This is an excerpt from the Review of the Nintendo Wii game Thrillville: Off the Rails by Vooks

Thrillville: Off the Rails is a game that suffers from an identity crisis. On the one hand, it can be seen as theme park creator and Sim. But on the other, it’s just another mini-game-fest that I’m sure we’ve all seen before in the Wii’s library of games. The game feels like it’s a too little of a Sim and too much of a mini-game compilation. Even then it’s hard to find the target audience that would enjoy this game to its full potential. Younger players get mini-games with a strange Sim game tacked on and older players get a shallow and cheesy Sim experience with some flash mini-games added to the mix. Some of the mini-games make great little multiplayer bouts, but they all tire way too fast. The intuitive rollercoaster building helps bring this game up from a relatively downhill ride.

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This is a new video of the Nintendo Wii game Thrillville: Off the Rails

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Thrillville: Off the Rails heads to Wii, DS

SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. – July 3, 2007 – LucasArts today announced that Thrillville, the videogame where players create and experience the theme park of their dreams, will open its gates for a whole new season in Thrillville: Off the Rails. Featuring some of the most outlandish roller-coaster concepts ever imagined, as well as new ways to talk to park guests and a wider array of carnival games, this October release amps up the family-friendly mix of gameplay that made the original Thrillville such a hit. Frontier Developments returns to create Off the Rails, which will scream onto the Xbox 360™ videogame system from Microsoft, Wii™ home videogame system from Nintendo, PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system, Games for Windows and, with the help of developer DC Studios, Nintendo DS™.

Off the Rails lives up to its name with 20 death-defying rides so outrageous, they inspire the same word from every park visitor who sees them: “WHOA!” Players build these incredible “WHOA Coasters” to leap from one track to another, launch through the air like cannonballs, blast through burning rings of fire and more.

A new lighthearted story ties together more than 100 missions, complete with 34 playable multiplayer theme-park games and improved social interaction with park guests. The in-depth conversations both advance the plot and suggest better ways to manage the park. But is every guest to be trusted? One never knows when a rival from the nefarious Globo-Joy might attempt to sabotage Thrillville parks with deceptive information…

“Between its amazing new WHOA Coasters, improved socialization, and a huge selection of minigames, Thrillville: Off the Rails is practically three great games in one, and it offers a fantastic bang for the buck,” said Jim Ward, president of LucasArts. “We’re also excited to introduce the franchise to four new platforms so that even more families can enjoy the Thrillville experience together.”

“Together, LucasArts and Frontier challenged ourselves to improve upon everything that made the original Thrillville such a success,” said David Braben, chairman and founder of Frontier. “I believe that we have more than met this challenge, and I wouldn’t be surprised if Thrillville achieves some ‘record attendance’ with Off the Rails.”

Meanwhile, “attendance” of the original Thrillville should soon rise even higher, as it has achieved Greatest Hits status for the PlayStation 2 and PSP systems, as well as joined the new Platinum Family Hits line for the Xbox® videogame system from Microsoft. Now, families can experience the No. 1 original children’s franchise of 2006 for only $19.99 at participating locations.

For more information on Thrillville: Off the Rails, please visit the official website at www.lucasarts.com.

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