ScreamRide is not at all what I expected. It also is unlike any game I’ve ever played. Does that mean it sucked? No. It’s a great game to pick up and play if you’ve got a few minutes at a time to kill.
The game consists of two modes; a campaign and a sandbox. The campaign is broken down into six zones that are environmentally different. In each of the six zones, there are three sub-levels and you can play the first sub-level in each zone but the other two can only be unlocked by achieving the correct level.
When I started to play ScreamRide I thought it would be a park simulator but that’s not it at all. ScreamRide felt more like a racing game of sorts. The levels start simple enough. You are at a stop light and when the light turns green you GO! Each race consists of three laps and your goal is to gather as many booster power-ups as you can. The faster you finish the level the higher your score. Achieving the highest score for the level can be done a couple ways; there are goals for each level and if you complete and if you complete them you earn bonus points at the end of the level. This adds a challenging factor to the game because some of these goals aren’t easy to complete.
I enjoyed the campaign for ScreamRide and again, if you have a few minutes to pick it up and play I highly recommend it.
Sandbox mode is a creator mode that allows you to build your rollercoaster. I had a
difficult time using sandbox mode and that is because I am so used to mouse and
keyboard. That’s not to say that PC is superior, but I have a much easier time playing a creator
game such as Rollercoaster Tycoon on a PC than with a controller. That said, it
doesn’t take anything away from sandbox mode. It offers a ton in the way of customization from the get go and you can unlock more parts for a sandbox mode that allows for so much more
customization by completing goals in campaign mode.
ScreamRide is a very enjoyable experience and I recommend everyone try it out. It’s super-accessible because it blends the best elements of simulation games with the fast pace of racing games and let’s face it, who doesn’t love racing games?