Zoo Tycoon 2 (PC CD)

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

I haven't played RC3 fully yet, and that looks *as* good, but the playability of Zoo Tycoon 2 is spot on. The Keeper mode allowed you to explore your zoo, see into the eyes of the guests, and keep your animals clean. This is the best bit, the layout and setting up of cages for the animals is easy, it basically tells you what to lay, so not as finicky as Zoo Tycoon 1.

Keeping the guests happy is relatively easy too, and the way extra items come along as your zoo gains star ratings is great too. I haven't even played the sandbox unlimited cash mode yet, the challenges are enough fun!. The only bad points - it's pretty easy, and it's fairly slow. Well, the second point you'd expect because it's a sim, and the first - well, I'd complain more if it was too hard.

This game has a great 'feel good' factor, when you've created your zoo and everything's working well. The graphics are great, first person mode is fantastic. All in all one of the best games I've ever played, with appeal for all ages and sexes. This is definately one that slipped under the mainstream radar as an all time classic.

Expansion pack out soon with more challenges and creatures. Let's hope they've shot the person who suggested 'dinosaurs' eh?

If you liked the first Zoo Tycoon this is a must buy. No stress, just pure fun. I have spent far too much time just wandering about looking at the zoo I made and feeding and cleaning out the animals.

At first I found the game boring a bit because there wasn't many animals (I wasn't really thinking about expansions)but after a while i really got in to it I was breeding all sorts of animals like zebras,elephants,rhinos etc but I didn't really let in the guest's at first I was just getting used to the game.I love the new habitat control's I just loved making waterfalls (I thought that was really cool)and I liked all the new differant terrains like shrub,wetland and a few others and it was better that it told you what to give or do with the animals.
so I thought it was a really great game.
SUPER GAME BRILLIANT,GREAT,SPECTACULAR!