Zoo Tycoon 2: Build Your Very Own Zoo! (Zoo Tycoon 2 (PC))

Member Name: sopostmodernn

Product:	Zoo Tycoon 2 (PC)
Date:	28/02/09 (19 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Animal interaction, many species, and countless animal animations.

Disadvantages: The gameplay gets a little redundant and the challenges aren't very challenging, just bothersome.

While this game is a little bit old and may not be very much a threat to the video games being produced today, it is definitely a game that you won't get board of after a month! The premise is that you are given control of a zoo and, depending on what mode you play in(sandbox, where you can do whatever you like, and challenge where you have to earn the ability to buy certain animals and objects through challenges, such as catching a photo of a baby peacock and its mom), populate it with various species and set up different objects, like souvenir kiosks and ice cream stands, to raise revenue. This game is much more advanced than its predecessor, for those that have already played it.

Animals are incredibly fleshed out, and most species have their own specific behaviors. Nile crocodiles can often be seen sunbathing, gazelle will form a herd, and penguins toboggan. Animals are male and female, and, depending on species, exhibit sexual dimorphism, i.e. male lions can be differentiated from females on sight, as can many other species, such as peacocks and chimps. A personal favorite aspect of this game is the ability of animals to form relationships with other members of their species in the exhibit and give birth. The baby forms of animals are always smaller and may show different markings or fur patterns than the adults. Within a few hours, these will usually grow into adults.

A lot of the more popular animals, such as polar bears and chimps, have their very own special toys to be placed in their exhibits. Animals also interact with other species, but this is usually only in a predator/prey manner and the prey will become an object called 'Carcass of ___(name of animal)', which meat eating animals can usually eat. There is a huge variety of foods and toys, flora and rocks to decorate an exhibit with. Hey, they even poop!

Unfortunately, the game has a few glitches. For example, a common message is 'Keeper X can't get to animal x!', even though the animal isn't in any isolated position. Picking up and dropping the zookeeper npc to the animal won't do much good, and soon you will be flooded with messages saying 'Keeper Y, Z, W...'. It gets annoying. However, that's one of the few drawbacks.

Personally, the challenges are pretty boring and usually revolve around one of many archetypes with the objects name being the only difference. I don't see it as the highlight of the game. Another bore is putting species together. It's extremely difficult to do, and the animals are constantly complaining that their needs aren't being met. Another dilemma is giving the animals privacy(a need they cling to very dearly) and at the same time appeasing the visitors by letting them see them! After your zoo gets established, this becomes pretty difficult.

If you have a lot of time, this game might be a good gift to yourself! This game has saved me countless times when my internet has crashed.

Summary: A game, appropriate for all ages, based on the construction and maintenance of ones very own zoo!