworks’ aim is to let you run the park in whatever way you see fit. You’re the manager of a park empire, not the architect.
I think launching in early access (which is a first for the series) is a smart choice, as it lets Atari get the balance between building and chaotic management right. If they’re trying to appeal to both long-term Tycoon players and young theme park fans at the same time, something has to give, or be balanced to perfection. With a period of feedback to work with, I think Wonderworks will be all the better for it.
While you’re still given plenty of freedom to make cool rides and make a park that’s unique, Rollercoaster Tycoon Wonderworks is all about playfulness and experimentation. You’re not going to become a world-renowned theme park mogul without cracking a few eggs… or a few skulls along the way.