Promising a unique approach to building roller coasters as players design the amusement park of their dreams, Park Beyond by Limbic Entertainment is another business-building simulation that attempts to incorporate creative possibilities. create “unlimited” with financial responsibility. The familiar pitch features some quirky style apparel, you’ll create your own custom coasters, visit drag and drop stores and hire employees to create a successful venture that can profitable and enjoyable – but most importantly profitable.
Despite the lengthy tutorial on custom coaster building, Park Beyond’s campaign starts off strong by continually letting you tinker with exciting new mechanics, allowing you to unleash wild creations its wildest in dusty deserts and lush alpine forests. But as I began to balance my building around the proposed financial and spatial constraints, I felt my creative abilities were quickly smothered by daunting imperative goals.
Simulation is always a balancing act between resources and imagination. However, the fuss and over-complexity of some of the tasks in Park Beyond was made for play sessions, in which I frequently sat at my desk fast-forwarding through the in-game months to get through the work. Busy, boring, can’t be ignored. Surprisingly making my toilet profitable wasn’t on my “Build a Dream Amusement Park” bingo tag.
Not all build systems are the same in Park Beyond, with different types of customizations that come with different rules. When custom buildings and roller coasters use a modular arrangement system and require a specific amount of space, miscellaneous decorations such as trees and rocks can be placed in their natural form. do up your structure. This makes spatial manipulation an accessible process and encourages me to create organic and engaging environments. An interesting addition is the ability to completely customize the stores by building extensions around the base structure which, with considerable effort, can create a truly distinct composition. However, this method comes with some caveats, as it can be a bit complicated and time consuming when you get into roof and signage issues.
The success of your park depends on three main requirements: Money, Fun, and Surprise. Each ride, store, restroom, and employee contributes a different amount, meaning you’ll spin the plates to keep the lights on. Surprise is the most attractive currency, as it allows you to “Impossify” your trips, stores and employees, adding visual flair and increasing their efficiency. This allows you to grow and personalize your setup in a meaningful way, but filling up the slow meter eventually becomes a chore.
Despite the faltering pace, Park Beyond succeeded with its delightful animations and impressive game design that made my stomach twist. The evenings also have a wonderful sparkling atmosphere and this helps me get rid of my financial fears from time to time so I can enjoy the fun world I’ve built in peace. However, it all comes crashing down when the sun comes up the next morning and you find your profits aren’t good enough to fund your latest silly endeavor.
Sandbox mode has finally become a refreshing alternative where I can focus on my own design dreams without constant intervention. Here you can decide on an initial budget and location, and set specific goals for managing your own challenges. While you still have to manage your dreams, I finally feel like my own boss. I was able to build and experiment with more depth while accepting financial failure – which felt like a finer distillation of the game’s ambitions.
Even with its nostalgic driving designs and whimsical fanfare, I’m frustrated by Park Beyond’s business-oriented goals and lack of investment in limitless creative possibilities. of the player. For a game that tries to push the limits of your imagination, you’re a little too worried about whether you’re tall enough to ride.
