It was Bullfrog and Peter Molyneux that brought the satirical business sim to the gaming masses and Theme Park was the Trojan horse they used to achieved this noblest of goals. Now, as this was the 90s and the game was released for the PC, Theme Park was in lovely 2D, was extremely easy to play and felt wildly innovative and complex, when in fact its sequel, the utterly brilliant Theme Hospital, would soon surpass it. Oddly though, the hospital-based franchise died, whereas Theme Park went on to spawn sequel after sequel and even inspired a particularly talented team to go on and come up with the excellent Rollercoaster Tycoon series.

And now, finally, Theme Park DS got released and surreal park management has been made available for some truly on the go entertainment, proving that the DS can be the platform of choice for reviving classic PC games. There is absolutely no reason I can think of not to arrange pathways, plants, rollercoasters, refreshment stands, tacky shops and weird attractions while enjoying a lovely bus ride. Or getting pushed around in the tube.

Interestingly, Theme Park DS is an almost straight port of the the very first Theme Park PC game and this means its (relevant) simplicity is well suited for handhelds. The interface has been brilliantly arranged over the console’s two screens, the stylus does a fine job of replacing the mouse, the graphics have been slightly touched-up and a few little tweaks have been added, but it essentially still is the same game. It sports the same mini-games, the same punter-robbing gameplay, the same addictive value, the same humour, the same design options and the same old minor flaws (e.g. you can’t rotate the camera). It’s the same classic properly remade.

Interested? Care to help EA understand the sheer necessity of revitalizing Theme Hospital? Want to live out your weird entertainment tycoon fantasies? Well, better grab a copy then.

Posted on February 25th, 2008 by konstantinos