My Review

After a seven year break, I recently rediscovered RCT3 thanks to Steam - I used to have the whole collection on disc.

As this was the first game in the series to jump to real time 3D graphics, it somewhat polarised people during it's initial release - long term fans of the series were excited and intrepid in equal measure. Even today, the game isn't as highly regarded as it's two prequels; a view point I absolutely disagree with.

Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 is the pinnacle of the series, especially here in it's 'Platinum' form. The complexity of earlier games is still there, although managing the paths your peeps take and where they spend their money is somewhat easier and more intuitive. The 3D graphics allow you to explore the park as if you were a guest, and you can ride every creation in first person, whether the gentle spin of the teacups or the stomach churning corkscrews of your own personal magnum opus. The game has extensive tutorials which cover everything the game has to offer, and the same level of in depth tutition is available for both of the included expansion packs.

Creating coasters can still be done on the fly while you're in the middle of the games campaign mode, or it can be accomplished in a dedicated in-game tool, allowing you to build and test the coaster of your dreams without limitations. You can then save these designs to your very own catalogue, where they will be given a cash value based on the number and type of parts used. If you then wish to use this design during your main game, in any mode, you purchase it from the catalogue just as you would with other built-in designs.

Adding to the depth of creativity is the building designer. Now this is seriously impressive: You use geometric shapes and parts to literally create buildings from the ground up. It's like having a 3D jigsaw but with a limitless number of pieces, allowing you to create any shape you like, and then apply any texture you like to them. Again, this tool is available in-game straight from the main menu, and whether you use it to recreate the Tower of London or your favourite sweet shop from Blackpool Pleasure Beach, it's powerful stuff. Of course, dozens of building designs are included in game, and just like the coaster tools, you're not forced to create them from scratch if you don't want to.

The final tool to complete this insanely customisable trilogy of creation is the Peep Designer! That's right, you can create your own individuals - families, even - and customise them with your own names and such. Graphically you don't get much for the peeps, unlike the rest of the game which looks fantastic, because they're low poly models as you will have literally hundreds of them exploring your theme park at once. But it's still cool to be able to put your family in the game, and track them throughout sandboxes and scenarios.

As well as all of the above, you have the game itself. Anyone who claims that the complexity and intricacy of the earlier games has been lost, well you're playing a different game to me! Shops, finances, entrance fees, peep personalities, disasters, employees and all the minutae they involve have to be managed by you, and it's as engrossing as ever.

When you add in the superb expansions, allowing you to build swimming pools of any shape you desire, and water flumes with the same levels of complexity as the coasters, it becomes a no-brainer for fans of strategy games and Theme Park. With the addition of the included Wild expansion, you can even set up zoos and safaris, either independently or as part of your main park. Pens, viewing platforms, making sure people don't get mauled by a tiger that's chewed through a cheap fence you traded off to built a better log flume... It's all there.

The game runs really nice and smoothly and still looks great, right down to the little details like peeps throwing their arms in the air when the reach the peak of a coaster before a big drop... It is, without a doubt, the best theme park management game ever made, and an easy recommendation.

4.5/5