Zoo Tycoon.”> Zoo Tycoon was one of those games that the critics, on the whole, After two add-ons to the original, Microsoft has now released a new edition, At the main menu, players can choose to play either a campaign mode, a The tutorials present the game mechanics in easily digestible servings, with The menus have been streamlined from the first game, with three main menus All the information needed for each individual animal’s enrichment is
The new freeform camera viewpoint is the best new feature, and it works very The graphics have been changed to 3D, and the overall quality is pretty good. The sound effects are good enough, but there could have been more of them. My 14-year-old daughter loved the first Zoo Tycoon and all the
weren’t that wild about. However, GameZone liked it (The Badger gave it an 8,
and I agree with the review), and it turned out to be a commercial success,
despite the lukewarm response from the gaming press. Sometimes it’s hard to tell
what John Q. Public will like, as in the game Deer Hunter, which was
ridiculed all over the place as a “Wal-Mart shopper” type of game, but which was
a big seller. Zoo Tycoon was a much better game in terms of complexity
and design than Deer Hunter, it just didn’t have the best graphics out
there or offer as much design options as Roller Coaster Tycoon. But the
gameplay was fun, with the right mix of exotic animals, economic simulation
campaigns and a sandbox mode, plus it was a great family game, with something in
it to please everyone.
Zoo Tycoon 2, which is very similar to the original, but has an updated
3D graphics engine, streamlined information menus and a new ability to view the
park in a free camera mode. For the most part, these new features have really
added to the game as a whole, and I believe that fans of Zoo Tycoon will
be well-pleased with this updated version.
challenge mode, or a freeform mode. The campaigns each have several scenarios
that are linked together, and begin with easy tutorials. Later campaigns become
unlocked as the game progresses. The challenges are similar to the campaigns,
but are much harder. The freeform mode is the sandbox area, where unlimited
funds and items are available for use.
just the right amount of information at a time. Players are walked through the
menus used to build exhibits, unhouse animals, hire staff and add money-making
revenue sources. If successful, they can continue to play the scenario, or move
on to the next campaign.
for construction, animals and landscaping. The landscaping menu features a handy
“biome brush”, which airbrushes the appropriate landscape for the animals.
Individual plants and rocks can also be added in this menu. The construction
menu gives players a choice now on the method used for laying out fences: an
expandable square of fencing, a rubber band mode and an individual section
placement method. The expandable squaring is a useful idea, but the actual
working is a little awkward, as the square often will only expand in one
direction, instead of all around, which is more useful. The animal menu offers
choices of animal enrichment objects and food. There is also a menu choice for
choosing staff.
accessible by clicking on the animal. The correct biome and other factoids are
available, as well as the stats on how the animal is doing.
This compacting of menus works very well, and players won’t have to hop all
around the universe looking up factoids about their animals’ needs. I previously
stated in the original review of Zoo Tycoon 2 that the people stats menu
from the original game seemed to be missing here, but that was wrong. The people
in the park can be accessed from the Zoo Quick Stats screen, by choosing the
Guest Information tab. This allows players to see at a glance how their animals,
people and staff are doing, which is needed in order to see where potential
problems may be occurring.
well in this game. It’s extremely easy to move around the zoo, zooming in and
out, using the mouse and keyboard simultaneously. The rotation is also done
well. Another new feature tied in with this new up close feature is the First
Person mode, where players can interact with their animals by feeding, grooming
and cleaning them. Specific actions are undertaken by tapping the spacebar when
certain messages come up on the screen, such as “feed the camel”, “clean up the
poop”, “give a bath”, etc. This sounds like more fun than it actually is,
although my daughter thought it was neat. It didn’t do much for me, though.
The animals are much improved, and look good even in extreme close-up, although
they are a little blocky appearing. They also will walk through objects and each
other at times. The buildings are attractive, and most have little vendors
attached to them. The backgrounds are fairly well-detailed. While not the best
graphics I’ve ever seen in a PC game, these compare well to other similar games
on the market and are still above average.
Realistically, animals are pretty quiet at the zoo and aren’t raising too much
of a ruckus, but in a game it’s ok to take a bit of freedom with reality. Some
more noises would have been fun.
add-ons, especially Marine Mania. She is just as smitten with Zoo
Tycoon 2. I like it, too. Its combination of simple gameplay, exotic animals
and easy to use menus make it very accessible, but the simplicity doesn’t mean
it’s “dumbed down”; it has plenty of challenges for players to work through. The
hallmark of a good game is its appeal to the average gamer, and this is just the
game that will fit the bill for most families, especially if considered as a
Christmas gift.
Gameplay: 8.5
It’s fun to build zoos either in the campaign modes, or in the sandbox mode. The
easy interface is a joy to use, and the streamlined menus are a great
improvement. There is a lot of replay value here!
Graphics: 7
While not
state-of-the-art, the graphics still are nice and do the job. Kids will
especially enjoy watching the babies.
Sound: 6.5
The sound effects are ok,
but there could have been more of them.
The game is of a medium difficulty,
with the campaigns beginning very easily, but becoming harder. The Challenge
mode is more difficult.
Concept: 7
This is a new edition
of an existing game, but there are enough new features to make this a definite
worthwhile purchase.
Overall: 8.3
A very good family game,
which people of many different ages can play and enjoy. Lots of games claim
that, but few live up to that claim. Zoo Tycoon 2 is exactly that, a
family game. While more choices in exhibit design and more stats would have
added to the enjoyment a trifle for adults, the lack of these won’t bother the
kids, and really won’t most adults, either. A great addition for anyone’s
library of games!
