Just bought Thrillville PSP!!!

Monorail Man

M
Ended up heading to EB Games after I got a phone call saying that my preorder was in.

My first impression is good, but I've only been able to play a few of the tutorials, considering that I've been in College all day.

I'll have some pics later tonight. :D
 

Monorail Man

M
Just finished the first (four to go!) Park's missions (all 25 of them), and I can give you these first impressions:
  • This isn't RCT3, at all. While things may look the same, this is a mission based game, chocked full of mini-games. However, most of them are quite fun, even alone.
  • There's quite a bit of customization when it comes to accessories (the look) of shops/stalls/coasters.
  • Play is in a third person view, you run around as a character to the areas of the park.
  • There are multiple ways to build stuff. You can run over to a 'build zone', and start building, or select a Build option in the main menu.
  • Building is done in 'build zones' for shops/stalls/flat rides. Coaster are but in the coaster build areas. Paths are pre-placed, and cannot be added to, or removed. However, more than one attraction can be placed in a 'build zone', and the peeps will find it.
  • There is a limit to what you can build in each area (to, I assume, keep memory usage down). Once the 'power meter' empties, you can't build anymore (in that section).
  • Each park has 3 themed sections, each section can't see the other section, so only one section is loaded at one time (all 3 sections share the same park guests, so they move from section to section). However, you can run to the other sections via tunnels, or just use the park map to move around.
  • Chatting with the guests seems like a 'fluff feature' to me. However, that could be due to the lack of individual voice-overs on the PSP.
  • Each themed area has it's own 'radio station' that plays music. Mortimer (your uncle) does short interviews, and there's a DJ and other stuff. Music is diverse, and fits the feel of the game.
  • Training employees is done through mini-games (you 'take control' of the employee). The Mechanic mini-game is my favorite.
  • There are 5 types of missions: Guest, Build, Games, Upkeep, and Business.
  • Some missions have you run around the park finding these (annoying and not fun). However, you can also find cash laying around the park, and blueprints for rides.
  • Not all missions have to be done to open up the next area of the park, but some missions unlock coasters and rides.
  • The intro video is very well done.
  • Graphics are clean and sharp, even on the PSP. There's no real frame-rate loss, even when riding coasters (and the 'energy bar' is empty).
  • Building coasters is fairly easy, and has almost the same number of options as RCT3. There's even an auto-complete thingy called 'Track Assist'.
  • Want a hat or balloon? Your personal character can carry it.
  • Load times are not really that bad. However, there's some times when it jumps to the load screen, for what feels like no reason at all. Such as when you load the park map, or park's inventory.
  • There's a cool 'cinematic cam' mode for coasters, which follows the car, and then highlights what the train does.
Things I don't like (so far):
  • There's not much to do once a ride is built. You can change the price/colors/amount of cars (coaster), but that's about it.
  • Can't build extra station pieces, and the chain-lifts are 'automatic', so if you need them (such as when you have a hill that's too high to climb via momentum alone), it will use one.
  • Can't be a guy, and flirt with guys. Guess they wanted to keep that E10+ rating. ;)
  • Frontier should have allowed you to use the PSP 'game share' some of the Mini-games, and play with friends who have a PSP, but not a copy of Thrillville.
Well, that's what I've got so far. This is a totally fun game, and perfect for the PSP. :D
 

Michael Brookes

Game Director
Unfortunetly we couldn't include voiceovers for the speech on the PSP version. A handy tip for when you want to locate a mission guest is to use the mission screen, when you select the mission you are transported to the guest.

And same sex couples would have affected our E10 rating, which is the reason is wasn't included.

Michael
 

Monorail Man

M
mbrookes said:
A handy tip for when you want to locate a mission guest is to use the mission screen, when you select the mission you are transported to the guest.
Click to expand...

Thanks for mentioning this, in fact selecting most missions takes you to the place/game/whatever. My little virtual legs are tired. ;)

I'm about 1/2 done with the missions for Park 2. Added note: I like how you don't make the player complete all 25 before going on, and that 13 do.

Even after several hours, I am really addicted. That's darn Robot Shootout game keeps drawing me in. It's 2:30 am in California right now, and I should be in bed. Curse you minigames!!!! ;)
 

Monorail Man

M
Okay, and now I'm kind of stuck. I'm on the mission where you have to play the Entertainer mini-game, and have aced the bronze and silver levels. However, I can't get anywhere close to the 80,000 points required for the Gold level. Any hints or tips?
 

Vikinger

Vikinger
Monorail Man said:
Okay, and now I'm kind of stuck. I'm on the mission where you have to play the Entertainer mini-game, and have aced the bronze and silver levels. However, I can't get anywhere close to the 80,000 points required for the Gold level. Any hints or tips?
Click to expand...


Ive never played the game but solution is: Improve your skills :D

Nuthing should be to easy to reach the highest score/level. But whit practice iam sure u will reach gold level.

Sorry for not been able to help you further but most of the times whit games like that is that u need a good portion of patience and play it over and over .
And at some point u will figure out how to reach the goal.

The feeling/reward to accomplish something will be greater than if someone would post a tip/hint/cheat.

So just keep going and iam sure you will figure it out :)

good luck.
 

oXide

O
I am very disappointed with the game. I thought the game was going to be alot more than it is. I am a coaster guy, and the maps are too small to make a small coasters, lol.. you don't get to lay paths or put the thrill rides where you want them.. everything has to go in the build zones... I hate how stations cannot be modified... 2 cars per train is ugly / unrealistic... unless we are making maverick at cedar point.. hah..

0/5 Overall
I had more fun with Theme Park for Sega Saturn.
 

Michael Brookes

Game Director
Monorail Man said:
Okay, and now I'm kind of stuck. I'm on the mission where you have to play the Entertainer mini-game, and have aced the bronze and silver levels. However, I can't get anywhere close to the 80,000 points required for the Gold level. Any hints or tips?
Click to expand...

It's a question of practice as much as anything. If it's just a score challenge then starting the mission in different themed areas will have a different song, I personally found soem songs easier than others.

Michael
 
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