Planet Coaster 2 Review

thesixthaxis.com:

Frontier could almost single-handedly train the next generation of business managers. Whether it’s zoos, theme parks, or places where the exhibits might eat the guests, Frontier has locked down the management sim. That may sound like a serious, suit-wearing, briefcase-wielding sort of business, but Frontier are also masters of making balancing the books fun, and Planet Coaster 2 sees them updating and refining the formula once more. It’s little surprise to discover that this is the new benchmark for theme park builders.

The core Planet Coaster 2 experience remains much the same as it was in the original game. You have full control of a theme park, from placing and building each ride, through to extensive path-laying and the pricing of burgers and fries – you sadly can’t decide if they’re smashed or loaded, though. Admittedly, that would also have been true of Theme Park, the originator of this management sim sub-genre, but Planet Coaster 2 gives you a level of incremental control that Theme Park players could only have dreamed of.

Oswald B Thompson, a joyfully Scottish chap, welcomes you to the Career mode, along with Eugene, his faithful ride engineer. They’ll see you through the first steps to building your own park, while making some lightly amusing comments along the way. It’s just… well, nice, and while I’m still parsing what cozy gaming is, it feels as though Planet Coaster 2 fits the bill with its gentle and playful tone, pun-filled mission titles, and easy-going pace.

While Planet Coaster 2 will undoubtedly make you happy, it is actually a game about making other people happy. Your park, and your park rating, are based upon a number of factors, but fundamentally it’s about guest happiness and enjoyment. You ensure that by having a wide range of rides, making sure your park is full of beautiful scenery, and by offering the services and utilities they’ll need for an extended stay in your playground.

The first step on that path is of course the rides. Planet