Eight months after RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 hit shelves, Infogrames Interactive is rolling out the expansion pack entitled Wacky Worlds, and one thing is for sure, it is wacky. If you're a ride enthusiast or if you've followed RollerCoaster Tycoon atleast since the original expansion packs Corkscrew Follies and Loopy Landscapes, there's not much doubt that the latest add-on will be a letdown in several ways, and will best be enjoyed by the more casual player.
Be aware that the main and only major focus of Wacky Worlds is on theming. That said, seven new themes are included based on landmarks, climates, and styles of the world's continents and countries - Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America, and South America. New park entrances and an abundance of new theme objects, walls, and roofs expand the possibilities of RollerCoaster Tycoon, making possible the creation of everything from a diamond mine train and conveyor belt, to a sleek city, to an ancient temple. And if you're into the gaming aspect of RCT, seventeen new scenarios will introduce the new themes to you.
But aside from the new collection of scenery, Wacky Worlds skimps in a major way. We've had hopes for a number of rides that RollerCoaster Tycoon has been in need of - Intamin loopers, Rocket Coasters, dozens of flat rides, a more useable Air-Powered Coaster, new inversion possibilities, and on - but you can kiss those hopes goodbye, atleast for now. Of all the 'new' rides that this expansion contains, none are truely new in the purest form of the word, rather simply rethemed versions of trains and ride bodies for the same rides that we had previously, what you might call recycled.
Perhaps the biggest problem with the recycled coaster types is that they were given their own complete ride type... 'Ostrich Coaster', 'Surf Coaster', 'Limosine Rollercoaster'... Not exactly categorizations you'll hear in the real coaster world. The main inconvenience and confusion that many of these new types create is caused by giving us the same track and same seating type that we had before, yet not allowing Stand-Up Coaster tracks, for example, to be loaded for its new 'gimmick' version derived from it, the Ostrich Coaster, and vice-versa... All obviously in the name of upping the RCT2 ride count, when the more straightforward approach of new car and ride body options for the basic rides could have been as easily used.
And aside from the new theming and optional themed ride versions, there's next to nothing new or updated to speak of. No new path types, no new basic scenery, no entertainers, or even scenes at startup, not to mention plenty of other areas untouched. The fact that Chris Sawyer was excluded from the Wacky Worlds project was a major mistake, and Infogrames was obviously not listening to popular opinion from RollerCoaster Tycoon fans in the creation of this latest add-on.
To sum it all up, RollerCoaster Tycoon 2: Wacky Worlds is a disappointment in the rides area, the main reason most of us purchasing the game in the first place, especially after such a release as what we saw with RollerCoaster Tycoon 2. The slew of new themes and objects, however, may prove reason to purchase, or simply for fans to stay up to date. Wacky Worlds is sold for $19.99 to $29.99 in the U.S. If you decide not to buy, just wait and hope for a more useful expansion pack.
