The Bottom Line
"Sea World Tycoon" adds nothing new to the tycoon genre. You buy buildings, find a location for them, and hope to earn money from visitors. The game is not challenging and becomes dull quickly. Because the game is easy, it may be a good choice for young kids who can't yet grab the concepts of "Zoo Tycoon."
Pros
- good game for kids
- animated buildings allow for watching some of the animals and rides
Cons
- cannot rotate map, some buildings cannot be rotated either
- a few scenarios, which are generally very easy
- gameplay becomes dull quickly
Description
- Publisher: Activision
- Manage Sea World by building staff buildings, attractions, amusements, shops, and food stalls.
- Play in sandbox mode or work through a series of scenarios.
- Hire staff (mechanics, cleaners, vets, and animal specilists) to help take care of the park.
- Read about the animals in the Animal Browser, an educational tool that is great for kids.
Guide Review - "Sea World Tycoon"
The objectives of "Sea World Tycoon" are typical of the tycoon genre. You choose buildings to construct, decorate the park, and hire staff to take care of cleaning and the animals. The tutorial is really the first four scenarios. Unfortunately, there really aren't that many scenarios to begin with, and you are told what to do, but not how to do it. Luckily, the scenario gives you plenty of time to figure it out and click around. "Sea World Tycoon" does not come with a manual or help, so you can't be afraid of clicking around through the menus. It is the only way to find all the options for buildings and staff.
The game starts out fun, despite the searching that needs to be done to complete the first few scenarios. About halfway through, which only takes a few hours to reach, the game becomes repetitive. There are only a few buildings to work with and the objectives are pretty much the same throughout. Your job is to usually have so many visitors with a certain park rating, or earn so much money a day. This is fine for a few scenarios, but for almost every one it gets boring fast.
The graphics are pretty good, from the medium level. But try to get any closer and the view becomes pixilated. The camera does not allow you to rotate the map (or some buildings, which can put a damper on plans).
