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RollerCoaster Tycoon 3

SCORE: 73

I like RollerCoaster Tycoon 3, I like it a lot. So maybe I am being a fit fanboyish in my review of RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 on the iPad/iPhone. Only one of the devices we have here at Family Friendly Gaming would work RollerCoaster Tycoon 3. So my first issue with RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 on the iOS is it perpetuates the keeping up with the Joneses mentality that bankrupts too many families.

I tried to play the first mission of RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 at first. I had trouble figuring out the controls. Which are a bit on the confusing side. Especially not knowing what every single button does. I love how I tried to add staff not really sure what they did. When I tapped on add a certain picture, RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 asked me if I wanted to add that character. No, I wanted to know what they did to see if that is what I needed.

There are other clunky issues in RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 like making a rollercoaster loop, and the entrance being created on the inside. Guess where the exit appear? You got it on the outside. It took me forever to figure out why no one was riding the first new rollercoaster I had created. Touch screen only controls should work perfectly with RollerCoaster Tycoon 3. A finger on a touch screen is like a mouse cursor on a computer monitor.

I then decided I needed to mess around with the tutorial. I expected RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 to show me how to properly build things. What I got was Youtube videos. Propping up a company's Youtube channel is not my idea of a proper tutorial system. In fact it feels more like an advertisement to give them views. I finally found Sandbox mode which became my favorite in RollerCoaster Tycoon 3.

In my opinion the Sandbox mode is the best feature in RollerCoaster Tycoon 3. The zoom in, rotate, zoom out, and tapping controls to place things are not always reliable. At least in Sandbox mode I can do things at my pace, and learn how to play this downloadable only hand held video game. RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 is family friendly, and can be fun once you learn how to play it. The learning curve is steep unless you feel like using one device to watch their Youtube videos and another device to play this game.
- Mark

Graphics: 70%
Sound: 80%
Replay/Extras: 75%
Gameplay: 60%
Family Friendly Factor: 80%

System: iPhone/iPad
Publisher: Frontier Developments
Developer: Frontier Developments
Rating: ‘4+’ - Everyone FOUR and OLDER ONLY

Company provided product
Value/Cost of the review is greater than value/cost of provided product

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