Overcrowding: Tycoon, a review of a small amusement park management software

Ever since Bullfrog first came up with the idea of ​​launching Theme Park, we’ve known that theme parks and amusement parks are excellent subjects for more or less management games, so this is what we’re up against. Overcrowding review: Tycoon with all possible positivity, which is increased by the undoubted advantage of a portable game. However, the issues inherent in the mobile core of this title are evident from the very first minutes and tend to undermine the experience a bit, even if the game tries to at least balance its prize greed with a certain generosity.

The conclusion is not easy to frame, but it is clear that it is a “hypermobile” name, so to speak: the gaming nature for modern smartphones is clearly evident from the first minutes, despite a structure based on practically endless foundations. , allscaffolding of microtransactionsexpectations and progress make it hard to digest for those looking for a good old-fashioned management/strategic experience.

The direct entry into the action is admirable: In the first seconds of the game, with practically no input, we immediately find ourselves having to build our first shot on an empty space at the beginning. We start with a small bumper car, but this is just the beginning of our driving empire: before long we find ourselves manage a steady stream of viewers and try to divert as many rides and various attractions as possible, maximizing public satisfaction to increase profits dizzyingly.

Everything is tuned to ensure steady progress towards an ever-growing clientele and, of course, millionaire income. Unfortunately, the typical pitfalls of this system are also soon revealed, forced waits that occur after a few minutes of play and take quite a long time, and unlocking some elements that only happens through payouts, so it’s just a matter of figuring out how much you’re paying. are willing to give in these matters.

carousel of dreams

There parking management It takes place in a very simple but complete way, with gameplay perfectly suited to mobile use: with quick taps on the screen you select an empty area of ​​the park, select the attraction to be built, and then it is managed by selecting the various parameters available. It should be said that this is not a particularly deep control over the mechanics of the playground, since basically all we can do is increase the range of each carousel by increasing its capacity, price and, frankly, attractiveness. richer and more gorgeous than ever before.

In short, the general mechanism is only growth exponentially, there is never any real strategic study of the economy and the investments to be made, as it is simply a matter of lavishly spending everything you earn to make the park bigger and more beautiful. First of all, the idea of ​​focusing on the management of the large masses of people gathered around the attractions is nice and interesting (hence the special choice of the title), but the solution to all problems seems to just wait. having enough funds and investing them in the next practical automatic step.

On the other hand, it’s also worth considering that Overcrowded: Tycoon is something very different from the old Theme Park or Rollercoaster Tycoon. clicker game with idle itemsIt forces you to necessarily grow your own creature and come back to it several times, thanks to the boost provided by the rewards that keep accumulating even by keeping the game in the background.

It is clear that this is a product that looks at the brand new target audience of mobile games rather than the old management and park builders enthusiasts, and it has to be said that if nothing else, it is really perfectly and comfortably controlled. The touchscreen is even one-handed, encouraging use in any situation. This feature is aclear and clean interfaceIt is fully manageable with a few taps on the screen and allows you to quickly get a lot of things under control.

Speaking of microtransactions, it cannot be said that Overcrowded: Tycoon is devoid of predatory attitudes towards users. Every few minutes some popup signals to buy a special attraction or watch a video to get a bonus is something we’re used to by now, but here it becomes a kind of integral part of the interface. reference In-app purchases fixed, and while these are not essential, they represent an important part of the game, as some attractions are only available by purchase and improvements require significant waiting up the road.