Review by Jon Donnis
Parkitect: Deluxe Edition brings the classic amusement park simulation experience to Xbox, offering a comprehensive package that includes all the extra DLCs. This game tasks you with creating and managing a unique theme park, from designing intricate roller coasters to maintaining the illusion of a seamless guest experience.
One of the game's standout features is its vibrant graphics and decent sound effects, which capture the joyful spirit of theme parks beautifully. The colourful, engaging visuals make the game a delight to look at, while the sound effects add an extra layer of immersion. Designing and building roller coasters is particularly enjoyable, allowing you to create thrilling rides piece by piece. This aspect of the game is both fun and satisfying, offering a great sense of achievement.
Compared to other simulation games in this genre, Parkitect is less complex, making it more accessible to newcomers. This streamlined approach helps maintain a balance between intricate management and enjoyable gameplay. Moreover, the Deluxe Edition includes all additional DLCs, providing a wealth of content right from the start. Players have access to a variety of attractions, decorations, and scenarios to enhance their parks.
However, the game's transition from PC to console is not without its challenges. Although the control system has been overhauled for gamepads, it doesn't feel entirely intuitive. The precision and ease of a mouse are noticeably missing, making certain tasks feel cumbersome. Using an Xbox controller for detailed management and construction tasks can be clunky, and the game would benefit from a more arcade-like simplification to make it more enjoyable on consoles.
Another downside is the requirement to build hidden underground tubes to connect buildings. This task feels more like a chore than an engaging part of park management and detracts from the overall fun. Additionally, the initial roller coaster construction tutorial is lacking, leaving myself frustrated and confused. A more comprehensive and user-friendly tutorial system would greatly enhance the onboarding experience.
Parkitect: Deluxe Edition is a fun and colourful theme park simulation game that retains the charm and depth of classic tycoon games. However, its transition from PC to console isn't entirely smooth. The control system, while reworked for gamepads, lacks the intuitiveness needed for a seamless experience, and certain management tasks feel cumbersome on an Xbox controller. These types of games tend to shine on PC, where a mouse offers the precision and ease required for detailed management. On consoles, they need to be simplified to an almost arcade-like level to truly be enjoyable. While Parkitect: Deluxe Edition offers a rich and engaging park-building experience, it falls short in making the most of the console platform.
I score Parkitect: Deluxe Edition a fair 7 out of 10. It's a solid theme park sim that feels out of place on a console and is best enjoyed on a PC, where its complexity can be more comfortably managed.
Out Now on Xbox at xbox.com
