Roller coasters operate on the same principle as horror films - getting people to pay to be frightened half out of their wits. The popularity of both shows that they appeal to some fundamental human need.
This game is about creating and managing a theme park with rides, shops, stalls, gardens and scenery, but success is ultimately measured on how well the roller coasters are administered. These can be made in all shapes and sizes, painted in extraordinary colours and given outlandish names. A monster that has visitors throwing up outside will not encourage return visits, but then neither will one so tame that it feels like a bumpy bus journey.
Money makes the roller coaster world go round, so pricing is important - and the books have to be balanced. Safety is another consideration, with regular mechanics' inspections required to keep the rides safe.
The heart of the game is building roller coasters which thrill the riders and entice onlookers to have a ride themselves. The roller coasters must fit in with the layout of the park and the positioning of trees, water, tunnels and other features. Having built a good one, there is some pleasure to be had in watching people enjoy it while the dollars pile up.
Roller Coaster Tycoon is not an innovative game, but it has neatly identified the strong points of games such as Transport Tycoon and Theme Park, which makes it easy to get to grips with and great fun to play.
Req: Pentium 90/16MB/Win 9x