RCT Discussion / Knockout: RCT2 Spotlights

 

I sort of feel like Thorpe is being slightly underrated. It's by no means the best park ever built, but I feel like that it was at any point closer to elimination than Six Flags Santa Fe is ridiculous. I like Six Flags Santa Fe a lot, but if it were built today it would never be a Spotlight. That's not a fair metric for every park, but I think it is for modern style realism.

 

Eh, I disagree here.  Spotlights should be viewed against their contemporary's not against their successors, regardless of style.  Stylistic progression occurs in all types or RCT, and is an important part of the progression of NE as a whole.  Simply because a park doesn't stand up to 2017 standards, doesn't mean it isn't worthy of the accolade it was assigned 5-6 years prior.

9 - Starpointe
6 - Bijou Magique
15 - Zippo's Wacky World of Wonders
3 - Thorpe Park (-1)
6 - Six Flags Carolina
15 - Islands of Enchantment
12  - Dreamport (+1)
12 - Liseberg
3 - Six Flags Santa Fe (+1)
10 - Legacies Themepark - Europe 
18 - Rivers of Babylon
18 - Isole Calabria
7 - Busch Gardens Asia (-1)
12 - Dimensions: Realms of Creation

0 - Aero's Wormwood
0 - Euroscape
0 - DisneySea Spain
0 - DisneySea
0 - Divinity Ridge
0 - Disney's Phantasia
0 - Marriott's Marine World
0 - Tilted Acres
0 - Spellbrook Shore
0 - G Force's Worlds of Fun
0 - Europa Park World Showcase
0 - Ports of Magia
0 - Magic Realms Resort
0 - Rocky Mountain Mystique

0 - Watkins Woods Amusement Park

9 - Starpointe
5 - Bijou Magique (-1)
15 - Zippo's Wacky World of Wonders
4 - Thorpe Park (+1)
6 - Six Flags Carolina
15 - Islands of Enchantment
12  - Dreamport

11 - Liseberg

4 - Six Flags Santa Fe (+1)
10 - Legacies Themepark - Europe 
18 - Rivers of Babylon
18 - Isole Calabria
7 - Busch Gardens Asia

11 - Dimensions: Realms of Creation (-1)

0 - Aero's Wormwood
0 - Euroscape
0 - DisneySea Spain
0 - DisneySea
0 - Divinity Ridge
0 - Disney's Phantasia
0 - Marriott's Marine World
0 - Tilted Acres
0 - Spellbrook Shore
0 - G Force's Worlds of Fun
0 - Europa Park World Showcase
0 - Ports of Magia
0 - Magic Realms Resort
0 - Rocky Mountain Mystique

0 - Watkins Woods Amusement Park

9 - Starpointe
5 - Bijou Magique
16 - Zippo's Wacky World of Wonders (+1)
3 - Thorpe Park (-1)
6 - Six Flags Carolina
15 - Islands of Enchantment
12  - Dreamport

11 - Liseberg

4 - Six Flags Santa Fe
10 - Legacies Themepark - Europe 
19 - Rivers of Babylon (+1)
18 - Isole Calabria
6 - Busch Gardens Asia (-1)

11 - Dimensions: Realms of Creation

0 - Aero's Wormwood
0 - Euroscape
0 - DisneySea Spain
0 - DisneySea
0 - Divinity Ridge
0 - Disney's Phantasia
0 - Marriott's Marine World
0 - Tilted Acres
0 - Spellbrook Shore
0 - G Force's Worlds of Fun
0 - Europa Park World Showcase
0 - Ports of Magia
0 - Magic Realms Resort
0 - Rocky Mountain Mystique

0 - Watkins Woods Amusement Park

Eh, I disagree here.  Spotlights should be viewed against their contemporary's not against their successors, regardless of style.  Stylistic progression occurs in all types or RCT, and is an important part of the progression of NE as a whole.  Simply because a park doesn't stand up to 2017 standards, doesn't mean it isn't worthy of the accolade it was assigned 5-6 years prior.

To be honest I don't think SFSF added much to the community. It's a solid spotlight, but mostly notorious because it was Robbie's park. Hence why I think it does not belong in the upper tier we're reaching now. I love Thorpe, and it has the novelty of being a (semi-)rec (same as Liseberg, but maybe a little less). Starpointe too. Pacificoaster was the next big thing and this was his full scale park. It's definitely solid, but it's clearly a step down from DAW. It's legacy is more a result of Pac's style in general, exhibited in multiple projects and screens, than the park in particular.

9 - Starpointe
5 - Bijou Magique
16 - Zippo's Wacky World of Wonders
2 - Thorpe Park (-1)
6 - Six Flags Carolina
15 - Islands of Enchantment
12 - Dreamport
11 - Liseberg
3 - Six Flags Santa Fe (-1)
10 - Legacies Themepark - Europe
20 - Rivers of Babylon (+1)
18 - Isole Calabria
6 - Busch Gardens Asia
12 - Dimensions: Realms of Creation (+1)

0 - Aero's Wormwood
0 - Euroscape
0 - DisneySea Spain
0 - DisneySea
0 - Divinity Ridge
0 - Disney's Phantasia
0 - Marriott's Marine World
0 - Tilted Acres
0 - Spellbrook Shore
0 - G Force's Worlds of Fun
0 - Europa Park World Showcase
0 - Ports of Magia
0 - Magic Realms Resort
0 - Rocky Mountain Mystique
0 - Watkins Woods Amusement Park

This thread gives me a headache.

I really hope people are looking at this objectively more than just their personal preference. I mean, of course your opinion should influence your choices a bit, that's fine. However, you also need to step back and think "does this still hold up?"

I hate to use RoB as an example every time, but look at it. This park is fucking old, and yet, it's clearly regarded as an iconic release. It's something you can look back on and say yeah, this is still great. Spotlights should be timeless. The same way a classic movie should be. The Godfather is an old film and yet you still watch that today and recognize that.

So you can see why I'm so fucking baffled by this list and how some parks are performing. Sure, G Force's WoF isn't the best Spotlight but it sure as shit hold up more today than Dreamport or Dimensions. Again, these are good parks, and I'm not just saying it because WoF is more recent. It's objectively a better park in terms of skill and to be honest I may even find it more timeless than others on here. Then again, that is where my opinion comes in.

At least RoB is actually where it should be -- miles ahead of the rest.

Eh, I disagree here.  Spotlights should be viewed against their contemporary's not against their successors, regardless of style.  Stylistic progression occurs in all types or RCT, and is an important part of the progression of NE as a whole.  Simply because a park doesn't stand up to 2017 standards, doesn't mean it isn't worthy of the accolade it was assigned 5-6 years prior.

 

I get that, I just feel like the progression in this style (American regional corporate park based realism) from that time to now hasn't progressed much. It's progressed, but not to the point where you can't grade them against eachother on a slight curve. The difference between SFSF and Starpointe is noticeable, but it's not unfair to compare them. It's not like trying to compare Starpointe and Six Flags Worlds of Excitement.

 

Plus, in the case of SFSF, even if you did want to talk about comparing it to parks that came out at the same time with the same style, I would point out that it came out after Six Flags Carolina. That park is arguably better or at the very least highly comparable and would be even if they were released on the very same day.

9 - Starpointe
4 - Bijou Magique (-1)
16 - Zippo's Wacky World of Wonders
1 - Thorpe Park (-1)
6 - Six Flags Carolina
15 - Islands of Enchantment
12 - Dreamport
11 - Liseberg
3 - Six Flags Santa Fe 
11 - Legacies Themepark - Europe (+1)
20 - Rivers of Babylon
18 - Isole Calabria
6 - Busch Gardens Asia
13 - Dimensions: Realms of Creation (+1)

 

0 - Aero's Wormwood
0 - Euroscape
0 - DisneySea Spain
0 - DisneySea
0 - Divinity Ridge
0 - Disney's Phantasia
0 - Marriott's Marine World
0 - Tilted Acres
0 - Spellbrook Shore
0 - G Force's Worlds of Fun
0 - Europa Park World Showcase
0 - Ports of Magia
0 - Magic Realms Resort
0 - Rocky Mountain Mystique
0 - Watkins Woods Amusement Park

 

You know BM almost was not a spotlight. iris was waiting for another park, got tired of waiting and just upped it from Super Runner-Up status. Good choice imo, one of my favorite classic RCT2 parks. Back then the spotlight system was a mess. He said there were different rounds for spotlight, but when the rounds were... idk if anyone other than iris knew...

 

Since G Force is attacking DRC, I had to give myself some love

9 - Starpointe
4 - Bijou Magique
16 - Zippo's Wacky World of Wonders
6 - Six Flags Carolina
15 - Islands of Enchantment
12 - Dreamport
12 - Liseberg (+1)
2 - Six Flags Santa Fe (-1)
11 - Legacies Themepark - Europe
20 - Rivers of Babylon
18 - Isole Calabria
6 - Busch Gardens Asia
14 - Dimensions: Realms of Creation (+1)

 

0 - Aero's Wormwood
0 - Euroscape
0 - DisneySea Spain
0 - DisneySea
0 - Divinity Ridge
0 - Disney's Phantasia
0 - Marriott's Marine World
0 - Tilted Acres
0 - Spellbrook Shore
0 - G Force's Worlds of Fun
0 - Europa Park World Showcase
0 - Ports of Magia
0 - Magic Realms Resort
0 - Rocky Mountain Mystique
0 - Watkins Woods Amusement Park

0 - Thorpe Park (-1)

9 - Starpointe
4 - Bijou Magique
16 - Zippo's Wacky World of Wonders
7 - Six Flags Carolina +1
15 - Islands of Enchantment
12 - Dreamport
11 - Liseberg -1
2 - Six Flags Santa Fe
11 - Legacies Themepark - Europe
19 - Rivers of Babylon -1
18 - Isole Calabria
7 - Busch Gardens Asia +1
14 - Dimensions: Realms of Creation

 

0 - Aero's Wormwood
0 - Euroscape
0 - DisneySea Spain
0 - DisneySea
0 - Divinity Ridge
0 - Disney's Phantasia
0 - Marriott's Marine World
0 - Tilted Acres
0 - Spellbrook Shore
0 - G Force's Worlds of Fun
0 - Europa Park World Showcase
0 - Ports of Magia
0 - Magic Realms Resort
0 - Rocky Mountain Mystique
0 - Watkins Woods Amusement Park

0 - Thorpe Park

8 - Starpointe
4 - Bijou Magique
16 - Zippo's Wacky World of Wonders
7 - Six Flags Carolina
15 - Islands of Enchantment
13 - Dreamport (+1)
11 - Liseberg
1 - Six Flags Santa Fe (-1)
11 - Legacies Themepark - Europe
20 - Rivers of Babylon (+1)
18 - Isole Calabria
6 - Busch Gardens Asia (-1)
14 - Dimensions: Realms of Creation

 

0 - Aero's Wormwood
0 - Euroscape
0 - DisneySea Spain
0 - DisneySea
0 - Divinity Ridge
0 - Disney's Phantasia
0 - Marriott's Marine World
0 - Tilted Acres
0 - Spellbrook Shore
0 - G Force's Worlds of Fun
0 - Europa Park World Showcase
0 - Ports of Magia
0 - Magic Realms Resort
0 - Rocky Mountain Mystique
0 - Watkins Woods Amusement Park

0 - Thorpe Park

8 - Starpointe
3 - Bijou Magique (-1)
16 - Zippo's Wacky World of Wonders
7 - Six Flags Carolina
15 - Islands of Enchantment
13 - Dreamport

11 - Liseberg
2 - Six Flags Santa Fe (+1)
11 - Legacies Themepark - Europe
20 - Rivers of Babylon

18 - Isole Calabria
7 - Busch Gardens Asia (+1)

13 - Dimensions: Realms of Creation (-1)

 

0 - Aero's Wormwood
0 - Euroscape
0 - DisneySea Spain
0 - DisneySea
0 - Divinity Ridge
0 - Disney's Phantasia
0 - Marriott's Marine World
0 - Tilted Acres
0 - Spellbrook Shore
0 - G Force's Worlds of Fun
0 - Europa Park World Showcase
0 - Ports of Magia
0 - Magic Realms Resort
0 - Rocky Mountain Mystique
0 - Watkins Woods Amusement Park

0 - Thorpe Park

 

 

@kumba,  I'm not attacking it, I just don't think it deserves the number of points it has relative the other maps remaining.

8 - Starpointe
3 - Bijou Magique
16 - Zippo's Wacky World of Wonders
7 - Six Flags Carolina
16 - Islands of Enchantment (+1)
13 - Dreamport

10 - Liseberg (-1)
1 - Six Flags Santa Fe (-1)
11 - Legacies Themepark - Europe
20 - Rivers of Babylon

19 - Isole Calabria (+1)
7 - Busch Gardens Asia

13 - Dimensions: Realms of Creation

 

0 - Aero's Wormwood
0 - Euroscape
0 - DisneySea Spain
0 - DisneySea
0 - Divinity Ridge
0 - Disney's Phantasia
0 - Marriott's Marine World
0 - Tilted Acres
0 - Spellbrook Shore
0 - G Force's Worlds of Fun
0 - Europa Park World Showcase
0 - Ports of Magia
0 - Magic Realms Resort
0 - Rocky Mountain Mystique
0 - Watkins Woods Amusement Park

0 - Thorpe Park

@kumba,  I'm not attacking it, I just don't think it deserves the number of points it has relative the other maps remaining.

 

No big deal, tho I think people should only do one of these per page. I also rather not just make the same picks each time, but whatever. 

8 - Starpointe
3 - Bijou Magique
16 - Zippo's Wacky World of Wonders
6 - Six Flags Carolina (-1)
16 - Islands of Enchantment 
14 - Dreamport (+1)

10 - Liseberg
11 - Legacies Themepark - Europe
20 - Rivers of Babylon

19 - Isole Calabria 
8 - Busch Gardens Asia (+1)

13 - Dimensions: Realms of Creation

 

0 - Aero's Wormwood
0 - Euroscape
0 - DisneySea Spain
0 - DisneySea
0 - Divinity Ridge
0 - Disney's Phantasia
0 - Marriott's Marine World
0 - Tilted Acres
0 - Spellbrook Shore
0 - G Force's Worlds of Fun
0 - Europa Park World Showcase
0 - Ports of Magia
0 - Magic Realms Resort
0 - Rocky Mountain Mystique
0 - Watkins Woods Amusement Park

0 - Thorpe Park

0 - Six Flags Santa Fe (-1)

8 - Starpointe
3 - Bijou Magique
16 - Zippo's Wacky World of Wonders
5 - Six Flags Carolina (-1)
17 - Islands of Enchantment  (+1)
13 - Dreamport (-1)

10 - Liseberg
11 - Legacies Themepark - Europe
20 - Rivers of Babylon

20 - Isole Calabria  (+1)
8 - Busch Gardens Asia 

13 - Dimensions: Realms of Creation

 

0 - Aero's Wormwood
0 - Euroscape
0 - DisneySea Spain
0 - DisneySea
0 - Divinity Ridge
0 - Disney's Phantasia
0 - Marriott's Marine World
0 - Tilted Acres
0 - Spellbrook Shore
0 - G Force's Worlds of Fun
0 - Europa Park World Showcase
0 - Ports of Magia
0 - Magic Realms Resort
0 - Rocky Mountain Mystique
0 - Watkins Woods Amusement Park

0 - Thorpe Park

0 - Six Flags Santa Fe

8 - Starpointe
4 - Bijou Magique (+1)
16 - Zippo's Wacky World of Wonders
4 - Six Flags Carolina (-1)
17 - Islands of Enchantment
13 - Dreamport

10 - Liseberg
11 - Legacies Themepark - Europe
20 - Rivers of Babylon

19 - Isole Calabria  (-1)
9 - Busch Gardens Asia (+1)

13 - Dimensions: Realms of Creation

 

0 - Aero's Wormwood
0 - Euroscape
0 - DisneySea Spain
0 - DisneySea
0 - Divinity Ridge
0 - Disney's Phantasia
0 - Marriott's Marine World
0 - Tilted Acres
0 - Spellbrook Shore
0 - G Force's Worlds of Fun
0 - Europa Park World Showcase
0 - Ports of Magia
0 - Magic Realms Resort
0 - Rocky Mountain Mystique
0 - Watkins Woods Amusement Park

0 - Thorpe Park

0 - Six Flags Santa Fe

7 - Starpointe -1
3 - Bijou Magique -1
16 - Zippo's Wacky World of Wonders
4 - Six Flags Carolina
17 - Islands of Enchantment
13 - Dreamport
10 - Liseberg
12 - Legacies Themepark - Europe +1
20 - Rivers of Babylon
19 - Isole Calabria
9 - Busch Gardens Asia
14 - Dimensions: Realms of Creation +1

0 - Aero's Wormwood
0 - Euroscape
0 - DisneySea Spain
0 - DisneySea
0 - Divinity Ridge
0 - Disney's Phantasia
0 - Marriott's Marine World
0 - Tilted Acres
0 - Spellbrook Shore
0 - G Force's Worlds of Fun
0 - Europa Park World Showcase
0 - Ports of Magia
0 - Magic Realms Resort
0 - Rocky Mountain Mystique
0 - Watkins Woods Amusement Park
0 - Thorpe Park
0 - Six Flags Santa Fe

6 - Starpointe -1
2 - Bijou Magique -1
17 - Zippo's Wacky World of Wonders +1
4 - Six Flags Carolina
17 - Islands of Enchantment
13 - Dreamport
10 - Liseberg
12 - Legacies Themepark - Europe
21 - Rivers of Babylon +1
19 - Isole Calabria
9 - Busch Gardens Asia
14 - Dimensions: Realms of Creation

0 - Aero's Wormwood
0 - Euroscape
0 - DisneySea Spain
0 - DisneySea
0 - Divinity Ridge
0 - Disney's Phantasia
0 - Marriott's Marine World
0 - Tilted Acres
0 - Spellbrook Shore
0 - G Force's Worlds of Fun
0 - Europa Park World Showcase
0 - Ports of Magia
0 - Magic Realms Resort
0 - Rocky Mountain Mystique
0 - Watkins Woods Amusement Park
0 - Thorpe Park
0 - Six Flags Santa Fe

7 - Starpointe +1

3 - Bijou Magique +1
17 - Zippo's Wacky World of Wonders
4 - Six Flags Carolina
17 - Islands of Enchantment
13 - Dreamport
10 - Liseberg
12 - Legacies Themepark - Europe 
21 - Rivers of Babylon
18 - Isole Calabria -1
9 - Busch Gardens Asia
13 - Dimensions: Realms of Creation -1

0 - Aero's Wormwood
0 - Euroscape
0 - DisneySea Spain
0 - DisneySea
0 - Divinity Ridge
0 - Disney's Phantasia
0 - Marriott's Marine World
0 - Tilted Acres
0 - Spellbrook Shore
0 - G Force's Worlds of Fun
0 - Europa Park World Showcase
0 - Ports of Magia
0 - Magic Realms Resort
0 - Rocky Mountain Mystique
0 - Watkins Woods Amusement Park
0 - Thorpe Park
0 - Six Flags Santa Fe