As the name may suggest, Planet Coaster: Console Edition is a console port of the incredibly popular PC game, Planet Coaster. Now that the new generation of consoles have dropped, developers Frontier have released a version of the game to current gen, and next-gen consoles with a free upgrade. The upgraded version I played was on the PlayStation 5 but the game is also available on the Xbox Series X and S via Game Pass.
Loading into a game for the first time can be a little daunting, especially if you're new to the world of Planet Coaster. There's a lot of menus to ogle and screens of dizzying statistics, but if you're a glutton for this particular kind of punishment (you know who you are) then there's absolutely everything you could want to facilitate getting into the granular workings of running a theme park.
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What makes Planet Coaster so brilliant though is that you can, alternatively, just throw a couple of pre-built amusements at an empty lot and see what feels right. There's something for every kind of player - whether you're chasing the in-game challenges, or simply kicking back.
The PS5 version of the game, sadly, doesn't make much use of the console's gorgeous DualSense controller. Admittedly, in a management sim, your opportunities to use the haptic feedback and adaptive triggers are limited, but there still seems to be a missed trick here and there. For example, when you're able to hop on your coaster for a test ride, the controller could have jiggled and vibrated in unison with the ride's climbs and turns, but no dice.
As it is though, the controller works just fine - and while it can be configured to your preference, the default setup makes sifting through the many menus a synch. It's a lot to take in at first, but the game's tutorial does an apt job of explaining the basics before turning you lose in one of three game modes. A single-player campaign with pre-built parks, and sandbox and challenge modes in which to make and manage your own creations. If you're able to play with a mouse and keyboard, that's arguably the best way to experience the game.
A very mild annoyance is that the in-game camera can get a little funky. Especially if you're trying to get a guests-eye-view of proceedings, or taking a trip through an underground section of path. It doesn't detract from the fun in any tangible way, but does make absorbing the up-close fun of the fair that little bit less exciting.
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If you're not able to (or simply don't want to) create your own parks, there is a certain amount of satisfaction to be drawn from sifting through the pre-built ones. Among those, finding other player-made creations and simply marveling at what other, incredibly talented people have been getting up to is a huge amount of fun, if incredibly humbling. But there's nothing wrong with lifting a little inspiration for your own masterpieces; figuring out what might look nice where and giving yourself ideas of how to maximise the visual splendour of your dream attraction is all par for the creative course.
In essence, Planet Coaster: Console Edition is almost exactly the same as the PC version of the game, minus the PC-specific bits. If you've not got a computer powerful enough to do the game justice, you're not getting short-changed by taking the plunge here.
I think the final takeaway from Planet Coaster: Console Edition is that you already know what you're getting, and what you're getting is really very good. An excellent time sink where you can meticulously craft your ultimate theme park. If management sims interest you and you haven't checked the game out before, now is a great time to pick it up. If you already have the game then there's not much that will draw you towards buying this version, simple as that.
Pros: Runs excellently on console with no features spared, a management sim fan's dream
Cons: Can be overwhelming for new players, camera goes a bit wonky sometimes
For fans of: Rollercoaster Tycoon, Theme Park World, going to Alton Towers with your mates
8/10 - Excellent
Planet Coaster: Console Edition is out now on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S. PlayStation 5 code for review was supplied by the publisher. Find a guide to GAMINGbible's review scores here.
Featured Image Credit: FrontierTopics: PlayStation 5, Review