Zoo Tycoon 2 cranks up the excitement, challenge and fun of building the ultimate zoo with 30 animals in incredible detail with more fun animations, a dazzling array of building tools and objects, including themed-buildings, moats, photo mode options, easier terrain altering options and rivers. Gameplay has been enhanced from the original title, with a new zoom mode and 3D graphics that allow players to keep an even closer eye on the action and craft more creative zoos.Easy to start and easy to play, Zoo Tycoon 2 gets players up close and interacting with the animals and zoo, offering intuitive controls, and fun tutorials that allow players of all ages to enjoy the game right out of the box. Players are completely immersed into the zoo experience with new features including the Zoo Guest mode, where players can walk around and enjoy the game from a first-person point of view; Zookeeper, which allows players to interact with their animals like never before, and a brand new camera mode. Players can take pictures of their favorite animals and guests and share them online with friends. A Zoopedia, chock-full of entertaining and interesting facts about animals, rounds out the new and improved features of the upcoming gameFeatureProduct FeaturesTechnical detailsPlatformPC DeveloperBlue Fang GenreLife/Simulation Compatible operating systemsWindows 98SE/2000/ME/XP Media types supportedCD System requirementsMinimum hard disk space900MB Minimum RAM256MB Minimum processor733 MHz Minimum video card memory16MB LanguageLanguage versionENA surprise hit on its original release,
Zoo Tycoon over the past year or two has proven to be one of the most accessible and enjoyable PC strategy games on the market. Its sequel is set to enjoy similar success, and deservedly so, for some genuine improvements have been made to an already strong title.
The first thing to hit you is the improved graphics, with a full 3D rendering of your creation before your eyes. The idea, as last time, is to build and successfully run your zoo, and now you can enter Guest Mode, which puts you on the ground and allows you to walk around your zoo. Mind you, that may not be a good plan if you don't keep on top of things. Getting the mixture of animals, good design, accessibility and public interest is no mean feat, and there's going to be plenty going wrong before you get things right.
Still, Zoo Tycoon 2 is a fair game that never leaves you in the dark as to where you've gone wrong. It's also a friendly one; the interface, tutorials and controls are all helpful, and through its zoopedia function, it's not without educational value either.
But does it all work? It certainly does. Whether you're building enclosures and moats, setting up attractions, taking on one of the scenario challenges or simply trying to cause as much chaos as possible, Zoo Tycoon 2 is never less than entertaining. That it's a game all the family can enjoy is a real bonus, too. Recommended. --Simon Brew
