RollerCoaster Tycoon 2: Time Twister Review

One of the things that always makes me think of summer are roller coasters. Theme parks with coasters have been a part of the warm weather and good times many of us remember since at least the 1950s, roller coasters themselves go back even further. The pure excitement and fun of these rides and theme parks bring out the kid in many of us, who can remember hot days and thrill to the adventure of great roller coasters.

Another part of many of us is the desire to build and run things, which of course, many of us can never do, as we lack the money, or the opportunity to do so. So instead, we turn our attentions to the computer, where we can find simulations of all kinds of things, from real life events to, you guessed it, roller coasters. A few years ago, Chris Sawyer and Infrogames brought the world of theme parks to life with the smash hit Roller Coaster Tycoon 2. Now, Chris Sawyer and Atari bring you an expansion pack for that game, Time Twister.

For those of you who have never played Roller Coaster Tycoon 2, the game is set up to allow players to build random theme parks, as well as building historical Six Flags parks throughout the USA and Europe. The game allows players to build historical Roller Coasters, but also allows design your own coasters, limited only by the player's imagination. The game also features a number of thrill rides, gentle rides, concession stands, water rides, and landscaping, all the things that go into making a theme park a success.

Players are challenged to reach certain goals, usually within a time limit of two to four years, making their parks either profitable, popular, or both. Sometimes the scenarios are set up so that the players must simply make money. How you go about this is totally up to the player, but the game allows people to make up their own minds on how their theme park will look and function.

Graphically, Roller Coaster Tycoon 2 is somewhat long in the tooth, using a simpler form of cartoon like people and rides, but this doesn't detract much from the game, in fact, it seems to add to the atmosphere of the game. The player is given choices as to how the walkways will look, the colors the rides we be painted, even the music they will play, as well as what the entrance and exit koisoks will look. Each patron of your park can be examined, renamed, and their thoughts and desires about the part can be learned. The game includes a simple tutorial that will get players into the game quickly. The interface is easy to use, and well laid out. You can save and rejoin games at any point, and the game will tell you if their are problems in your park.

Time twister adds to your theme park experience by giving players several new environments, some new rides, as well as no less then 14 new scenarios that span the goes, from dinosaurs to outer space. Players will have new challenges, such as setting up a theme park in a crater, adding animatronic figures to parks, and even more rides, many based on the latest attractions world wide.

As an add-on, time twister offers some diversity to an older game, but really lacks any new or ground breaking innovations. It simply gives you more options and choices for your Roller Coaster Tycoon 2 game. As this add-on isn't very expensive, it is certainly worth getting if your a fan of this game system, but don't look for anything radical here, the new items, while well done, aern't specular. So, if you a theme park fan and enjoy Roller Coaster Tycoon 2, by all means pick up this add-on, this game system is fun and it is entertaining.