RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic for iOS and Android sounds great

I’m pleasantly surprised

The original RollerCoaster Tycoon games from Chris Sawyer remain my favorite in the genre and, to this day, I still get a kick out of messing with park guests in subtle and not-so-subtle ways. Anyone else? Today, Atari has put out a surprise mobile release, RollerCoaster Tycoon Classic, and I’m ecstatic.

This iOS and Android game “combines the best elements of both classic titles” and looks like a dream scenario as far as mobile adaptations go. It’s a $6 app, produced by Sawyer himself.

“It was my long term ambition to bring the classic game to modern touch screen devices as its visual style and tactile nature are so well suited to smartphones and tablets,” he said. “Working with Origin8 Technologies’ development team, we have been able to modernize the classic gameplay for touch screen devices while preserving the unique graphical style of the original RCT games.”

In specific terms, here’s what to expect:

• Coaster Construction: Create incredible roller coasters – Quickly build a pre-made design or use the intuitive piece-by-piece building tools to design and theme your own unique rides.
• Park Designer: Keep your guests happy by building gentle or wild rides, food and drink stalls, water rides, and even transport rides to take them around the park; Customize your park by building scenery, fine-tuning the landscape, and routing the footpaths.
• Park Management: Run your park’s marketing and finances to make a profit while attracting more guests; Organize your staff to keep the park running well and looking its best.
• Exciting Environments: Build the ultimate theme park in a variety of challenging environments, from the tranquility of Forest Frontiers to the bustling commerce of Megaworld Park.
• Park Scenarios: Progress through 95 classic park scenarios from RollerCoaster Tycoon and RollerCoaster Tycoon 2.
• Authentic Gameplay: Classic-style characterful isometric graphics and original amusement park music and sound effects.
• Packed with Content: Includes hundreds of types of roller coasters and rides, and dozens of different shops, stalls, and facilities.

While Classic isn’t a free-to-play title with energy meters or unending buy-ins, there are add-ons.

The Wacky Worlds and Time Twister expansions ($2 each) add more park scenarios and content and should sound familiar to long-time fans, and the Toolkit ($6) lets you design and edit scenarios, create custom coasters, and import/export “saved parks, park scenarios, and ride designs.” You can also use this premium feature to import “most” parks and scenarios made in RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 on PC.

I think this might feel a bit cramped on my iPhone, but I’m down anyway.