Pet Vet 3D is back with more cute animals in Pet Vet 3D Wild Animal Hospital.
This time, the hospital is in Africa and the patients are animals brought in
from the wild for treatment. Everything else is the same.
Just as in Pet Vet 3D, Wild Animal Hospital is an animal-care simulation on
the lines of Zoo Tycoon, but on a much simpler scale. There is one
veterinarian and one animal keeper. Players control the veterinarian as their
main character during the game, but can also access the animal keeper for
certain tasks.
Play begins with a choice of a campaign, freestyle or tutorial mode. The
tutorial does an excellent job of presenting the main functions and concepts
of the game’s interface. The scenarios option is the campaign mode, and the
scenarios are played through in order as they are unlocked. Freestyle is
selected by choosing the new game option.
The interface is simple and intuitive and kids will easily be able to sit down
and begin playing, especially if they go through the tutorial mode first. I
wish every kids’ game had this type of interface.
The combination of logical branching of menus and graphically descriptive
icons for most functions is almost perfect.
The main goal of the game is to diagnose each animal patient successfully.
This is accomplished by examining the animal in the examination room with
various instruments. The vet will go over the animal with the instruments that
the player chooses and different diagnoses and observations are listed in
windows for each instrument. When finished, the player must choose the correct
diagnosis. If correct, the animal is treated and the vet receives money from
the animal foundation. If the animal has to stay at the hospital, a pen must
be available. While at the hospital, either the vet or the animal keeper will
have to take care of its basic needs.
The secondary goal of the game is to earn cool upgrades for the hospital.
Animal-care items like toys and food can be purchased, plus more decorative
things like clothes for the vet, furniture for the hospital and better
instruments for the examining room. Players can also build different animal
pens, but the options are limited as to placement and what type of pens they
will be and what animals they will hold. There is an educational aspect, as
well, with animal facts included in books that the players will have to read
to play many of the scenarios.
And that’s about it. Wild Animal Hospital does exactly the job it sets out to
do, entertain kids with an easy pet-care simulation that is designed to be
simple, but at the same time entertaining. There are lots of really cute
animals and fun items to use with them in caring for them. The clothes and
household items are fun, too. While simple, there is
still plenty of things to do, such as making sure the vet and keeper eat and
get plenty of rest, that the food inventory is maintained, and the animals are
happy. And, of course, that the animal patients are correctly diagnosed.
This is a great choice for young players who love animals. It is easier and
less complex than Zoo Tycoon, which can be a little confusing for young
children. The animals are really cute and while their actions are unrealistic
(wild animals aren’t going to play fetch or allow themselves to be petted),
kids won’t notice. They’ll just have fun doing it.
If families don’t already own Pet Vet, Wild Animal Hospital is a great choice
for the family. If they do already own it, they may not want to get this as
it’s really the same game with different animals. Best for
younger players. Older kids will enjoy Zoo Tycoon more.
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Gameplay: 7.5
More
cute animals and also more decorations. Otherwise, the game is the same, which
is a good thing. Kids will have lots of fun playing veterinarian.
Graphics: 7.0
The
graphics are pretty good, but nothing to get excited about.
Sound: 7.0
The
sound effects are adequate, but could have been better. The music is average.
Difficulty: Easy
The
game is easy to pick up and play. There are three difficulty levels, but even
the hardest level isn’t very hard.
Concept: 6.0
The
game doesn’t offer anything new, except for the animals. The presentation is
good.
Overall: 7.5
Just
like the original, Pet Vet Wild Animal Hospital is a good simulation game for
kids. The interface is easy to understand, and there are lots of things to do.
There isn’t anything substantially new in this edition, so parents who already
have Pet Vet may ponder whether or not to get this latest edition. But,
considered solely as a separate game, this is a very good game for kids.
