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"Zoo Tycoon"
Introduction
As kids, we loved the zoo and the excitement that it gave us to see exotic animals from far away places. As adults, our first thoughts of going to the zoo bring us back to our childhood memories of family outings to the zoo. We all have our own ideas about what the ideal zoo would be like. Mine would have very short lines to the tiger and leopard exhibits. Yours may have lots of burger or drink stands, or maybe lots of monkeys. It may also be fun to try to recreate your favorite zoo or one near you. Whatever it is you desire in a zoo, chances are you will be able to create it in Zoo Tycoon.
Installation
I think this may be one of the easiest games to install. Just a couple of clicks, and you're ready to start building a zoo. Quick, simple, and easy, all qualities I like to see in a game's installation process.
Gameplay
Learning how to play this game is very easy. You can go through a tutorial, or simply explore the menus on your own. The interface is user friendly and well organized.
Your objective is to build and manage the zoo. Your are given lots of tools and options to complete this task. For example, there are more than enough types of fences for you to choose from. Since a wide range of animals are available, the range of habitats are many. There are tons of trees and ground types to choose from. There is something to make each animal happy. Not sure exactly what type of habitat a rhino wants? Well, there is a zookeeper to give you recommendations about the animals' needs.
At times the pace of the game can be slow, but the special moments of your
animals finally mating make up for it. If you take good care of the animals
that are already in your zoo, you will have the chance to take care of
endangered animals. Watching the animals play with each other is fun and relaxing. Seeing the animals chase each other around and cuddle will amuse just about anyone.
"Zoo Tycoon" can be a never ending game if you would like. You can play in a freeform mode that lets you play however you may want to. But if you want a challenge, there are plenty of scenarios to keep you occupied. The first few of the scenarios are tutorials, and are great to give you a feel for the interface and play of the game.
Not only must you keep your animals happy, but you must also keep the visitors content. You'll have to be sure to build plenty of refreshment stands, and bathroom facilities. There are gift shops, petting zoos, elephant rides, and ice cream stands to be built also.
Some of the terrains available:
- Aquatic
- Deciduous Forest
- Desert
- Savannah
- Tundra
More then 40 animals available included are:
- Bengal Tiger
- Emperor Penguin
- Flamingo
- Polar Bear
- Spotted Hyena
Graphics
The graphics are great. They suit the game perfectly. My only complaint is that in the closest view, the graphics become pixelated. Similar to the problem "SimCity" 2000 had. However, the next closest view is close enough to the action for me.
Sound
The quality of the sound is good, not overly impressive, but good. The animal sounds are entertaining. The tigers and lions will occansionally roar at visitors. The visitors of the zoo also can be entertaining as well; especially when an elephant gets loose and people start screaming and running to safety. The background sound is people moving about and talking, with animal sounds. You'll either find it amusing or annoying. Just keep the volume down if constant noise bothers you. The important sounds are usually louder than the visitor’s background sound.
Overall
I won't be uninstalling this game any time soon. Its a great way to relax, and fun to watch the animals play together (especially the polar bears). Kids will learn a lot about the needs of animals. "Zoo Tycoon" has something to offer even a serious gamer. On the surface it may seem easy, but there is a lot strategy involved.
Minimum System Requirements:
- 233 MHz or higher processor
- Windows 95 or higher
- DirectX 8
- 32 MB of RAM for Windows 95, 98, and ME; 64 MB of RAM for Windows 2000; 128 MB of RAM for Windows XP
- 250 MB available hard drive space (600 MB recommended)
- 4X or higher CD-ROM drive
- Super VGA video display capable of 800X600 resolution
- Mouse
- Audio board and speakers recommended
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