Planet Coaster 2 review: “Challenging but frustratingly confusing at times”

When Avril Lavigne sang, “Why did you have to make it so complicated?” in 2002, she looked into a crystal ball, watching a future version of herself attempting to install a water purification system in Planet Coaster 2.

The sequel to one of the greatest theme park construction simulators ever made. Planet Coaster 2 introduces water parks, new themes, and cross-platform co-op to varying degrees of success.

It shines in the visual department. The water sparkles next to the vibrant colors of the water slides, symbolizing those incredibly bright summer days that only exist when you’re stuck in the office. Be warned: Planet Coaster 2’s vibrant blues and sunny yellows will have you longing for a summer vacation.

The ride creation tools are just as robust as its predecessor and include new elements such as track switching/descent, as well as an improved smoothing tool to make the angles of your rides less harsh. Roller coaster fans will be delighted by the impressively detailed roller coaster models, with every track design and element 100% faithful to their real-life counterparts. But that same authenticity and depth can be distracting when it comes to the management simulation.

The nature of the theme park infrastructure makes it difficult to play in career mode – there are too many management mishaps involving electrical networks, pipes and pumps that stop the flow of fun. In this regard, Planet Coaster 2 delivers a high level of realism at the expense of fun.

Building a career

Creating coasters in Planet Coaster 2

(Image credit: Frontier Developments)

Fast Facts

Release date: November 6, 2024

Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X

Developer: Frontier developments

Publisher: Frontier developments.

Every pool, slide or roller coaster you build has a variety of configuration requirements to operate it, which in turn requires regular maintenance from your technicians. If completeness is the barometer of a decent management simulator, then Planet Coaster 2 definitely hits the mark when played in career mode.

A complaint from the previous game that was in desperate need of change was the path building. In Planet Coaster, it was too easy to accidentally trap guests on lost paths, and unfortunately this is still the case in Planet Coaster 2. While there are mechanics for blocking paths and entrances to prevent such incidents, it is easily preventable. make a mistake.

Compared to simplicity previous Roller Coaster Tycoon gamesPlanet Coaster 2’s confusing path system feels like a step backwards. Creating a path of just a millimeter results in guests being unable to reach the entrance to certain attractions, which is frustrating for both guests and the player. Endless possibilities are great, but they can be detrimental when trying to create the trails and landscapes you envision in your head.

Water channels in Planet Coaster 2

(Image credit: Frontier Developments)

The biggest change in Planet Coaster 2 concerns the water parks. A variety of pools, flumes, water slides and water slides can be built as additions to your theme park. Pools are easily created using a stamped mesh system and can be customized to fit neatly into your chosen parkland; which is surprisingly satisfying when it all comes together.

Water slides, like roller coasters, are built segment by segment; but unlike roller coasters, the physics of water coasters requires a different mindset. The high altitude, tight turns and steep descents that make for a brilliant coaster design translate into an absolute death trap in the form of a slide.

Building the most exciting water slide of your dreams and building one that guests will love is a tightrope walk full of compromises. There is a tendency to spend hours creating a slide, only to have guests find it too flashy, and then look in disappointment at the final toned down piece that meets all of the guest’s criteria. It’s humiliating to be punished for making great strides in a game based on creating thrill rides.

Get creative

Using the Event Sequencer in Planet Coaster 2

(Image credit: Frontier Developments)

“If completeness is the barometer of a decent management simulator, then Planet Coaster 2 definitely hits the mark.”

Deep customization is the beating heart of Planet Coaster 2, with a wide range of creative color and landscape options permeating everything you build, from slides and attractions to tiling the edge of a swimming pool. Gone are the days of being limited to a preset theme—every small detail of the park can be edited with tools like the Landscape Brush to create a custom, all-encompassing aesthetic. The addition of an Event Sequencer for creating special effects during rides is also a nice addition that enhances the experience when using water jets and lasers.

Planet Coaster 2 has several modes: the standard career mode, a franchise mode that aims to create a global network of parks, and a sandbox mode that allows you to do whatever you want. While the career mode offers story challenges that sometimes feel like a chore, it’s the sandbox mode that brings the fun.

A smaller view of the coaster in Planet Coaster 2.

(Image credit: Frontier Developments)

It’s fun to let your imagination run wild and build whatever you want in the Sandbox, without financial restrictions or guest expectations. Building huge roller coasters with amazing elements is the highlight of Planet Coaster 2, just like Planet Coaster.

In this regard, while Planet Coaster 2 is undoubtedly an ambitious sequel, it expands more sideways than up on the foundation laid by its predecessor. The graphics are amazing and the creativity is huge, but it comes at a price. The complexity of the systems can be a distraction from the game, especially for those who want to focus on creativity rather than micromanagement.

The deeply customizable experience may exceed some players’ expectations. For experienced players willing to understand the intricacies of park infrastructure, the payoff can be rewarding; For others, the game may seem like a beautiful maze—challenging but frustratingly confusing at times.

Planet Coaster 2 was reviewed on PC with a code provided by the publisher.

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