Zoo Tycoon 2 - PC Previews - The Armchair Empire


	Platform PC Genre Strategy Publisher Microsoft Developer Blue Fang Games ETA November 2004
Newsletter
Be notified of site updates. Sign-up for the Newsletter sent out twice weekly. Enter E-Mail Address Below: Subscribe \| Unsubscribe

Zoo Tycoon 2

Zoo Tycoon 2 (ZT2) strives to make the original merely a nostalgic memory with a host of improvements not the least of which is it's full 3D setting. No longer do you just watch from your isometric perch, ZT2 will let you jump into your zoo creation and get up close and personal with the animals -- without the risk of loss of life or limb!

I've had some hands-on time with the beta and so far I'm impressed with the

Advertisement

power of the terrain tools the most, because most everything is only slightly above "placeholder" status. But on with the facts first:

“Zoo Tycoon 2,” the newest addition to the massively popular and award-winning “Zoo Tycoon” franchise, provides the ultimate zoo experience, and now allows players to step into their zoo where they’ll be face-to-face with animals and guests in an all-new 3-D

Advertisement

world. Enhanced building options and more management choices allow players of all ages and skill levels to be even more creative in building and managing habitats and zoo attractions so that guests are happier and animals are more entertaining.

Features:
Get closer to the action. Players can now step into their dream zoo via the all-new Zootopia functionality and enhanced 3-D graphics to experience it all first-hand. Walk around with guests and enjoy the zoo via Zoo Guest mode, or come face-to-face with animals while caring, feeding and improving their happiness in Zookeeper mode. Finally, take pictures of the animals in action and create a photo album to share online with friends using the Zoo Photo Safari.

New ways to build. “Zoo Tycoon 2” features more than 300 building objects including exhibit materials, themed buildings, guest attractions and toys. Creating an exhibit is easier than ever with the new Habitat Builder tool that allows players to build moats, waterfalls and more. The Biome Brush provides the final touches on a new exhibit, painting different landscapes instantly to create natural deserts, rainforests, arctic tundras and wetlands.

Deeper gameplay. Random and Dynamic challenges in the Campaign and Freeform modes allow players even deeper, more interesting gameplay scenarios. Take on additional challenges, such as nursing an animal back to health through Random challenges presented to players during the course of zoo building, or accept Dynamic challenges which relate directly to the scenario or map the player is currently playing. How players design and build their zoos determines the type of animations their animals perform, while balancing the changing needs of both guests and animals is paramount to having the ultimate zoo.

Downloadable content. Free downloadable content including more building objects and animals adds variety to creating the ultimate zoo, with ongoing updates all available at www.zootycoon.com.

ZT2 is definitely on track to be completely superior to its predecessor. I base this summation on watching my five-year old son fiddle around with the game. In no time flat he had waterfalls flowing, savannah grass waving, and penguins and lions hanging-out together. The micromanagement aspects of the game seem to be somewhat optional but when you need to apply that special touch it seems to be the only way to go.

Blue Fang walks a difficult line in keeping it engaging to kids (clearly a target audience) as well as adults (who play with their kids). It might be one of those rare games where parents and kids can play together -- parents handling the economics (entry fees, etc.), kids snapping pictures of the animals, and both contributing to the zoo's design.

Zoo Tycoon 2 is scheduled to ship November 2004

- Omni
(September 6, 2004)