September 12th 2024.
Planet Coaster 2 is the latest installment in the popular theme park simulation game from Frontier Developments. It has been highly anticipated by fans since its predecessor was released in 2016 and has the potential to take the genre to new heights, even on consoles.
The concept of creating and managing your own virtual theme park has surprisingly become a popular niche in the video game world, and there are already many games available. However, there is something special about Planet Coaster 2 that has fans eagerly awaiting its release.
Recently, we had the opportunity to play the game for over two hours, on an Xbox Series X. Although it was being streamed to a PC, it was interesting to see how Frontier has managed to make the game accessible on every format, even on consoles where designing gameplay interfaces for high-end simulations can be tricky.
One of the first things we experienced was a scenario called "Double Trouble," where we played as an employee of a theme park company owned by a character named Oswald Thompson. The company was in a rivalry with another builder, Kenta Suzuki, who had purchased land in the same park. This meant that we could only build certain attractions on our part of the land, while Suzuki could do whatever he wanted on his.
As we delved into the gameplay, we didn't see much of a storyline, except for a few objectives that we had to meet or surpass. It was impressive to see how Frontier managed to incorporate a story mode into Planet Coaster 2, as theme park simulators are not known for their narrative elements.
The game's interface heavily relies on the controller's bumper buttons, allowing players to scroll through the various elements of the game such as attractions, buildings, facilities, and staff. It also provides quick access to essential tools like the path-building system and the erase function, which has been cleverly designed for a gamepad, with adjustable brush-width and filters to delete specific pathways.
As we began to build our park, we quickly realized the importance of careful pathing and providing power and plumbing to rides for them to function smoothly. The game's new pathing system was a standout feature, allowing us to place entrances and exits for attractions and even move them slightly within a designated area.
Another aspect that sets Planet Coaster 2 apart from its predecessor is the ability to construct curved paths, making it easier to connect different points in the park. This added a level of intelligence to the game, as we could control the sharpness of the curves.
For powered rides, we had to add generators and connect them together, but it was easy to extend the powered area by daisy-chaining them. The water-plumbing system worked in a similar way, and soon we became familiar with the game's vocabulary, making us feel like we could design theme parks in real life.
The game's feedback system was clear and helpful, as customers would provide comments and suggestions through heat maps. This helped us make improvements to our park, such as adding changing rooms and toilets near the pool or making distant rides more accessible.
After completing our objectives in the scenario, we were given the opportunity to play in the game's sandbox mode, with unlimited funds. This allowed us to fully experience the game's vast array of options, from creating a water park to an elaborate fairground.
Frontier Developments, the developer of Planet Coaster 2, has been in the video game industry since 1994. The studio's founder, David Braben, was also the co-creator of the groundbreaking game Elite in 1984, which revolutionized the open-ended space trading and combat simulation genre. With such a rich history in the industry, it's no surprise that Frontier has been able to create such an immersive and enjoyable game like Planet Coaster 2.
Are you ready to experience the thrill of building your very own theme park? Get ready for Planet Coaster 2, the highly anticipated sequel to Frontier Developments' popular theme park simulator. This state-of-the-art game is expected to take the genre to new heights, and it's even available on consoles!
There's just something about watching virtual guests having a blast in your virtual park that brings a surprisingly good buzz. Theme park simulators have become a surprisingly popular niche in the world of video games, with a surprising number of options already on the market. But there's something special about Planet Coaster 2, especially since its predecessor from 2016 has garnered such a devoted following.
We were lucky enough to get our hands on the game for over two hours, playing on an Xbox Series X (although the game was streamed to a PC). It was interesting to see how the game would work on consoles, as designing intuitive gameplay for a high-end simulator like Planet Coaster 2 is no easy feat when using a gamepad instead of a keyboard and mouse. But Frontier has done an impressive job, making the game accessible on every format.
But the burning question on everyone's minds is: does Planet Coaster 2 have a story campaign? Our first taste of gameplay came in the form of a scenario called "Double Trouble." In this scenario, we were an employee of Coaster Coast, a company owned by Oswald Thompson. We were pitted against Kenta Suzuki, a rival theme park builder who had slyly purchased land in the same park as Coaster Coast. This meant we could only build certain attractions on his part of the land, but we were free to do whatever we wanted on ours.
As we dove into the game, there wasn't much of a storyline beyond a few objectives that we needed to meet or exceed. It's worth giving props to Frontier for finding a way to incorporate a story mode into Planet Coaster 2, as theme park simulators typically don't have much in the way of narrative.
The game's interface heavily utilizes the controller's bumper buttons, allowing you to scroll horizontally through the vast array of attractions, buildings, facilities, and staff. These buttons also provide quick access to essential elements like path-building and erasing functions, which have been cleverly adapted for the gamepad. You can adjust the brush-width and apply filters to make it easier to delete pathways, for example.
Once we had built a flat ride and started attracting guests, it became clear that careful pathing and providing power and plumbing to rides were crucial elements of the game. And speaking of pathing, Planet Coaster 2 introduces a new and improved system that will please fans of the original game. After placing a ride, your next task is to place its entrance and exit, which can be moved within a designated area. Ride orientation is crucial, and the game uses the 'X' button on the controller to help with this. We could even move coasters vertically upwards, automatically extending the legs to allow guests to walk underneath safely.
The pathing system also allows for curved paths, making it easier to connect different points. The game shows some intelligence, letting you determine how sharp you want the curves to be.
For powered rides, you have to add generators and connect them together. It's easy to expand the coverage area by daisy-chaining generators to existing power distributors. The water-plumbing system works in a similar way, and we quickly became familiar with the game's vocabulary, making us feel like we could design real-life theme parks.
Planet Coaster 2 provides clear feedback on what needs to be done to get everything running smoothly. Soon enough, guests were enjoying all the rides and facilities, creating a satisfying vocal hubbub. But there was also a constant stream of feedback, with customers expressing their opinions through heat maps. They would point out if a pool lacked changing or toilet facilities, if a ride was too far away, or if a coaster was too scary.
After successfully completing our objectives in "Double Trouble," we got to experience the sandbox mode with unlimited funds. This allowed us to fully explore the game and all it has to offer. Whether you want to create a water park, a rollercoaster park, or an elaborate fairground, the possibilities are endless.
But before we get too carried away, let's take a moment to appreciate the team behind this incredible game. Frontier Developments has been around since 1994, with roots that go back even further to the very beginning of the UK video game industry. The studio was founded by David Braben, co-creator of the groundbreaking game Elite from 1984. This open-ended space trading and combat simulator was decades ahead of its time, and it's no surprise that the team behind it continues to push the boundaries with games like Planet Coaster 2.
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