As I was installing Disney Coaster, I was thinking about what it was going to be like, and when I booted it up, I was actually rather surprised.  It's obvious a lot of work went into this title, as the coaster builder is quite complex, yet simple to use.  And riding your creations actually seems very realistic; almost as if you are riding the real thing.  Let's look a bit deeper.

The actual builder is reminiscent of the one that Roller Coaster Tycoon sports.  You start by placing a dock on a 3D grid.  You can then rise this higher or lower, rotate it, etc.  After this is done, you can click one of many buttons to add a piece of track - there are short pieces, long pieces, pieces that turn to the side, pieces with a bend in the middle, loops, corkscrews, and more.  Not only do you have the option of adding any of these pieces alongside nearly any other piece, giving tons of possibilities for coasters already, but each piece can be extended, twisted around, or have a different slant to them.  The possibilities are near-endless.  You also have to figure out where on the track to place chains and accelerators; after all, you don't want a car to start going backwards down a hill, do you?

And once the coaster itself is built, there is even more to do.  You can add various props on the map, such as trees, monuments, balloons, or whatever else you like.  The props are really what give the game a Disney atmosphere; if you were to build a coaster, and not have any props at all, there isn't anything that really shouts Disney.  This could be a good thing for those of you who just want to build a coaster without any Disney nonsense.  You can also add various triggers to your coaster - these are events that happen as the cars ride over that point in the ride.  You can make things like sounds or music start playing (you can use some of the included sounds and music or import your own WAV files) or perhaps a few fireworks as one rides by.

Once all is said and done - or rather, the coaster is built and the environment complete - you can go riding.  The game offers a first-person view from the seat of the front car as it rides along the track.  There are also a few views that look at the coaster from a distance, but what fun is that?  The view while riding is actually pretty cool.  Everything moves very smoothly, and the physics seem very realistic.  The sound of air brushing past you sounds very familiar, and the graphics are quite good all around.  It's almost like riding a real roller coaster, honestly...or at least as close an experience as one might get from sitting at a computer.  You're still going to have to go outside for the stomach wrenching drops and wind in your hair, of course.

That said, what else is there to do in Disney Coaster?  Frankly, not a whole lot.  The coaster builder certainly has a lot of replay value if you're into it, but there isn't much aside from that.  There is a mode where you must complete coasters with certain goals in mind, and please various judges, who happen to be Disney characters.  Basically, you'll be doing things like building track so that it hits the various triggers already placed on the map, or something of the sort - it honestly isn't very exciting or fun.  The judging that Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, and the rest of the gang give are lackluster at best - they only say things like "I feel sick now" or "Boy, that was great!  I'd ride again."

However, at about twenty bones, Disney Coaster might not be a bad choice if you just want to have some fun creating and riding your own coasters.  It's a little like the popular Roller Coaster Tycoon, except it's only creating coasters, it's 3D, and there are many more options.  If that sounds like your cup of tea, you ought to be putting your car key in the ignition right now and heading off to your nearest video game shop to pick this up.  I can see children having a lot of fun with this title, as well as adults.

Gameplay: 6.0

Disney Coaster is all about creating roller coasters.  And while you can definitely create some cool roller coasters - and probably have fun doing it - there isn't really anything else to do.  It's simply a creation tool.

Graphics: 8.0

Actually riding your creations shows off some pretty graphics.  The sky looks good, as do things like fireworks.  The roller coaster itself is modeled pretty well, too.  Nothing groundbreaking, but certainly pleasing to the eye.

Sound: 9.0

The sound is surprisingly well-done.  The sound of wind rushing past you seems quite authentic.  The various sounds of roller coasters are realistic, and everything else is high-quality.

Difficulty: Easy

You can basically work at your own pace creating roller coasters how you like them.  Learning to create them is not hard, and the various missions throughout the game are pretty simple.

Concept: 7.0

Creating roller coasters has been done before, in games like Roller Coaster Tycoon, but not with as many options or possibilities that Disney Coaster offers.

Multiplayer: N/A

The closest thing Disney Coaster has to a multiplayer mode is the sharing of creations through the "Disney CoasterXchange."

Overall: 7.5

Disney Coaster is certainly not a "must-have" title, nor will it offer you a solid gaming experience, but it does give one the ability to create some very slick roller coasters, and give them a fairly realistic ride on them.  At $19.99, it's a steal for you coaster-designers.