From the creators of the classic Rollercoaster Tycoon comes Screamride, an Xbox-exclusive title that lets players experience their rollercoaster creations firsthand and, if they choose, demolish them.
During the 90s, empire-building games enjoyed immense popularity. Many players invested countless hours in titles such as Sid Meier’s Civilization (particularly the second iteration), Roller Coaster Tycoon, and Theme Park. Now, two decades later, console technology has advanced significantly, enabling us to experience our creations from a first-person perspective. The resulting experience in Screamride proves to be somewhat varied.
Screamride features three distinct modes: 1) Screamrider, where players ride the rollercoaster cars, controlling the experience through acceleration, braking, leaning, and timed boosts. This arcade-style mode, focused on reflexes, initially provides entertainment but can quickly induce motion sickness. It does, however, highlight the potential of similar experiences with future Virtual Reality integration. 2) Demolition Expert, a mode that many will likely find particularly engaging. Success hinges on causing spectacular derailments, demolishing buildings and surrounding environments in the process. Launching a rollercoaster car directly into a skyscraper yields gratifying results. After observing the ensuing ragdoll physics, players can engage the car’s rockets to propel it into the upper atmosphere, taking the skyscraper with it. This mode offers ample opportunities for amusement and recording memorable moments via the Xbox’s video capture functionality. 3) Engineer caters to the “Minecraft generation,” providing a robust set of tools and hundreds of individual pieces for constructing custom rollercoaster tracks. This creator mode provides substantial replayability, easily consuming entire weekends as players realize their imaginative designs and explore the creations of others.
The graphics in Screamride employ a simplified, cartoon-inspired aesthetic. While functional, this stylistic choice does not fully showcase the Xbox One’s graphical capabilities. Water and lighting effects exhibit a degree of complexity, but simpler environmental objects, such as skyscrapers, contribute to a presentation reminiscent of an indie title or an enhanced mobile game. The audio, consisting primarily of synthesized loops evocative of the Amiga era, proves adequate, complemented by well-sampled sound effects. However, a repetitive and monotonous voice, intended to emulate female speech synthesis, detracts from the overall experience. While occasionally humorous, this element quickly becomes tiresome, prompting players to prioritize gameplay over extended listening. Thankfully, this is easily accomplished.
The arcade mode does not represent Screamride’s primary strength. The gameplay relies heavily on precise timing, requiring players to master the nuances of speed control, braking, and controlled two-wheeled maneuvers. Expect to witness numerous derailment sequences. While initially amusing, the novelty of the ragdoll physics quickly diminishes, leading to a desire for expedited progression. The demolition mode offers the most compelling experience, allowing sadistically-inclined players to design elaborate scenarios of destruction and then witness their destructive masterworks unfold.
Ultimately, individual preferences will determine the value derived from Screamride. Players who enjoy construction, customization, and iterative refinement within sandbox environments will find potentially hundreds of hours of gameplay. Conversely, those without such inclinations may find Screamride somewhat lacking in depth for a full-price release (although it often retails at a lower price point). Lacking a strong affinity for Minecraft-style gameplay, we fall into the latter category. However, players with different preferences may find significant enjoyment in the title.
