More Graphics and Sound

Technical stuff

One of the problems with Theme Park was that it had very few options with resolution. There was a high res option but it ran dog slow even on a high end machine of the time. No worries here on Roller Coaster Tycoon. With graphics scalable from 640x480 on up to 1024x768, you'll always be able to get a good sharp view of the action. You'll be able to zoom in and out a bit at each resolution too. A bit of warning though, 1024x768 makes the action a bit small, even on a 21" monitor at the highest zoom in level. I found it best to keep the game at 800x600 so you can appreciate the little details. Don't forget that you can rotate the screen in increments of 90 degrees for a better view, or make various aspects of the view screen disappear and reappear, like the foliage, the rides, or even the guests.

Underground view

The Audio Experience

Sounds don't get short shrift in this game. With every purchase made, you'll hear a satisfying cash register chime. Keep the screen on the exit of a particularly nasty roller coaster, and you'll hear the weak stomached guests cough up their lunch. Carousel songs abound from merry go rounds and Ferris wheels, while spooky ghost noises emanate from haunted houses. Move your view screen near the bathroom, and you'll hear flushing too! Best of all was the familiar clatter of chain driven roller coasters as they carry up the train of cars up to the top of a steep drop. The riders wail and scream in tune with when they should be screaming (during drops and loops, etc.). Maybe it was just my imagination, but I could swear that some kind of Doppler effect was implemented with the way the pitch of riders' screams changed as the coasters banked, turned and dropped. Whether or not the effect was real, sound in Roller Coaster Tycoon is absolutely excellent. For you party poopers who may find it annoying it's easy to turn off in the top tool bar.

Add foliage to liven the look of the park