In 1999, one game would kick off the gaming industry and popularize a genre known as the Tycoon Sim game. The game was Roller Coaster Tycoon (RCT or RCT1). The game finally brought a decent theme park game other than the mediocre and cheesy Theme Park game. Expansion packs came in 2000, as two of them came to add on to the RCT universe. Corkscrew Follies (abbreviation: CF) added more features, themes, scenarios, and coasters. The expansion was a hit and a second expansion came in October 2000 called Loopy Landscapes (abbreviation: LL), which did the same thing as Corkscrew Follies, added more realistic rides, theming sets, scenarios, and two nifty recreations of Alton Towers and Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Both expansions were well worth it and became PC bestsellers.
Two years later, in Fall 2002, Roller Coaster Tycoon 2 (abbreviation: RCT2) came out. The game had mediocre reviews from the coaster community, but later on became known as the best game in the series by many. The game seemed more of an expansion pack, but remained to be popular. For further interest and in depth review on Roller Coaster Tycoon 2, see Roller Coaster Tycoon 2: In Review. In June 2003, Roller Coaster Tycoon 2 got its first expansion pack known as Wacky Worlds (abbreviation: WW). But, the game received mediocre reviews from coaster enthusiasts for constant use of cheesy theming and rehashing rides such as the Seals Coaster. Well disliked by many, the game was considered mediocre by gamers as well. For further information and in depth review, see RollerCoaster Tycoon 2: Wacky Worlds in Review. After Wacky Worlds was released, in October 2003, the last expansion pack for Roller Coaster Tycoon 2 finally came known as Time Twisters (abbreviation: TT). Another mediocre and well disliked game by fans, people begin losing hope in the Roller Coaster Tycoon series. More rehashed coasters and cheesy theming made the game another stinker in the series.
A sign of light occurred to the Roller Coaster Tycoon community when Atari announced Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 (abbreviation: RCT3) in February 2004. Hype amassed on this upcoming game as the series finally went 3D. The game was released on demo in October 2004 and a month later in November 2004, just in time for the holidays, Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 was released. The game had good reviews, but wasn’t the smoothest game to play, with constant bugs and a demanding game engine to run the game. Patches were released, but didn’t fix all of the bugs that plagued the original game. In early 2005, a fansite interview with Atari leaked information on an expansion pack codenamed “Cape Typhoon”. Later on, the game was announced and revealed to be known as Soaked! Released in June 2005, Soaked! turned out to be a great expansion pack and the best one since Loopy Landscapes. To sum up Soaked! it’s the longtime “Water Park” feature we have been waiting for. Here is an in depth review of the new game.
 Here come the dog days of summer, people flock to parks to be amused, wet or dry. Soaked! Finally gives the Roller Coaster Tycoon series the much needed Water Park feature. The player can now build authentic pools, water slides, marine animal shows, and more thrilling roller coasters and flat rides as well. Soaked! Fixes most of the bugs that plagued the original Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 game, but the game still lags for many players.
 The water slides that can be built are very realistic. Players can choose to build body slides, Master Blaster style slides, Tornado/Toilet Bowl slides, and more. Pool wise, players can customize the edges, place lifeguard stands, multi-level diving boards, hot tubs, and deck chairs. Also added to the Fireworks MixMaster feature include new laser shows and marine life shows. You want to have Sea World style shows to ooh and ahh your guests? It's all in Soaked!
 Meanwhile, in the dry rides department, new roller coasters are in the game as well. Players can finally design their own rocket coasters with inversions (Hershey’s Stormrunner coaster), but the design seems limited with most things on diagonals. The only reason this is in the game is probably for the Storm Runner recreation included in the game. Other new coasters include the Cobra Shuttle coaster, which is reminiscent of a PAX Shuttle Loop coaster and the Alpine coaster. New realistic flat rides are in this pack as well, including the Discus (Huss Giant Frisbee), Skycoaster, Octopus, Wipeout, Disk-O, and Riptide style rides.
The graphics and game play are exactly like the first game, and if your confused, there is a nifty tutorial mode in the game to aide you. And just like in the original game, you can ride your rides (and your water slides) as well. New themes are in this as well, and useful themes, not cheesy themes like the ones found in the Roller Coaster Tycoon 2 expansions. Not only that, but if you’re the scenario type player, many new scenarios await you and even more scenarios to pop up in game as well.
To sum it up, Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 Soaked! is a great expansion pack well worth the dough. With the ability to finally build pools and water parks and more rides and themes as well, you can’t also forget about this game fixing the bugs in Roller Coaster Tycoon 3 as well. In the US, you can find Soaked! At the price range of $25 to $35 (US Dollars). With Chris Sawyer’s involvement, Roller Coaster Tycoon is heading back on the right path with much needed and realistic things adding on to the game. Rumored to be on the horizon this October is another expansion called Wild! With more realism heading into the series, Soaked! Gets a 9/10 from me, if it weren’t for lag, this game would have been more enjoyable, but if you don’t mind lag, it is still a great buy.
Soaked! Summary:
Overall review rating: 9/10
ESRB rating (US Game Rating): E (Everyone)
Price: $25-$35
Pros: Water parks! Finally…
Cons: Lag and small bugs.
Wait For: RCT3 Wild! Or if your patient, a RCT3 three pack…
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