Ultimate Ride

Ever since realistic polygons replaced the cartoony graphics found in most 8 and 16-bit games, game developers have tried to recreate the thrill of riding a roller coaster without ever having to leave the house. We all know that the average living room isn't big enough to hold a few thousand feet of track. But if Final Fantasy can pull you into the storyline so deeply that you actually feel the characters' emotions as if they were your own, and if Gran Turismo 3 is so unbelievably realistic that it blurs the line between fantasy and reality, then why can't a virtual roller coaster be good enough to make your hurl?

That must have been what the brilliant men and women at Disney Imagineering were thinking when they started development of Ultimate Ride. Ultimate Ride is exactly the name states -- the "ultimate" roller coaster ride. You dream it, you build it. Then hop in your new roller coaster and see how well it matches the grand vision you had in your mind. Surprise, surprise, the roller coaster is extremely close to your fantasy. It looks the same, it's as realistic as a virtual coaster could possibly be, and once it's over, you can't wait to get back in line to ride it again.

I'm not sure how they created this incredible effect, but they did and once you see it for yourself, you'll never want to play another roller coaster sim again. I would assume that Ultimate Ride was largely inspired by the create-a-coaster ride at Disney Quest. It too allowed you to create a brand-new roller coaster from scratch. The only major difference between the two is that at Disney Quest, your roller coaster was saved on a key card. The key card can then be inserted into the roller coaster simulator, which simulates every twist and turn the roller coaster makes. You don't just see it on screen -- the simulator actually flips you upside down! Obviously you can't take the simulator home, but Disney Imagineering has done an amazing job of recreating the thrill and excitement of the simulator in Ultimate Ride.

One thing the Disney Quest simulator didn't have was the ability to change your view of the roller coaster. Move the mouse up, down, left or right to look around in every direction. It sounds trivial, but can you imagine how boring the Raptor (at Cedar Point) would have been if you were forced to look straight ahead at all times? It just couldn't have been as exciting. In Ultimate Ride, you can enjoy the ride from virtually any view. Don't stare at the sky too much or you'll miss the best part, but definitely look behind when you see a large drop or a loop coming up. Being able to move the camera while the roller coaster is in motion is what makes Ultimate Ride feel so real. That, and the amazing rush you get when the roller coater reaches 120mph. It's unmatched by any other game, even Extreme-G3 for the PlayStation 2.

Ultimate Ride doesn't include any online multiplayer modes, though it could be considered a multiplayer game because it is fun to show off to your friends. Then sit back and watch as they try to come up with a faster, more exciting ride than you. For those of you who want an even bigger challenge (and would like to try out roller coasters made by gamers from all around the United States and Canada), visit Imgineering's Ultimate Ride Web site, http://www.UltimateRideGame.com. There you can register to become a CoasterXchange member, which gives you access to all of the features on the site. Upload some roller coasters, download a few new rides and rate them when you're done. Three criteria are used to rate the coasters: Technique, Adrenaline and Originality. Obviously the most important aspect is the pure adrenaline rush, but because it's the easiest to create, it's also the easiest to screw up (making it the hardest to perfect). The highest-rated roller coaster(s) will achieve "ROLLERGOD" status, and will then be placed on the front page for all to see.

Overall, Ultimate Ride is an awesome game that doesn't feel much like a game. You control and develop every aspect of the ride, but since there are no specific goals (other than achieving ROLLERGOD status), no points to earn and no stars, coins or rings to collect, some gamers may not be able to appreciate Ultimate Ride. However, for a game that can't really be considered a game, it's more fun, packs more thrills and has more replay value than any other "game" like it.

Gameplay: 8.5
Ultimate Ride is deep, but not too deep. You can sit and tweak your roller coaster all day long, or spend five minutes throwing together a roller coaster and enjoy the thrills instantly.

Graphics: 8 
(Sticks eyes back in their socket.) Man, what a rush! Everyone has, at one time or another, wanted to construct their own roller coaster. Ultimate Ride allows you to do it more efficiently and more realistically than any other game out there. The graphics aren't going to blow you out of the water, but playing Ultimate Ride and seeing your roller coaster come to life for the very first time definitely will. From my roller coaster's 60-foot drop at the beginning, to the vomit-inducing corkscrew at the end, the framerate stays consistently smooth.

Sound: 5
I did not expect Ultimate Ride to sound like Final Fantasy VII. But when I think about the cool Chocobo music at the Golden Saucer, I wonder why UR couldn't have had a better soundtrack. Granted, there isn't any music on real roller coasters (except for Splash Mountain, but does that even count?), forcing Disney to come up with a soundtrack for something that traditionally did not have one. With that said, it's a decent effort, but average when compared with other games.

Difficulty: 4
Don't be misled by the low score. Ultimate Ride isn't easy, but it is easier than the average roller coaster sim, making its score lower than a five. You may wonder if this is supposed to be a good thing or not, and let me tell you, it is definitely a good thing. The on-screen menu is very useful and once you figure out what you're doing (which shouldn't take you too long), creating a roller coaster is as easy as pointing and clicking on the area you want to build.

Concept: 6.1 
I'd be lying if I said that Ultimate Ride was an entirely new concept. But the overall presentation of the game is more polished than any other roller coaster sim out there. Up until now, no one had attempted to fully immerse the player in the roller coaster that he or she created and actually succeeded. They just pretended to. Ultimate Ride is the real deal.

Overall: 8.4
There's not as much gameplay in Ultimate Ride as there is gorgeous real-time video. I think most people will love playing Ultimate Ride just as much as I did, but the lack of a specific goal may turn off the really, really hardcore gamers. Hardcore or not though, if you can forget about what you "think" a game is supposed to be like and enjoy Ultimate Ride for what it is, you'll have a blast.