For fans of classic amusement park simulation games like Rollercoaster Tycoon, the recent release of Parkitect: Deluxe Edition on the Xbox platform is an exciting development. Originally popularized on PC, Parkitect has gathered a community of dedicated fans who enjoy crafting intricate theme parks and managing the myriad details that such an endeavor entails. As of July 2024, this beloved game has expanded its reach to Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Xbox Series S consoles.
Parkitect allows players to unleash their creativity in designing and managing amusement parks. The game features two primary modes: a campaign mode where players must complete various objectives and a sandbox mode that offers unlimited creative freedom without restrictions. Whatever the choice, players can immerse themselves in the minutiae of park management—from setting up food stands to constructing colossal roller coasters.
The Deluxe Edition of Parkitect boasts extensive maps where every tile can be customized. Players can theme their parks around different concepts such as adventure lands or fantasy realms, fine-tuning everything from the position of each flower pot to the design of thrill-inducing roller coasters. The depth of customization in Parkitect encourages players to dive deep into the details, ensuring that every aspect of the park operates efficiently and delights guests.
Despite these promising features, the transition of Parkitect from PC to Xbox has not been entirely smooth. One significant issue reported by players involves the controls. The game was originally designed for mouse and keyboard—a setup that allows for precise handling of the game’s complex interfaces. However, the adaptation to Xbox controllers has resulted in a control scheme that some players find cumbersome, particularly for intricate tasks like customizing small elements or navigating through many menu layers quickly.
Furthermore, unlike its PC counterpart, the Xbox version of Parkitech launched without support for mouse and keyboard controls. This omission has puzzled many gamers, as such support could potentially alleviate some of the difficulties with the current control scheme. Additionally, the Xbox version lacks features that are available on PC, such as online multiplayer functionality and the option to download custom blueprints created by other players.
Here's a sneak peek at Parkitect gameplay, showing the depth and excitement of creating your own theme park:
