Theme Park - PlayStation 1 - Intro, gameplay & discussion, still worth playing? [4K]

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Published on January 7, 2020 5:00:10 PM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UwdevY7v_Q

Game:

Theme Park (1994)

Category:

Discussion

Duration: 42:59

25,643 views

212

A look at Bullfrog's classic theme park business simulator first released in 1994, this is the 1995 PS1 version. Which included an extra 3D view mode, that allowed you to walk around your built part in 3D. Randomised Gaming's own editor Riven gives his thoughts on the game and explains how it works. Seeing as it's a surprisingly complex game in places, that doesn't have a huge amount of music. As with all the CD based ports it includes an opening CGI intro, along with CGI videos for most of the rides and key events in-game.

A hugely impressive title on release, Theme Park's games design has been borrowed by all the major titles in the genre. While titles like RollerCoaster Tycoon 2, may have now surpassed Theme Park in the design department, there's no doubting which game RollerCoaster Tycoon was based on.

Bullfrog had a great sense of humour too when developing the game which can be seen in the cartoon look and feel of all the rides and characters. The aim is to build up a successful Theme Park, then sell it off and repeat it all over again by starting another one up in a different part of the world. You do this by building up your park, investing in rides and staff and making your park as nice as possible. Keeping the park clean, the rides working and having security boot out any trouble makers, such as the biker thugs when they turn up.

While the fact you couldn't really choose where to start in the world from the get go was a mistake. There was also little reason to start a park elsewhere in the world either. As the original version of the game had no regional changes, however some late ports such as the SNES, Mega Drive (Snow and desert landscapes) and Nintendo DS (some regional shops, coffee shop becomes Tea bus in UK) did.

It's as fun now as it was on release and while the game does have a few annoying bugs. Punters getting stuck in the park and the game crashing when you build your park too big. It's hard not to spend hours building up your empire and seeing your park thrive or fail, based on how well you built it. A modern port would be great, but it seems unlikely ever to happen. Due to all the different changes between versions, there isn't one definitive release. The most recent port is the Nintendo DS one which EA Japan did.

Also known as: テーマパーク (Japan)

Release: 1995
Developer: Krisalis Software (PS1 Port) Bullfrog Productions (Original game)
Publisher: Electronic Arts (EA) / エレクトロニック・アーツ (EU & USA) Electronic Arts Victor / エレクトロニック・アーツ・ビクター (Japan)
Format: Sony PlayStation 1 (PS1) / プレイステーション1

The PS1 version of Theme Park is available for PS3 and PSP as a PlayStation Store (PSN) download: https://store.playstation.com

The PC DOS version is also available from Good Old Games: https://www.gog.com/game/theme_park

It was also release on Sega Saturn, 3D0, Mega Drive, Mega CD, SNES, Nintendo DS, Amiga, Jaguar and more.

New intro and outros included in this video, let us know what you think. Template from Panzoid by Magnus DZN, edited by Riven, intro music is Chipper Doodle and outro music is Grasshopper by Quincas Moreira.

Chipper Doodle - Electronic Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100854
Artist: http://incompetech.com/

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Footage is captured directly from original hardware in this case a PAL PlayStation 2, via Component, captured using Elgato Game Capture HD60 Pro with a open source scan convertor (OSSC). Upscaled to 4K to improve the video bit rate.

#PS1 #ThemePark #Bullfrog

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