Theme Park World (European Version)

Platform: PlayStation
ESRB Rating: E - Everyone

Description:

Typically, PC-to-console conversions stand or fall on how well the keyboard and mouse combination is translated to a joypad. Arguably, no game has ever gotten it quite right. PSX real-time strategy titles have always been a little awkward, with inherent problems in any game which attempts to use a traditional icons-menus-pointers system on a console.

Theme Park World suffers from none of these. Building your theme park is made simple with an effective control system - the button assignments are displayed permanently in the corner of the screen to remind you. Even building long, complex roller-coasters is made quick and easy. Parks are built around one of a number of themes - Aztec, horror, space and so on. You start off with just one accessible to you but, as you progress, more are opened each with their own respective themes and sets of rides.

Reaching set targets within the levels earns 'gold tickets' which can then be spent on opening new levels, or purchasing special rides and items. Unfortunately, it is never quite clear exactly what these goals are and you will be playing blind - although this makes for a nice surprise when a gold ticket flies across the screen.

Four tickets buy the camcorder, enabling perhaps the most unique feature of TPW. Simply by pressing a button, the overhead view changes to a first-person perspective. You can walk round your park, go on the rides, play the sideshows, and get a first-hand feel for the level of vandalism and litter. Although the graphics in the first-person view look a bit like Legovision, it makes a novel and useful addition.

Staff management is a crucial part of making a successful park. Employing scientists allows you to research new rides and attractions, cleaners keep the litter down and mechanics keep the rides in working order. If you don't treat your staff well, they will go on strike but regular wage increases and building a staffroom will help to keep the workers in line. If only it was that easy to keep the Games Domain crew quiet.

If all this sounds a little complex, fear not - the advisor is here to help. He sits in the corner of the screen, offering tips, advice and praise as appropriate, in his Sean Connery tones.

Theme Park World is an excellent conversion. Although it doesn't match up to the PC version's graphics, the underlying gameplay shines through to make it a thoroughly enjoyable and immersive way to spend a few hours.