Planet Coaster 2 Hands-On Preview: Thrills Galore

Planet Coaster 2 Hands-On Preview: Thrills Galore

As a seasoned amusement park enthusiast and long-time devotee of the Planet Coaster franchise, I must say that the upcoming sequel has truly piqued my interest. The focus on creative freedom is not just a selling point, but a testament to the game’s core essence that resonates deeply with players like me.


The original “Planet Coaster” game is widely admired as one of the best management/building games ever made, boasting numerous customization options and advanced creator tools along with an immersive career mode and enjoyable operating mechanics. Given the high standards set by its successful predecessor, there’s a considerable amount of anticipation for “Planet Coaster 2” to surpass those accolades. Remarkably, it seems that it could meet, if not exceed, these lofty expectations.

Recently, Game Rant had the opportunity to visit Thorpe Park in the UK, where they were given a sneak peek at some rides that have influenced the creators of Frontier, as well as an early playtest of the eagerly anticipated sequel. Spending approximately 3-4 hours with Planet Coaster 2, Game Rant’s first impressions suggest that this follow-up could become a model sequel, improving upon the original in both scale and quality.

Planet Coaster 2 Is Much Bigger Than Its Predecessor

A Whole New (Water) World

Upon entering the Sandbox mode in Planet Coaster 2 for the first time, enthusiasts are bound to be thrilled by the variety of pre-built flat rides and rollercoasters they can instantly place. Ranging from reimagined classics with fresh themes to entirely novel designs, the initial ride templates in Planet Coaster 2 promise hours of amusement for players. This is merely a taste of what’s new in Planet Coaster 2, so get ready to explore more exciting features!

In the upcoming sequel, Planet Coaster 2, an exciting novelty graces its marketing – a host of fresh water park attractions! Players will now have the ability to create pools and flume rides, as well as incorporate an array of new landscape elements tailored for these water-themed zones. Constructing a water park in Planet Coaster 2, while not dramatically altering the process from building a traditional theme park, does add a refreshing visual twist and opens up possibilities for more inventive hybrid park designs.

Near-Limitless Customization

During the initial part of our exploration of Planet Coaster 2, we devoted approximately the first two hours to grasping the game’s novel mechanics, setting up each fresh ride to observe its appearance and functionality, and perusing the game’s new facilities and staff management systems. The subsequent two hours were filled with excited tinkering as we delved into Planet Coaster 2’s innovative customization features.

The customization in Planet Coaster 2 has been remarkably enhanced and upgraded compared to the original. There are now an immense number of customization choices available, such as additional particle effects like glitter cannons and flamethrowers, a broader selection of realistic scenery items such as bins, benches, and more, along with various theming options. Although having more is generally beneficial in the context of Planet Coaster 2, it’s the new scenery-attachment feature that truly stands out. By simply clicking a button, players can now attach specific scenery pieces to flat rides or rollercoasters, which can greatly enhance a ride’s theming by allowing players to place suitable scenery elements along a rollercoaster’s tracks and even on its vehicles to create a more engaging narrative.

In inexperienced players’ hands, the new scenery-attachment feature in “Planet Coaster 2” might result in comically disastrous, alien-like death traps. With this update, any scenery item can be affixed to a ride, so you could find flamethrowers, chairs, signs, or entire trees attached haphazardly to a ride vehicle or platform. This transformation of a peaceful ride into a whirling inferno with a few quick clicks is just one example of the incredible creative liberty that “Planet Coaster” offers, and it’s exciting to see this aspect emphasized even more in the sequel.

Planet Coaster 2 Is Trying Its Best to Stay Approachable

Planet Coaster 2 Hands-On Preview: Thrills Galore

For novice players of Planet Coaster, the myriad of new mechanics and features in Planet Coaster 2 might initially seem daunting. However, fear not, as Planet Coaster 2 is actively working to ensure that the learning experience is straightforward, effortless, and enjoyable for all.

Upon starting up “Planet Coaster 2”, novice players will be guided through a series of lessons designed to familiarize them with the game’s fundamental aspects. The initial lesson focuses on park management fundamentals, such as ride and rollercoaster placement, scenery and facility arrangement, staff management principles, and the game’s fresh power system, which involves managing energy supply for rides and facilities. The subsequent tutorial delves into the new water park features of “Planet Coaster 2”, including its filtration mechanism, which operates similarly to the power system but is specifically for pools. Despite their in-depth nature, these lessons are kept lively thanks to the game’s amusing voiceovers and light storytelling elements.

One notable advantage of the upcoming sequel to Planet Coaster, which appears to be retained from its predecessor, is its adaptability to the player’s level of complexity. For beginners, the game offers a simple starting point: just place a ride blueprint, create a queue path, and open it. As players progress, they can immerse themselves in the game at their own speed through experimentation and self-discovery.

Planet Coaster 2 Still Has Some Kinks In Its Track

Planet Coaster 2 Hands-On Preview: Thrills Galore

As a dedicated enthusiast, diving into the pre-release experience for Planet Coaster 2 was nothing short of exhilarating. However, there were a couple minor hiccups that slightly marred the overall enjoyment. The biggest issue I encountered revolves around the new power and filtration systems in Planet Coaster 2. On the surface, these mechanics seem designed to enhance immersion and provide a richer management experience by adding depth. In reality, they sometimes felt like obstacles rather than features. Frequently, my park construction would grind to a halt due to power shortages. Resolving this issue was straightforward, involving merely constructing a new generator and integrating it into the park’s electrical grid. Yet, the sudden interruption was just as jarring regardless of how easily I could resolve it.

It’s important to note that during the test run, there were quite a few problems with the AI managing the pathfinding for the rides, particularly the flume rides in the park. Strangely, guests seemed unwilling to join the queues or ride these attractions even though they were free, and there were no recorded complaints about them on the management system.

Absolutely, the positives greatly exceeded the negatives, and there was no shortage of excitement throughout our playtime with the game. It’s crucial to remember that this preview build isn’t the complete version, so let’s hope these glitches get fixed prior to the release of Planet Coaster 2, ensuring a smoother experience for all players.

The sequel to Planet Coaster, titled Planet Coaster 2, will become available on November 6 for personal computers (PC), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X. Game Rant received complimentary travel and accommodation in order to write this sneak peek.

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2024-10-09 16:03