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A simplified version that keeps *most* of what's fun about Zoo Tycoon

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 109 / 117
Date: October 20, 2005
Author: Amazon User

If you're a fan of Zoo Tycoon I, you'll find this as addictive as the PC/Mac versions. But the game has been simplified for the DS and I've noticed a few differences:

- you can't read guest's thoughts
- you can't change the price of refreshments
- you can't customize the color of buildings
- when adopting animals, you can't read the informative text about their natural habitats, diet, etc. (You *can* read about the animals, but only outside of the game--you purchase animal "cards" during gameplay that you can review after you complete a scenario)
- there's no map of the zoo to easily jump around
- financial data and options are limited
- decorating and object placement is limited to one object per grid square--no more filling a square with multiple small bushes, for example
- you can only save one game at a time--there is no dialogue box to name or sort save games, just a single "now saving" animation, so don't expect to have multiple versions of games saved or share the game with another player
- it's a bit slow compared to every other DS game I've played, both at start up and when resizing the map

Still, it's Zoo Tycoon, so if you love it you can easily learn to live with the limitations. The construction tools work okay. I personally don't like having the map always isolated on the upper screen, because the only way to move the cursor is via the directional pad on the left--it makes for a very "clicky" game and aligning the hand precisely can sometimes be a pain. I keep finding myself wishing they'd swapped screen layouts and let you use the stylus like a PC mouse, but for whatever reason you're limited to the directional pad for all direct map interactions.

Finally, my game froze on me at one point--the first time I've had that happen with any DS game. I also accidentally triggered a bug in the research screen once where it went into hyperspeed and gave me discovery after discovery (while eating through funds) until I paused/unpaused the game, but I haven't been able to repeat that bug.

To be fair, I think some of the DS-specific changes to game play work fine. It just might take you a while to get used to them, especially if you're expecting a clone of the PC version.

Fun - But Should have Been Better

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 35 / 40
Date: September 03, 2006
Author: Amazon User

I love the Zoo Tycoon series, raising and caring for zoo animals. I was thrilled to get a DS version to carry around. The implementation on the DS is a bit flawed, though.

First, the basics. You are in control of a zoo, and have to set up exhibits so that the animals you care for are happy. You choose the proper terrain mix, add in some trees and rocks, and maybe a shelter or two. Then you also care for your human visitors - giving burger stands, drink stands, restrooms and benches. If you care for everyone well, you have happy animals, happy visitors and a successful zoo.

This is exactly the kind of game I love. I can play the Zoo Tycoon series for hours and hours. However, I found many problems with the DS implementation that made playing it quite frustrating.

First, some of the changes that they made to simplify the game, which helped to make it playable on the DS. You set up an exhibit fence as a 'block', drawing it on the lower grid. Once it's set, that's it. You can't add or remove pieces later. You don't even set a gate on it. It's a solid fence.

Into each exhibit you place a zookeeper. No more managing zookeeper paths - each exhibit has its own zookeeper. You don't manage individual visitors' happinesses either, or shop incomes.

In a change which I found very saddening, you don't get any information on your animals any more! Surely having a page or two of text about each animal's lifestyle and habitat wouldn't have maxed out the DS card. I found this change very odd. Part of the fun of this game is learning all about the animals, and it doesn't make sense that they took it away.

I understand completely that games need to be "simplified" to be playable on the DS. Still, some changes don't make any sense. For example, if you set up an exhibit and add animals, and then decide you want the exhibit to be a little bigger, too bad. You are stuck for the rest of the level with that exhibit.

Also, if your task is to get X goal within 10 months - and you hit the goal long before then, then you have to sit there and wait the entire time to reach the end. It won't realize you have reached your goal. I had the same issue with the tutorials - I'd do what it wanted, but often it wouldn't realize it until I undid the task and then re-did it again.

The interface had many quirks which were frustrating. When you're drawing cages, you have a grid on the bottom and a picture of the area on the top - and the two don't relate to each other at all. You can't move the grid once you start drawing. It takes a lot of trial and error to get the cage where you want it, if you can even draw the cage size you want based on the interface's limitations.

Finally, the zoos are all *really* small and you can only save one save game. So if you have a great zoo you're working on, and you want to casually play another quick game in the meantime, you can't do it. If you're sharing your DS with your sibling, it won't work at all.

I really do love Zoo Tycoon so I play through the issues, and get enjoyment out of what I have. Still, I really hope if they come out with a Zoo Tycoon 2 that they fix a lot of these issues and make it more of the game I love.

Recommended.

Fun game until it locked up!

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 29 / 33
Date: February 16, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Zoo Tycoon DS is a fun portable version of the tycoon series. I enjoyed discovering the secrets such as selling offspring to make more cash than admissions revenues every month! After playing the addicting scenarios I moved on to the freeform games where the user is given a large map and 100,000 in cash.
My park had 8 cages with the animals that breed frequently: Lions, Zebras, Buffalo and the tigers. The idea was to see how much cash I could accumulate by selling the offspring!

After 5 months in the first year my game locked up cold. I tried loading the game over, same result after a few scenario days. I retried the freeform game, with the same effect in three months.
The game has now unfortunately joined the ranks of Shogun Empires DS, Rebelstar Tactical Command (GBA) and Might & Magic II (GC) as buggy titles that should not have been released.

Pros:
1) Simple but powerful interface.
2) Replayable
3) Through tutorials!

Cons:
1) Statistics only kept for two months.
2) Game locked up.

Very Good

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 19 / 21
Date: November 21, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I've never had a "Tycoon" game, so I thought that I'd give this game a shot. This game turned out very good! Through out this game, one can create his own zoo and see how it does in a simulated world. There are bunches of worlds to build a zoo, and this game allows you to create not only exibits, but also food stands, ponds, benches, trash cans, etc. There are many animals to exhibit along with many trees, terrain, rocks, and toys. It is very interactive with the touch screen, and can be very addicting!

Somethings I do not like, however, are the very small selection of employees (zoo keeper, tour guide, and the garbage men). You can only keep one zoo up at a time, so if you want to create a new file, but don't want to destroy your first zoo, you are in a tight spot.

Overall, I like this game, and it can become very addicting. I would recommend it.

Zoo tycoon ds rules!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 21 / 26
Date: October 16, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I have got zoo tycoon and zoo tycoon 2 for the pc, and they were as brilliant as this game. The graphics are as good as on the pc and the variety of animals is as much as on the pc game. I hope that the expansions for zoo tycoon ds will come out because thay will make it more than fantastic! My only cons are that it is quite fiddly placing things and touchings things using the stylus as it is such a small screen. But overall, a fantastic ds game!

Zoo Tycoon DS

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 17 / 20
Date: December 15, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Zoo Tycoon DS is a recipe for fun right in your own DS. Because it is portable, you can play it anywhere. At a boring grown up party, during a long car ride or plane flight, or when you just feel like it; you are always ready for Zoo Tycoon fun. Zoo Tycoon is an exiting game where you are able to purchase a block of land of your choice, and build exibits, place paths, and purchase animals for guests visiting your zoo to enjoy. Just like the computer version, you have to hire zoo keepers to feed and care for your animals, you must design suitable exibits in order to keep your animals happy, you can place food stands and wash rooms for your guests, and you can design rest areas and play areas for the guests visiting your zoo. The only differece between the original computer version is that the screen is smaller. I would recomend that children under eight would probably not enjoy this version unless they are used to a small screen, but might enjoy the computer version. This DS version compares favourably to the first computer version, and has the added advantge of two screens. This allows you to interact even more, and to have more control over your zoo. It can be difficult to get the hang of it, but when you do it is one of the best games made for a Nintendo DS.

Unfinished If You Ask Me...

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 12 / 13
Date: June 24, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Zoo Tycoon DS is a fun game, but there are SOME drawbacks. The graphics are'nt that great. You pretty much see little blobs of color for the animals, trees and bushes you can tell what they are. Unlike in the computer game the terrains don't blend together, giving it a soft REAL look. Instead it looks unrealistic and hard. Another thing that REALLY got under my skin was the fact that you can only have one zoo at a time. So if you want to make a new zoo you have to delete your old one. When you play the scenarios you have to wait the WHOLE 12 or 18 months until the scenario is over, instead of meeting all of the requirements and being done with it. The land that you build your zoo on is smaller than before. I'm sorry to say, but it just didn't meet my expectations.

Zoo Tycoon DS

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 10 / 10
Date: March 04, 2006
Author: Amazon User

This game is resemblant to the original computer version, but it doesn't have the graphics or easy controls of the software. I would recommend this game to children 10 and older. Any seven-year-old who attempted to play it would be squirming in their seat within minutes. The screens of the DS are small compared to a computer monitor, so little kids might not like squinting to see their animals. Also, the controls are difficult to master, and it would be frusterating for those with little patience to try and figure out just which miniscule squares on the touch screen to touch to build a fence. However, the scenarios are fun and exceeded my expectations; I find it hard to put it down when I'm trying to play the missions. It is great to be able to fit a good game in the palm of my hand, and if you travel a lot, Zoo Tycoon DS is a must-have. I was slightly disappointed when I figured out that I couldn't name things. On the computer game, you could name animals, guests, shops, empolyees, and the zoo. It doesn't sound like a big difference except it is pretty entertaining to think up names for that hot zookeeper or that horny gorilla. Victoria Secret does have a nice ring to it, doesn't it? If your son or daughter is begging for this game but they are under 10, please go with the computer version of Zoo Tycoon: Complete Collection. It has more animals to choose from, such as dinosaurs and SeaWorld critters, plus more scenery. Also, it is $10 cheaper than the DS version, so why not? All in all, this is a fun game for the patient ones, otherwise play it safe and go with the software version.

Fun... for a while

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 11 / 14
Date: June 08, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Building your first zoo is a complete blast, learning the ins and outs of the game. In your second game you build it bigger, with more knowledge of what exactly you're doing. In a third game you can experiment with a different terrain or climate and different animals.

Unfortunately once you have played a few games DS Zoo Tycoon starts getting booring, fast. With nothing to do but maintain fences and sell animals why bother? It's great while it lasts but it doesn't offer new challenges for long enough.

Only one game can be stored at a time, to play and save a new game the old game must eraced, so sharing a game isn't reasonable. However, if you have several kids, as a "hand-me-down" this game can keep several children (and adults!) entertained.

zoo tycoon review

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 7 / 7
Date: January 14, 2006
Author: Amazon User

zoo tycoon is a very interesting game you have to take care of a zoo and make animals feel happy. you can also put restaurants, restrooms or even animal theatres i liked it a lot i recommend this game to someone that is not sure if wants to buy it or not.

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