Review by cbass:
Old Tunnel Mill by rwadams
Old Tunnel Mill is a grand park that is set around an actual historic mill
in Indiana. I've broken up my review into the categories on which all parks
are judged for VP consideration.
ARCHITECTURE
This park is filled with really nice medium-sized architecture. Each section
has a slightly different feel to it, yet all of the buildings in the park
fit together into a broader theme that's still quite cohesive. My
favorite buildings are in the heart of the Vernon area, like the OTM Inn
(great deck!) and the Mill itself.
Another facet of the park's realistic architecture is the many covered
train and path bridges over the river. Like snowflakes, they're all a little
different but each one is beautiful in its simplicity.
It's worth mentioning that the park doesn't have much custom architectural
scenery loaded -- just ToonTowner's roofs, really -- so there was a lot done
here with just the basics.
COASTERS
So many coasters! And so few that don't rock!
Highlights: Vinegar Mill Run (great little woody, nice interaction with the
buildings); Tunnel Reel (I love a good reel, and this is a great one);
Tunnel Mill Twister (very smooth, even for a floorless, and with
unique-but-realistic custom supports, like a lot of the coasters in the
park)
Lowlights: The Prospector (the wooden supports look a little too tall not to
have lateral support); DO NOT OPEN (I understand that there's no way around
the error, but it's still disappointing. Nice cover in the doc, though).
LANDSCAPING
One of the greatest features of Old Tunnel Mill is the landscaping. There
aren't a whole lot of elevation changes, but the river that runs through the
park is just fantastic. It's a key part of nearly every section, and it
flows smoothly and realistically. I love the little tributaries that grow
out of marshy areas or flow down rocky waterfalls.
ORIGINALTIY/CREATIVITY
Nothing in the park really made me say "wow", except for the sheer scale of
it all and that it's so consistent without being boring. The overall theme
is quite original, though, and there are lots of little touches that seem
clever, like the wave pool and the Ferris/water wheel at the mill.
PARK LAYOUT
The layout is surprisingly simple (in a good way) for a park its size. Most
of the major paths cut a straight line through the woods without seeming too
unnatural. My only gripe is that the Paris section is basically a dead-end
with only the one entrance/exit.
RIDE SELECTION
This park is enormous, with over a dozen large coasters, and nearly every
other kind of ride you could think of. If you can't find the ride you're
looking for here, you're not looking hard enough.
THEMING
I really like that the park is based on an actual place. Aside from that, I
wouldn't say that it's heavily themed, but (as I mentioned above) the subtle
theming of each area allows for greater overall cohesion throughout the
park. That's quite an accomplishment for a park that fills a 256x256 map
with absolutely no filler around the edges.
Congratulations, Roger, on a wonderful park.
This review written by cbass, previous winner of VP, creator of Wisconsin, and RCT Master member.
Edited by Buckeye Becky, 20 October 2006 - 09:18 PM.
