Thrillville: Off the Rails
- July 8, 2009
- Frontier
- 6h median play time
Get on Steam"Thrillville: Off the Rails" is a theme park simulation game that lets you build and ride your own roller coasters, interact with park guests, and play minigames. The game features 20 extreme rides, 34 multiplayer minigames, and 15 themed areas, including Battleville and Winterville. The detailed conversations with park guests add depth to the story and offer strategic park management suggestions. Be cautious of all guests, as not all may be trustworthy.
PC
Windows
Nintendo Ds
PlayStation
Playstation 2
PSP
Wii
Xbox
Xbox 360
Reviews
- The game is a nostalgic trip for many players, bringing back fond memories from childhood.
- It offers a unique blend of theme park management and mini-games, providing hours of fun and creativity.
- The coaster building mechanics are enjoyable, allowing for imaginative designs and the ability to ride your creations.
- The PC port has issues with crashes and control lag, particularly in mini-games, which can detract from the experience.
- Graphics and character models feel dated and can be off-putting compared to modern standards.
- The game has limitations on park customization and space, which can feel restrictive for players used to more in-depth simulators.
- graphics168 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 74 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game, released in 2007, are widely regarded as dated and rough, with many users noting that they haven't aged well compared to contemporary titles. However, the option to switch to the original PS2 graphics is appreciated, as it evokes nostalgia and is often preferred over the updated visuals. Overall, while the graphics may not impress, they are considered fitting for the game's style and era, contributing to its charm for casual players.
“The cutscene animations are obviously low-resolution, but the art style saves it and it still holds up for a game that's almost 20 years old.”
“Even the graphics don't seem that out of place by today's standards (which just shows how cartoon styles age really well compared to realistic style if done right). If you are at all thinking about this game, get it.”
“Thrillville off the Rails has spectacular graphics and amazing missions with typical slang of the time used in conversations ('what's the happs?').”
“It also didn't age gracefully--graphically it's pretty bad, its soundtrack is a period piece of mid-2000s pop and most of it's forgettable (some it still bangs though, OK Go and The Vines are my highlights), and the gameplay as an adult ranges from cute or cool idea to kinda boring.”
“The graphics really haven't aged well at all unlike other games from that time.”
“The only thing that aged it terribly are the graphics.”
- story158 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 73 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story is characterized as light and somewhat mundane, revolving around the player's role as a park manager tasked with thwarting a rival amusement park's sabotage efforts. While the narrative includes quirky characters and humorous quests, it is often overshadowed by the engaging mini-games and park-building mechanics, leading to mixed feelings about its depth and satisfaction. Overall, players appreciate the nostalgic charm and fun elements, despite the story's brevity and simplicity.
“Generally, the larger plot of stopping Globo-Joy, a competing amusement park, from sabotaging the Thrillville parks, is divided into five subplots led by a set of missions each assigned to one of the parks the player is managing.”
“The story is exceptional; you'll find that you inherited a vast fortune and it's up to you and the doctor of science and partying.”
“And if all that's not enough, there's a coherent story about beating a rival park and finding out who's secretly working for them.”
“The story is pretty mundane and short.”
“I wish the story was more developed; the ending isn't satisfying at all.”
“There are cutscenes throughout the story, and all of those cutscenes added together is about ten minutes.”
- music100 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game is a nostalgic blend of mid-2000s pop hits and original tracks, creating a vibrant atmosphere that resonates with players, especially those who grew up during that era. While some find the soundtrack to be hit or miss, many appreciate its catchy tunes and the effort put into the in-game radio, which enhances the overall experience. However, the music can occasionally cut off unexpectedly, detracting from the immersion.
“Love all the cheesy mid-2000's music still in this; it ain't a theme park in 2007 if Miley Cyrus and Lil' Romeo aren't blasting over the bassy loudspeakers between all the clanking and screaming from the rides.”
“The soundtrack goes harder than any other video game soundtrack, and I will die on that hill.”
“One of the best things about the game, in my opinion, is its soundtrack, which I really enjoy hearing again!”
“The soundtrack is a period piece of mid-2000s pop and most of it is forgettable (some still bangs though, OK Go and The Vines are my highlights), and the gameplay as an adult ranges from cute or cool idea to kinda boring.”
“It's also annoying how they simulate the music being on speakers, meaning that if you build your coasters high enough you can't hear it, and you switch songs between areas of your parks.”
“I honestly feel like this could've been different if the vast majority of the budget didn't go to the licensing of all the songs that are in this game.”
- gameplay66 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Thrillville: Off the Rails" is characterized by a mix of enjoyable park management and rollercoaster building mechanics, complemented by a variety of engaging mini-games that enhance the overall experience. While some players find the core gameplay repetitive and the graphics dated, the nostalgic charm and simplicity make it accessible and fun, especially for those who appreciate theme park simulations. Despite its limitations, the game offers a unique blend of genres and mechanics that can keep players entertained for hours.
“Even today, this game holds up pretty well against newer ones in terms of content, mechanics, and ease to play.”
“If you're looking for a solid coaster building game (with unrealistic but great mechanics!), fun mini games with no skill lockout, and an easy storyline with quick progression, then I recommend this.”
“The gameplay is both easy and smooth, with standard movement and interaction tools.”
“It's backed by a surprisingly strong park simulation for the management mechanics, but you'll find yourself spending most of the time doing quests for getting a certain score in a certain minigame than actually building a park.”
“The game doesn't have a core gameplay loop that makes the game work.”
“The mechanics haven't changed at all and I felt like I was paying for an expansion more than a sequel.”
- humor26 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Thrillville: Off the Rails" is characterized by its quirky characters, outrageous storylines, and amusing dialogue, often evoking nostalgia from its early 2000s roots. Players enjoy the entertaining interactions with NPCs, particularly the obscure and humorous chat options, as well as the cheesy yet funny voice performances. The game features a variety of minigames and challenges that contribute to its lighthearted and comedic atmosphere, making it enjoyable for both kids and adults.
“From wacky characters to an outrageous story, this game will have you laughing until your sides hurt.”
“My absolute favorite part of this game is chatting to NPC park customers - some of the chat points are so obscure and seem to relate specifically to the US, and the flirting options are hilarious.”
“The dialogue system is simple, but the lines and the performances of the voice actors can be entertaining and funny in a cheesy sort of way.”
- stability20 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- -5 % neutral mentions
- 90 % negative mentions
The game's stability is marked by a mix of inconsistent glitches and bugs that can render it unplayable at times, particularly after extended play sessions. While some minor issues, such as graphical glitches and gameplay inconsistencies, are present, the game generally runs well and remains enjoyable despite its age. Players have noted that saving and restarting can mitigate some of the more severe stability problems, allowing for a playable experience overall.
“The game still runs great even though it's 13 years old.”
“The game still runs great even though it's 13 years old.”
“The game maintains impressive stability after all these years.”
“In general, it's just buggy and at times completely unplayable, which is sad because I remember this game being very fun back in 2007 and 2019.”
“It'd be really sad if this game was just left on Steam as a buggy, broken game.”
“Edit: I have played this further and it seems the glitches are extremely inconsistent. This game is beatable with keyboard and mouse, but it has some kind of corruption issue after playing for a period of time. When the controls start to malfunction, save and restart your game. It's a pain to have to do, but it makes the game playable.”
- replayability12 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability, with players noting that while the main missions can be completed in about 13 hours, numerous minigames and the ability to experiment with different designs and strategies encourage players to return. The tycoon genre inherently supports varied gameplay experiences, enhancing its replay value.
“It's pretty easy, and I've beaten all of the missions in about 13 hours, but there are loads of minigames to go back to, and some of them can take up to an hour to get through, so there's a bit of replay value there.”
“High replayability.”
“It's pretty easy, and I've beaten all of the missions in about 13 hours, but there's loads of minigames to go back to, and some of them can take up to an hour to get through, so there's a bit of replay value there.”
“Change up the designs, change the way you play, or purposefully build the worst theme park in existence; either way, this game is a tycoon-based title, which means its replayability level is definitely up there.”
- optimization10 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is mixed; while some users report it runs well and is inexpensive, others criticize it for poor performance on PC. Overall, it appears to have decent optimization for most platforms, but significant issues exist for certain users.
“✔ inexpensive and optimized”
“The game itself does not use much of a basis to start the game off performance.”
“Worst optimization for PC possible.”
“It runs really well for the most part, and is optimized pretty decently.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game to be a heartwarming experience that evokes nostalgia for simpler times, highlighting the emotional impact of the thoughtfully crafted minigames that feel like individual games themselves. The overall sentiment is one of joy and warmth, making it a wholesome experience.
“The minigames are like games within a game; the amount of effort and time put into each game is so heartwarming.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is enhanced by nostalgic music and vibrant visuals, creating an engaging and lively environment for players. The combination of fun mini-games and coaster building further contributes to the overall enjoyable park simulation experience.
“The songs that play are nostalgic and give the game a really vibrant atmosphere.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy is viewed negatively, being described as a gimmick and an ineffective advertising tool.
“It's a gimmick at best and an advertising crutch at worst.”
