When the original Zoo Tycoon- a strictly PC only management game and one in a long list of ‘Tycoon’ titles- arrived, it is fair to say it was met with a collective shrug by the mass collective of gamers. The truth is, most construction/management games only work for a select audience. However, Zoo Tycoon became a cult classic due to its adorable animals, simple concept, and its wonderful balance between offering a challenge whilst also being accessible to everyone. The sequel does all of the same albeit with a fresh lick of paint.
And so along comes Zoo Tycoon 2, a game that I recently (as in, last week) bought and installed. And that in itself is something. In an era where games looks amazing, play wonderfully and have huge budgets, they also come with long installation times and worryingly dragging loading screens. Zoo Tycoon 2 was mercifully easy to install. Although the ‘Ultimate Edition’ I purchased used three discs to install, it was quick and easy, and you were constantly guided through the installation process. That may sound like a strange thing to compliment a game on, especially on one with such a history behind it, but in the world of modern gaming and its frustrations, it was a favourable point I felt deserved a mention. So is this game just the same as Zoo Tycoon?
On paper: yes. But is that such a bad thing. Zoo Tycoon was a game that prided itself on a simple concept with a simple execution. Players could build their own exhibits, take advice from their zookeepers in order to build perfect enclosures for their creatures, whilst also handling the day to day running of a zoo by building guest facilities, constructing attractions and treating the whole thing as running their own fictional business. The second game does the same, although it obviously offers improved 3D graphics and a whole selection of new animals to choose from. All the classic ‘zoo’ trademark creatures are there such as lions, tiger, elephants and giraffes, but the game also throws in some curve-balls such as armadillos, red pandas and mountain goats. The graphics are much better than the original game, although they could hardly be described as realistic. Then again, when it comes to management games such as this, it isn’t as if they are judged on how realistic they look. The game is also graphically on par with Rollercoaster Tycoon 3, which to me is still the absolutely Godfather of the Tycoon game, which means it is probably as good looking as we could expect from a game with this much intricacy. In fact, it is the relaxing pace of the game, coupled with the simple but effective graphics that make it so perfect for casual gamers- even a lower range laptop could handle running the game comfortably for a few hours. You can now build curved edges of exhibition fences, which is a nice touch, but hardly groundbreaking.
However, the game also offers another nice touch, once that adds a whole new level of charm to an already charming game saga. Much like Rollercoaster Tycoon 3, which allowed you to test your own rides as a guest, you can actually walk around the zoo you have created and walk around the exhibits and interact with the animals. You can’t make them do backflips or anything of the sort, but you can groom and wash them, as well as just enjoy watching them behave in their unique ways up close. In fact, they do behave like the animals they are. The monkeys climb trees, the gibbons wave their arms around like they actually do in the wild, and the elephants do all sorts of things with their trunks. The attention to detail is actually fascinating, right down to guests in your zoo, who react in different ways to different things, and who occasionally are overheard humming the Zoo Tycoon theme. It’s a nice little homage.
There is one main criticism I have to make, though. The game is a little too easy. The standard campaign mode has a few challenging moments, but nothing too difficult. Even the original ZT game had a few animals who were incredibly difficult to keep happy, and the fences actually degenerated as time went along, meaning you had to constantly micro-manage things even when your zoo had become hugely popular. The new game, though, lets you build the exhibits before you put the animal in them, meaning you can perfect it before the things are even put in there. Furthermore, once they are placed in there, they tend to go about their business without any more input being needed by you. Zookeepers, too, are infuriating at times, due to their inability to reach certain points of enclosures, no matter how simple you make things. Other staff members, too, lack intelligence. Your maintenance men, who include cleaning the zoo in their duties, will wander straight past piles of little and overflowing bins in order to carry out some other task which- in the grand scheme of things- really shouldn’t be the priority. Luckily, the game allows you to go into guest mode and do their work for them, which solves the issue, but does sort of detract from the enjoyment somewhat. The learning curve isn’t so much ‘not steep enough’ as it is ‘non-existent’, but then, for a game aimed at casual players who just want to relax for a while, that is forgivable. And there is nothing more satisfying than zooming out to get a huge, all encompassing view of your finished zoo.
Fans of the original game will get something from this, and the replay value is huge. The Ultimate Collection I bought contains the original game, alongside all of the expansion packs. This means that when you have tired of breeding elephants, you can go the extra mile and build enclosures for dinosaurs, dodos or Mastodons (the animal, not the metal band). You can also build tanks for marine creatures- everything from humpback whales through to Blue Marlins. All of this adds another dimension to a game that, on the face of it, runs the risk of getting repetitive very quickly. The concept works, it is simple fun, and yet it leaves the player with a real sense of achievement. It’s an oldun but a goodun. Also, you can get it on Amazon.com for less than £10.00.
TO CONCLUDE: fans of management games, especially the ‘Tycoon’ titles, will find an awful lot to enjoy here. Casual gamers will get a rewarding experience from playing the game, especially due to its low demands graphically. Hardcore gamers or those who can only accept explosions, noise and space zombies need not apply. It is charming, adorable and simple fun. If you’re looking for some nostalgia, then give this game a try.
I award this game: 7/10
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