Bluetiful_Monday

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This review is long overdue.

After Ancient Worlds and Storybrook Glen, some of us who were relatively new to the competitive side of RCT were trying our own hand at the no-custom-secenery workbench without expansions, taking on our own reimagination of Blackpool Pleasure Beach. Immediately, we saw how tricky the bench was compared to what we were used to with recolorables. Hell, even the natural water palette provided some newfound challenges with pathing, as the English variations allow for extra greys and all, reducing the need for proxy pathing.

When Age of Sail was first released, I remember myself and one of my friends thinking, “is this it? Can NCSO be pushed any further than this?” Because the object usage and ingenuity is simply that creative. Combined with that grand overview, the result is pretty unbelievable.

The park is mostly constructed on either cliffsides or docks overseeing a body of water, almost shaped like an X. As Liam said, X marks the spotlight. Each area allows for these perfectly unobstructed views that let the guest catch a glimpse of the opposite end of the park, while also being able to take in all the sights to their current location. The way each area transitions into the next feels so organic to the dynamic landscaping, so nothing feels forced or segmented.

The best way to look at this park would be to hit the different areas one at a time. I’ll start off with Port Royal, my personal favorite. Voodoo is simply put the best B&M invert of all-time. Even better than El Encierro, and I love that coaster to pieces. Alex in general has a thing for making great inverts, as we last saw with The Architects. But this design in particular is extraordinary. It’s the culmination of every great element, transition, and framework possible, all while weaving in and out of this dynamic landscaping. And jeez, that station. And it’s not even the best station in the park! The coaster deserves its own review.

Back to the area, this is where the object usage shines. The way you pieced together the architecture in this spot is utterly incredible. The hotdog stands as a base for the entrances/canvas coverings? The seamless layering of pieces tailor-made for each other? The reworking of the medusa signs to create a different language? The bones hanging from the cave roofs? Yeah, this area is something people will reference forever. Did I mention it’s all perfectly laid out?

The Barbary Coast is next. I’ll begin by asserting that not every area needs to be as intense as the standout (s). The themes need room to breathe. If you have too many “hot” moments, they start competing against each other for attention, and can take away from the viewing experience. Barbary Coast is a perfect execution of this. The architecture isn’t as crunch-induced as the neighboring area, but it doesn’t have to be, especially considering the theme. Overall, this is gorgeous and soft on the eyes. Cutlass is a great woodie, too. It should be noted by this point that the sailboats throughout, especially by the docks here and the entrance, are about as good as it gets in RCT. I don’t know how you managed this.

Up next is Lost Kingdom. I must admit, this is probably the area I explore the least. Not due to lack of quality, but rather because I’m such a huge fan of the two neighboring areas. But I ought to come here more often, because it’s probably one of the best iterations of this theme we’ve seen. A match made in heaven for ncso. The screenshot you posted with the splash ride, Neptune’s Fury, is perfectly framed with the S-bends and subsequent curved latticework highlighting the dueling drop. I’d say Goldrush is in the same league as Cutlass, if not ever so slightly better. In summation, this area feels like an ode to Ancient Worlds, and how far you’ve come with constructing your architecture.

Finally we arrive at Jakarta Bay, my 2nd favorite area. As I hinted earlier, the station to Voodoo from Port Royal - as great as it is - is only a taste of things to come with Naga. With NCSO, builders tend to run into the issue of detailing with layering where it ends up looking like a mesh, similar to what you’d see in steampunk themes. But it's unintentional and unfitting for the theme. One of the things that’s always been a trademark to Alex’s impeccable strength (but prominently comes to fruition on AoS) is how he can piece together different objects tailor-made for each other. Naga’s station is one of the best - if not the best - buildings on the map. This thing is rickety, yet clean. Imposing, yet fitting. Combined with such a graceful layout, it’s another double S-tier level coaster with an already fantastic lineup.

Back to business. The way you did the rice paddies in the back looks effortless. Despite not having custom curved maze pieces, it doesn’t feel angular in the slightest. The towering buildings match some of the more simplified architecture from Barbary Coast, providing a good transition into the area. I don’t think this review can go further without giving props to your diagonal pagoda. Again, it’s another one of those moments where I go, “wow, that looks so ingenious, why didn’t I ever think of that?”

The themes explored in Age of Sail aren’t anything new, but neither are the themes in Storybrook Glen. What separates AoS from other spotlights and ncso highlights is just how unfairly well everything is executed. It’s the sheer amount of risk-taking with architecture and sailboat design. It’s the heavy amounts of detail that feel perfectly placed. It’s a balance between micro and a grand macro that enamors a first time viewer to dig in, or a returning builder to get inspired. It's about such brilliantly themed areas that go beyond a video game, and seemingly take the viewer and immersing them into the park itself, which is a world of its own. And ultimately, it remains a moment in time that everyone will remember forever.

Age of Sail is one of the top 3 greatest full-scale parks ever made. It’s a miracle how good something like this can even exist.

Gorgeously detailed architecture

Thanks everyone I still have no idea how I managed the original!

One of my favorite Advent entries, possibly my favorite. Outstanding job, made me feel so cozy and in the Christmas spirit.

We need more quality, full-scale NCSO parks!