Let me preface this post by stating that I've achieved the Platinum Trophy with JWE on PS4 and for the most part I enjoyed the experience. If you were to ask me if it lived up to my expectations, however, I'd have to say a resounding NO.
I think the game falls massively short not only in terms customisation and cosmetic options, but mostly in it's general depth, gameplay mechanics and replayability. The game looks and sounds absolutely gorgeous and I'm hopeful with future updates and DLC it will continue to improve, but I don't think it will ever be the game I'd hoped it would be.
So, with that in mind I'd like to talk up a 2002 title with a couple of similarities that did this sort of game right. Dinosaur theme this game and you sort of have MY perfect Jurassic World Evolution essentially.
So, Beach Life.
GAMEPLAY
It's your typical management simulation. It's based on the idea of creating functional Mediterranean Island holiday resorts that are safe, popular and profitable.
Like JWE, it's premise is based around islands. There are 12 islands in total, each with a different set of objectives.
If you complete an island, you not only progress to the next one but also unlock it for sandbox usage. Now, as for the objectives you need to complete for each island, take a look at these and tell me something similar (in a Jurassic Park setting obviously) wouldn't be better gameplay mechanic than what we got...
Island #1
...as you progress they get more varied and difficult
etc. etc.
Now, notice how every island has a time limit. This is what makes the game challenging, tense and fun! You're always under pressure and that's what it makes it exciting. On the later, harder islands, you might fail the objective several times, but you'll always come back, reset and try again because it feels achievable. Everything you do has a consequence - JWE has absolutely no consequence. Dinosaurs escape and kill people, you capture and return them - your park rating takes a hit, but 10 minutes later it's just business as usual.
In Beach Life you need to hire builders, mechanics, cleaners, security, reps, lifeguards etc. and adjust their wages and shift patterns accordingly. You don't have to pick the litter yourself, just make sure areas and shift patterns are covered and they do the work for you. Each guest has individual personalities and needs. You can check their stats, they can make complaints, they interact with each other. Each building has opening and closing times. There's a full day/night cycle, with activities reflecting what time of day it is. You know when the next ship is arriving to bring/take home guests. Money isn't easy, and every staff hiring, building and price increase has financial implications. If your resort is rubbish and your costs are high, the guests will go home. I'll repeat the main point - there are always CONSEQUENCES to your actions.
Fixing fences, refilling feeders, sending out dig teams and trying to increase your food/shopping/transport percentages whilst your money rolls in by the millions just just isn't fun. The most difficult part of JWE is waiting. Waiting for money. Waiting for incubations. Waiting for digs. Waiting for Research. It's mobile game level depth and it's tiresome. That a 2002 management game does this better than a 2018 one is pretty embarrassing.
BUILDINGS / COSMETICS / SCENERY
Beach Life contains 43 different buildings you can construct, JWE features less than half of that.
There's no terraforming in Beach life and Islands are of an extremely limited size that would not be suitable for a Dinosaur Park, but take a look at these scenery/decoration options and it just reaffirms how limited JWE is in this department. There is just nothing outside of tree clusters, shrubs and water. How are we supposed to make our parks feel different and unique?
https://snag.gy/m2GV0P.jpg
https://snag.gy/qOIcEd.jpg
https://snag.gy/v4YSkl.jpg
https://snag.gy/3rSxlg.jpg
https://snag.gy/vzx1st.jpg
https://snag.gy/FqLxWH.jpg
https://snag.gy/WRHhTw.jpg
So, TLDR;
A 16 year old management game features better game-play, features, options and replayability than a 2018 AAA title. I don't want to bash JWE too much because I think there is a good game in there and the fanbase has been completely starved of a decent Jurassic game for so long. But it's frustrating that the core gameplay loop appears to be nothing but waiting around. The "complete objectives before time runs out" mechanic would have been perfect for this game and I'm hoping something a bit more challenging might make it's way a bit further down the line in the shape of some DLC.
I've no idea if Beach Life is still available, but if you like this kind of game, I'd certainly recommend it (even if it did get fairly mediocre reviews at the time!). Here's a short vid....
[video=youtube_share;9wjke2Pw8DA]https://youtu.be/9wjke2Pw8DA[/video]
I think the game falls massively short not only in terms customisation and cosmetic options, but mostly in it's general depth, gameplay mechanics and replayability. The game looks and sounds absolutely gorgeous and I'm hopeful with future updates and DLC it will continue to improve, but I don't think it will ever be the game I'd hoped it would be.
So, with that in mind I'd like to talk up a 2002 title with a couple of similarities that did this sort of game right. Dinosaur theme this game and you sort of have MY perfect Jurassic World Evolution essentially.
So, Beach Life.
GAMEPLAY
It's your typical management simulation. It's based on the idea of creating functional Mediterranean Island holiday resorts that are safe, popular and profitable.
Like JWE, it's premise is based around islands. There are 12 islands in total, each with a different set of objectives.
If you complete an island, you not only progress to the next one but also unlock it for sandbox usage. Now, as for the objectives you need to complete for each island, take a look at these and tell me something similar (in a Jurassic Park setting obviously) wouldn't be better gameplay mechanic than what we got...
Island #1
...as you progress they get more varied and difficult
etc. etc.
Now, notice how every island has a time limit. This is what makes the game challenging, tense and fun! You're always under pressure and that's what it makes it exciting. On the later, harder islands, you might fail the objective several times, but you'll always come back, reset and try again because it feels achievable. Everything you do has a consequence - JWE has absolutely no consequence. Dinosaurs escape and kill people, you capture and return them - your park rating takes a hit, but 10 minutes later it's just business as usual.
In Beach Life you need to hire builders, mechanics, cleaners, security, reps, lifeguards etc. and adjust their wages and shift patterns accordingly. You don't have to pick the litter yourself, just make sure areas and shift patterns are covered and they do the work for you. Each guest has individual personalities and needs. You can check their stats, they can make complaints, they interact with each other. Each building has opening and closing times. There's a full day/night cycle, with activities reflecting what time of day it is. You know when the next ship is arriving to bring/take home guests. Money isn't easy, and every staff hiring, building and price increase has financial implications. If your resort is rubbish and your costs are high, the guests will go home. I'll repeat the main point - there are always CONSEQUENCES to your actions.
Fixing fences, refilling feeders, sending out dig teams and trying to increase your food/shopping/transport percentages whilst your money rolls in by the millions just just isn't fun. The most difficult part of JWE is waiting. Waiting for money. Waiting for incubations. Waiting for digs. Waiting for Research. It's mobile game level depth and it's tiresome. That a 2002 management game does this better than a 2018 one is pretty embarrassing.
BUILDINGS / COSMETICS / SCENERY
Beach Life contains 43 different buildings you can construct, JWE features less than half of that.
There's no terraforming in Beach life and Islands are of an extremely limited size that would not be suitable for a Dinosaur Park, but take a look at these scenery/decoration options and it just reaffirms how limited JWE is in this department. There is just nothing outside of tree clusters, shrubs and water. How are we supposed to make our parks feel different and unique?
https://snag.gy/m2GV0P.jpg
https://snag.gy/qOIcEd.jpg
https://snag.gy/v4YSkl.jpg
https://snag.gy/3rSxlg.jpg
https://snag.gy/vzx1st.jpg
https://snag.gy/FqLxWH.jpg
https://snag.gy/WRHhTw.jpg
So, TLDR;
A 16 year old management game features better game-play, features, options and replayability than a 2018 AAA title. I don't want to bash JWE too much because I think there is a good game in there and the fanbase has been completely starved of a decent Jurassic game for so long. But it's frustrating that the core gameplay loop appears to be nothing but waiting around. The "complete objectives before time runs out" mechanic would have been perfect for this game and I'm hoping something a bit more challenging might make it's way a bit further down the line in the shape of some DLC.
I've no idea if Beach Life is still available, but if you like this kind of game, I'd certainly recommend it (even if it did get fairly mediocre reviews at the time!). Here's a short vid....
[video=youtube_share;9wjke2Pw8DA]https://youtu.be/9wjke2Pw8DA[/video]
