Since its release in 2016, Planet Coaster has challenged players with the task of building the greatest theme park ever. This fall, Frontier Developments returns to the park management franchise with Planet Coaster 2. I had the pleasure of sitting in for a digital hands-off preview highlighting what players can expect. And it’s a lot.
The single biggest addition coming is the ability to build water-based attractions. Pools, water coasters, and more are coming to the game. These new elements will give players a chance to expand their parks’ appeal beyond what they could before.
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To make these new aquatic elements easier to implement, Frontier Development is improving the tools players use to design and customize their attractions. New design tools allow the player to color individual pieces of their rides. Decorative elements can be scaled and placed with greater efficiency now, best shown through their mirroring tool.
This tool allows players to duplicate any decoration placement with ease and precision. For example, we were shown the front unit of a roller coaster car. The developer put a bar on one side. With a button push, the bar was also on the opposite side of the car, perfectly mirroring the original. This could even be done for every unit in the car, as well as every car on that coaster. It’s a huge time saver that will let players go wild with their imaginations.
Planet Coaster 2 further encourages player creativity by increasing their coloring options. Not only can players color individual elements of their attractions, but this new installment also offers patterns for players to utilize to add another element of style to their attractions.
There are also four new themes for players to use in designing their attractions. Mythology, resort, aquatic, and Norse are all concepts that players can utilize to bring more personality to their parks.
Another way players will be able to impress guests is with new animatronic shows. Thanks to the new sequencer tool, players can craft shows to amaze and light their audiences.
But with all these new elements comes a bevy of new things to manage. Keeping pools clean is a must if patrons are going to have a positive experience. Changing rooms for guests will need to be built, and lifeguards will have to maintain the safety of guests as they enjoy their aquatic entertainment.
But while there are new expenses for diligent managers to balance in Planet Coaster 2 thanks to the water parks, there are also new income opportunities. New souvenir shops will bring in money as they sell new items to patrons to further enhance their water-themed experience. Swimsuits, floatation devices, and other waterpark sundries will help players bring in extra income.
While new attractions are the most eye-catching additions to Planet Coaster 2, they’re not the only major additions to the parks. New pathing tools allow players to open up walkways and paths, creating larger, outdoor pavilions for guests to pass through. These not only enhance players’ ability to control the flow of foot traffic through their parks but also allow their creations to breathe more. Parks feel more expansive and majestic.
Another great improvement to Planet Coaster 2 is the variety of guests that players will see coming to their parks. A more diverse crowd will populate parks, giving the game a more inclusive look.
Planet Coaster 2 also plans to let players share their creations with their friends. Not only that, players can collaborate, taking turns designing their shared parks. This makes it so friends can share in the fun as they build their collaborative vision.
After eight years and a dozen expansions, it’s clear that Planet Coaster 2 needed to give fans a lot to reinvest in a sequel. Frontier Developments has loaded in a ton of new elements to bring players back. Water elements alone might’ve warranted a return trip. But like the best parks, this attraction promises players even more. New tools and opportunities abound, giving them even more reason to be excited about designing their next park. It’s time to get planning!
Planet Coaster 2 is currently scheduled to be released in the Fall 2024.
