Like most Frontier Developments’ games, including Planet Zoo, Planet Coaster 2 retains much of the charm and freedom that allow many players—though not me—to creatively construct a park that virtual visitors actually want to spend time and money exploring. Thankfully, alongside the freeform building mechanics, the game does feature a rather large suite of blueprints you can plop down easily. Even better is the slew of new mechanics, like procedural weather, waterparks, and more streamlined park management tools to help you run a bustling amusement park more efficiently.
On launch, Planet Coaster 2 managed to settle somewhere in the middle of the road, with “Mixed” reviews on Steam. Overall, the park management and simulation game is just shy of obtaining a “Mostly Positive” score, but there are a few hang-ups preventing players from leaning that way. First and foremost, it appears the game’s performance was lacking on release. I’ve encountered a few issues firsthand, primarily with guest AI refusing to queue up for a ride and instead forming a massive blockade.
Even amongst the game’s more positive reviews, however, most don’t attempt to hide the game’s various issues. The positive reviews point out performance troubles, UI issues are another problem and, above all else, AI woes. But for the most part, players seem happy with the depth and additional content over the last game. The waterparks, especially, prove entertaining. After spending a little time building a flume, I can see why. It’s a whole new layer to consider when designing your dream park!
As for the negative reviews, there are many. Most point to a half-finished experience rushed to release, the upcoming DLC practices that Frontier is known for, and frustrating performance. But most importantly, they indicate missing features, like Steam Workshop support and the lack of security and vandalism mechanics which were prevalent in the previous game.
If you’re on the fence about picking up Planet Coaster 2, here’s a look at the game’s Steam user reviews for more insight!
