RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

The US box cover.

RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 (or RCT2 for short) is the second installment in the RollerCoaster Tycoon series. Like in its predecessor, the player must build successful theme parks to fulfill a set of objectives in various scenarios. The game was further expanded with two expansion packs, Wacky Worlds and Time Twister, which brought more themes and theme-inspired derivatives of existing rides, as well as new scenarios. These two add-ons were not worked on by Chris Sawyer.

RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 uses the same game engine as the first game, but somewhat optimized to sport more polished graphics, higher resolutions, a more intelligent guest AI and the ability to stack scenery items, enabling the creations of wonders of architecture.

New features

• Scenario Editor
• The ability to create a new scenario from a saved game
• Roller Coaster creator (sandbox mode)
• Ride track manager
• Ability to use the Shift key to change the elevation of rides, paths and scenery
• Ability to use the Ctrl key to set an automatic height, making it easy to place several times a scenery item at the same height
• Automatic scenery removal during ride and path construction
• Custom scenery, rides, parks, scenarios and paths support
• General scenery removal function, along with path removal function

Release dates

• North America: October 14, 2002
• Europe: October 24, 2002
• Australia: October 18, 2002

Attractions

Transport Rides

RCT2 Icon Steam Trains (Miniature Railway) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Steam Train (Covered Cars) Steam Trains with Covered Cars (Miniature Railway) Added Attractions

RCT2 Icon American Style Steam Trains (Miniature Railway) Loopy Landscapes

RCT2 Icon Trams (Trams) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Small Monorail Cars (Monorail) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Large Monorail Train Streamlined Monorail Trains (Monorail) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Retro-style Monorail Trains (Monorail) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Suspended Monorail (Suspended Monorail) Added Attractions

RCT2 Icon Chairlift Cars (Chairlift) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Chairlift Cars (Alternative) Ski-lift Chairs (Chairlift) Added Attractions

RCT2 Icon Lift (Lift) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Gentle Rides

RCT2 Icon Cycle Railway Monorail Cycles (Monorail Cycles) Added Attractions

RCT2 Icon Crooked House (Crooked House) Added Attractions

RCT2 Icon Haunted House (Haunted House) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Ferris Wheel (Ferris Wheel) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Hedge Maze Maze (Maze) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Merry-Go-Round (Merry-Go-Round) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Miniature Golf Mini Golf (Mini Golf) Added Attractions

RCT2 Icon Observation Tower (Observation Tower) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Double-deck Observation Tower (Observation Tower) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Sportscars (Car Ride) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Racing Cars (Car Ride) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Trucks Pickup Trucks (Car Ride) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon 'Cat' Cars Cheshire Cats (Car Ride) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Vintage Cars (Car Ride) Added Attractions

RCT2 Icon Monster Trucks (Car Ride) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Cycle Monorail Mini Helicopters (Mini Helicopters) Added Attractions

RCT2 Icon Spiral Slide (Spiral Slide) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Bumper Cars Dodgems (Dodgems) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Space Rings (Space Rings) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Circus Show Circus (Circus) Added Attractions

RCT2 Icon Ghost Train (Ghost Train) Added Attractions

RCT2 Icon Haunted Mansion Ride (Ghost Train) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Flying Saucers (Flying Saucers) Added Attractions

Roller Coasters

RCT2 Icon Air Powered Vertical Coaster (Air Powered Vertical Coaster) Loopy Landscapes

RCT2 Icon Bobsleigh Coaster (Bobsleigh Coaster) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Flying Turns (Bobsleigh Coaster) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Inverted Coaster Train (Compact Inverted Coaster) Loopy Landscapes

RCT2 Icon Inverted Shuttle Coaster (Compact Inverted Coaster) Loopy Landscapes

RCT2 Icon Inverted Vertical Shuttle (Compact Inverted Coaster) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Corkscrew Roller Coaster (Corkscrew Roller Coaster) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Hypercoaster (Hypercoaster) Loopy Landscapes

RCT2 Icon Flying Roller Coaster (Flying Roller Coaster) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Giga Coaster (Giga Coaster) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Heartline Twister Coaster (Heartline Twister Coaster) Added Attractions

RCT2 Icon Heartline Twister Coaster (starting reversed) (Heartline Twister Coaster) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Inverted Hairpin Coaster (Inverted Hairpin Coaster) Loopy Landscapes

RCT2 Icon Inverted Impulse Coaster (Inverted Impulse Coaster) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon 4-Across Inverted Roller Coaster (Inverted Roller Coaster) Loopy Landscapes

RCT2 Icon Ladybird Trains (Steel Mini Roller Coaster) (RCT1) (Junior Roller Coaster) (RCT2) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Log Trains (Steel Mini Roller Coaster) (RCT1) (Junior Roller Coaster) (RCT2) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon LIM Launched Roller Coaster (LIM Launched Roller Coaster) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Flying Roller Coaster (RCT1) Lay-down Roller Coaster (RCT2) (Lay-down Roller Coaster) Added Attractions

RCT2 Icon Looping Roller Coaster (Looping Roller Coaster) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Mine Ride (Mine Ride) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Mine Train Coaster (Mine Train Coaster) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Automobile Cars (Mini Roller Coaster) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Rocket Cars (Steel Mini Roller Coaster) (RCT1) (Mini Roller Coaster) (RCT2) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Toboggan Cars (Mini Roller Coaster) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Mini Suspended Coaster (Mini Suspended Coaster) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Mini Suspended Coaster (Mini Suspended Coaster) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Multi-Dimension Roller Coaster (Multi-Dimension Roller Coaster) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Reverse Freefall Coaster (Reverse Freefall Coaster) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Reverser Roller Coaster (Reverser Roller Coaster) Added Attractions

RCT2 Icon Side-Friction Roller Coaster (Side-Friction Roller Coaster) Added Attractions

RCT2 Icon Spiral Roller Coaster (Spiral Roller Coaster) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Stand-up Roller Coaster (Stand-up Roller Coaster) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Twister Roller Coaster (Twister Roller Coaster) Added Attractions

RCT2 Icon Stand-up Twister Coaster (Twister Roller Coaster) Added Attractions

RCT2 Icon Floorless Roller Coaster (Twister Roller Coaster) Added Attractions

RCT2 Icon Hyper-Twister (Hyper Twister Coaster) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Hyper-Twister (wide cars) (Hyper Twister Coaster) Added Attractions

RCT2 Icon Steeplechase (Steeplechase) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Motorbike Races (Steeplechase) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Soap Box Derby Racers (Steeplechase) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Suspended Swinging Cars (Suspended Swinging Coaster) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Suspended Swinging Airplane Cars (Suspended Swinging Coaster) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Swinging Floorless Cars (Suspended Swinging Coaster) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Vertical Drop Roller Coaster (Vertical Drop Roller Coaster) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Virginia Reel (Virginia Reel) Added Attractions

RCT2 Icon Water Coaster (Water Coaster) Loopy Landscapes

RCT2 Icon Mouse Cars (Wild Mouse) Added Attractions

RCT2 Icon Mine Cars (Wild Mouse) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Spinning Wild Mouse (Wild Mouse) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Wooden Roller Coaster (Wooden Roller Coaster) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Articulated Roller Coaster (Wooden Roller Coaster) Added Attractions

RCT2 Icon Wooden Roller Coaster (6 seater) (Wooden Roller Coaster) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Wooden Roller Coaster (6 seater, Reversed) (Wooden Roller Coaster) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Wooden Wild Mouse (Wooden Wild Mouse) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Wooden Wild Mine Ride (Wooden Wild Mouse) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

Thrill Rides

RCT2 Icon Snow Cups (Twist) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Twist (Twist) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Magic Carpet (Magic Carpet) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Launched Freefall (Launched Freefall) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Pirate Ship (Pirate Ship) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Go Karts (Go Karts) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Swinging Inverter Ship (Swinging Inverter Ship) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Motion Simulator (Motion Simulator) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon 3D Cinema (3D Cinema) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Top Spin (Top Spin) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Roto-Drop (Roto-Drop) Added Attractions

RCT2 Icon Enterprise (Enterprise) Loopy Landscapes

Water Rides

RCT2 Icon Dinghy Slide (Dinghy Slide) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Log Flume (Log Flume) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon River Rapids (River Rapids) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Splash Boats (Splash Boats) Added Attractions

RCT2 Icon Submarine Ride (Submarine Ride) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Rowing Boats (Boat Hire) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Swans (Boat Hire) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Canoes (Boat Hire) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Bumper Boats (Boat Hire) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Water Tricycles (Boat Hire) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Jet Skis (Boat Hire) Loopy Landscapes

RCT2 Icon River Rafts (River Rafts) Loopy Landscapes

Shops & Stalls

RCT2 Icon Burger Bar (Food Stall) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Candyfloss Stall (Food Stall) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Doughnut Shop (Food Stall) Loopy Landscapes

RCT2 Icon Cookie Shop (Food Stall) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Ice Cream Cone Stall (Food Stall) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Chips Stall (Food Stall) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Fruity Ices Stall (Food Stall) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Hot Dog Stall (Food Stall) Added Attractions

RCT2 Icon Pizza Stall (Food Stall) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Popcorn Stall (Food Stall) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Sea Food Stall (Food Stall) Added Attractions

RCT2 Icon Toffee Apple Stall (Food Stall) Added Attractions

RCT2 Icon Fried Chicken Stall (Food Stall) Loopy Landscapes

RCT2 Icon Pretzel Stall (Food Stall) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Sub Sandwich Stall (Food Stall) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Beef Noodles Stall (Food Stall) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Chicken Nuggets Stall (Food Stall) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Chip Shop (Food Stall) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Fried Rice Noodles Stall (Food Stall) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Funnel Cake Shop (Food Stall) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Meatball Soup Stall (Food Stall) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Roast Sausage Stall (Food Stall) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Wonton Soup Stall (Food Stall) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Drinks Stall (Drink Stall) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Coffee Shop (Drink Stall) Loopy Landscapes

RCT2 Icon Hot Chocolate Stall (Drink Stall) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Lemonade Stall (Drink Stall) Loopy Landscapes

RCT2 Icon Iced Tea Stall (Drink Stall) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Soybean Milk Stall (Drink Stall) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Star Fruit Drink Stall (Drink Stall) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Sujeonggwa Stall (Drink Stall) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Balloon Stall (Shop) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Hat Stall (Shop) Added Attractions

RCT2 Icon Souvenir Stall (Shop) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon T-Shirt Stall (Shop) Loopy Landscapes

RCT2 Icon Sunglasses Stall (Shop) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Information Kiosk (Information Kiosk) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon First Aid Room (First Aid Room) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Cash Machine (Cash Machine) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

RCT2 Icon Toilets (Toilets) RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

RCT2 Icon Toilets (Toilets) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Footpaths

Ash Footpath RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Brown Tarmac Footpath RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Crazy Paving Footpath RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Dirt Footpath RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Road RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Green Tarmac Footpath RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Space Style Footpath RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Tarmac Footpath RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Scenery

Abstract Themeing (13 objects) Added Attractions

Classical/Roman Themeing (12 objects) RollerCoaster Tycoon

Creepy Themeing (17 objects) Loopy Landscapes

Egyptian Themeing (12 objects) RollerCoaster Tycoon

Fences and Walls RollerCoaster Tycoon

Gardens RollerCoaster Tycoon

Giant Candy Themeing (18 objects) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Giant Garden Themeing (10 objects) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Jungle Themeing (21 objects) Added Attractions

Jurassic Themeing (12 objects) Added Attractions

Martian Themeing (9 objects) RollerCoaster Tycoon

Mechanical Themeing (22 objects) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Medieval Themeing (31 objects) Loopy Landscapes

Mine Themeing (21 objects) RollerCoaster Tycoon

Pagoda Themeing (14 objects) Loopy Landscapes

Pirates Themeing (14 objects) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Shrubs and Ornaments RollerCoaster Tycoon

Signs and Items for Footpaths RollerCoaster Tycoon

Six Flags Themeing (7 objects) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Snow and Ice Themeing (20 objects) Loopy Landscapes

Space Themeing (13 objects) Loopy Landscapes

Spooky Themeing (13 objects) Added Attractions

Sports Themeing (12 objects) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Trees RollerCoaster Tycoon

Urban Themeing (10 objects) Loopy Landscapes

Walls and Roofs (66 objects) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Water Feature Themeing (6 objects) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Wild West Themeing (10 objects) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Wonderland Themeing (27 objects) RollerCoaster Tycoon

Park Entrance

Park Entrance Building RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Park Entrance Gates RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Traditional Park Entrance RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

Water

Acid Green Water RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Green Water RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Natural Water RollerCoaster Tycoon 1

Orange Water Loopy Landscapes

Scenarios

Beginner Parks

Crazy Castle RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Electric Fields RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Factory Capers RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Challenging Parks

Amity Airfield RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Botany Breakers RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Bumbly Bazaar RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Dusty Greens RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Fungus Woods RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Gravity Gardens RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Infernal Views RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Expert Parks

Alpine Adventures RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Extreme Heights RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Ghost Town (RCT2) RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Lucky Lake RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Rainbow Summit RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

"Real" Parks

Six Flags Belgium RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Six Flags Great Adventure RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Six Flags Holland RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Six Flags Magic Mountain RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Six Flags Over Texas RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Other Parks

Build Your Own Six Flags Belgium RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Build Your Own Six Flags Great Adventure RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Build Your Own Six Flags Holland RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Build Your Own Six Flags Magic Mountain RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Build Your Own Six Flags Over Texas RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Build Your Own Six Flags Park RollerCoaster Tycoon 2

Expansion Packs

Official

• Wacky Worlds
• Time Twister

User-created

• UCES
• VJ's scenario pack

See Also: The Amazing Earl

Additional content

In addition to the scenarios and rides included in the base game and expansion packs, there were 16 "classic" scenarios from the original RollerCoaster Tycoon, a panda themed scenario called "Panda World" with "Panda Theming" , a "Pink Water" add-on created by Chris Sawyer that could be used with the scenario editor, and six winning coaster designs from the Ultimate Tycoon Challenge made available to download from the game's official website and are preserved by the Internet Archive.

Criticism

RollerCoaster Tycoon 2 has received criticism for not being a true 'sequel' to RollerCoaster Tycoon, and being more of an "RCT 1.5". This is due to the game using the same engine as the first one, although being massively upgraded. It made the two games very similar in both graphics and gameplay. For the critics, the only thing that truly changes is the greatly increased amount of rides and attractions, and massive scenery improvement thanks to the new features. Unlike the first game, the "scenario indexes concept" was scrapped, unlocking all the scenarios from the start. Although obviously due because of the new "Scenario Editor" feature, this reduced the feeling for players of actually being rewarded. The largest negative point arises with the lack of backward compatibility from RCT and its expansions in certain rides (e.g. the Steel Mini Roller Coaster of RCT1 is incompatible with its RCT2 lookalike, the Junior Roller Coaster), which made long-time first-game players disappointed with the sequel.

The add-ons had mixed criticisms: Most players and reviewers were satisfied with the first add-on, Wacky Worlds, but many were disappointed with the second add-on Time Twister as it felt incomplete, simply being new objects and scenarios thrown on a CD. The add-on's theming and objects were also too numerous and massive to be imported in new parks, drastically reducing their use on the game and most often reducing their usage to the official scenarios on which they were used. They, therefore, never became vitally needed on the parks, making the addon discs nearly unnecessary. Most custom & downloaded parks actually only require the addons for a couple rides and scenery objects.

Many of the bugs and criticized features RCT2 included were improved or removed by the developers of the game's open-source recreation OpenRCT2.

System requirements

• Operating System: Windows 98/Windows Me/2000/XP/Vista/7/8/10
• Processor: Pentium® II 300 MHz or equivalent
• Memory: 64 MB RAM
• Hard Disk Space: 100 MB free
• CD-ROM Drive: 4X or higher
• Video: 4MB Windows® 98/ME/2000/XP-compatible video card^
• Sound: Windows® 98/ME/2000/XP-compatible sound card^

^Indicates device should be compatible with DirectX® version 8.1 (included) or higher.