As a theme park enthusiast, the intricate blend of technology and artistry that goes into creating these immersive worlds never fails to captivate me. From the moment I first experienced Disney’s Haunted Mansion as a child, I’ve been entranced by the idea of bringing these fantastical parks to life digitally. The original Planet Coaster was a dream come true for people like me, with its robust creative tools that allowed players to turn their theme park visions into reality. Now, the sequel, Planet Coaster 2, aims to build upon this foundation with even more features and possibilities.
Planet Coaster 2 continues the tradition of its predecessor by offering a visually stunning experience that brings every creative whim to fruition. The game revolves around the intricate management of a theme park, requiring players to build rides, hire staff, and keep guests happy to turn a profit. However, the true strength of Planet Coaster 2 lies in its expansive design and customization tools, which have been refined and expanded based on feedback from the first game.
This sequel represents a gentle evolution of the franchise, focusing on enhancements that cater to content creators and builders. The new lighting engine, improved optimization, and additional features like pools and flumes add depth and variety to the gameplay experience. Planet Coaster 2 offers different play modes, including a campaign mode with quirky challenges, a franchise mode for cooperative building, and a sandbox mode for unlimited creative freedom.
While Planet Coaster 2 excels in building and design aspects, it falls short in strategic depth and management sophistication. The game removes certain mechanics from its predecessor, such as restaurants and hotels, and fails to introduce compelling new strategic elements. Compared to titles like Planet Zoo and Parkitect, Planet Coaster 2 struggles to strike a balance between management and creativity, often feeling disjointed and lacking in strategic cohesion.
Despite its building refinements, Planet Coaster 2 struggles with menu navigation and interface design, creating a frustrating user experience. Feedback and information presentation are lacking, making it difficult for players to understand the game’s mechanics fully. Additionally, the game’s thematic options and building blocks feel uninspired compared to its predecessor, limiting the creative potential for players.
While Planet Coaster 2 retains the charm and creativity of the original game, it is marred by inconsistencies, missed opportunities, and a reliance on community-generated content for essential features. Despite its potential for improvement through updates, the game currently falls short of expectations in several key areas.
A copy of Planet Coaster 2 was provided for review by Frontier Developments.