User Reviews (11 - 21 of 40)

Show these reviews first:

Highest Rated
Lowest Rated Newest
Oldest Most Helpful
Least Helpful

BEWARE

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 9 / 14
Date: December 08, 2004
Author: Amazon User

WARNING!!! The minimum requirements for this game are VERY misleading! The box says NOTHING about needing a specific video card and you may think your computer meets the minimum but byer beware, it probably won't work! We have a brand new computer with alllllllllll the bells and whistles and it wouldn't run this game. And a video card is NOT cheap! Go to the website and make sure your computer has a game card and video card that is compatible or you will be greatly disappointed! Once again Microsoft leaves me sad! I probably will think looooooooong and hard before I buy another game by Microsoft! And to think I once thought nothing would disappoint me more than a Sims game!

VIDEO CARD ISSUES

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 8 / 12
Date: February 01, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I bought this game because i enjoyed the original version and was really excited to play this one.

After installation i got a message saying my video card was too old for this game! It's a one year old DELL laptop with every bell and whistle. The card is ATI Mobile 7500. I updated video drivers, but it was a no go.

I guess you need a top of the line PC bought in the past 3-6 months to play this. I'd say stay away unless you want a nasty surprise, especially since the game box has NO warning on it.

Video card Issues, not disclosed prior to purchase.

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 5 / 6
Date: December 26, 2004
Author: Amazon User

The system requirements listed for this item should include that once you load the game up and it refuses to play, you then get a helpful list of no less than 35 different Graphics card "issues" 35! and some of the best out there are among them. Most of the list cites there is nothing that will resolve the issue, save a new video card. Game has been purchased, and opened, so no returns and one upset kid who just wants to play the game he got for Christmas. Whats a parent to do? Buy a new video card I guess, and bring my list of 35 that I cannot buy because they will not work with this game.
SHAME ON YOU MICROSOFT! This should have been CLEARLY stated on the box and system requirement information. I dont need a new video card, but apparently if this game is to ever work, Im going to have to buy one. So Beware buyers. This game may cost you a lot more than the purchase price.

Great New Features -- Better for kids -- Challenge Gone! :(

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: December 30, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I LOVE Zoo Tycoon Complete Collection, and eagerly awaited the release of ZT2. I have not had any problems so far with crashing, bugs or unsupported video cards (I am running it on a Sony Vaio RA-710G, purchased in 7-04).

The game is actually quite different, IMO, from ZTCC. I would recommend ZT2 for young children, but for an adult I would recommend ZTCC. I admit that I have not finished the campaigns, and I have not played any of the challenge games yet, but I am disappointed in the biome brush and apparent lack of thought needed to make the animals happy (everything is filtered for you). I really miss the challenge of figuring out how to get those last few points for the perfection of the exhibit, after the zookeeper has told you it is well suited, but you are still 5-10 points below the requirement in the scenario.

That said, ZT2 is much easier for my 5yo to play. ZT2 does not require the reading skill that ZTCC does. He has played ZTCC for about a year, and needed a lot of help with reading the zookeeper recommendations (he could then carry them out, he just could not read them), but needs very little help with ZT2 (everything is in icons, even zookeeper recommendations). Zookeeper recommendations even take the form of filtering the game content to only what will make the animal happy!

My son and I both LOVE the guest mode, being able to visit the zoo you created is great! Being able to do the staff duties takes care of that annoying zookeeper that you would keep dropping in the pile of poo and they would just walk away instead of cleaning it, or the maintenence worker who refused to empty the trash. The photo safari mode is the best!!! I have gotten some fabulous shots of my animated animals! I just wish I could do those things in ZTCC..........

The graphics are great, but a little (cartoonish? smooth? round? Disney-ish?). I cannot quite put my finger on it. Maybe not textured enough........

Overall, a really good game.... I would ideally have given it 5 stars for kids and 3 for adults, but had to settle for an average of 4 stars.

HEY! BLUE FANG!!! how about a ZT*3* that combines the challenge of ZTCC and the awesome features of ZT2???

The difference is...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 9 / 16
Date: November 20, 2004
Author: Amazon User

The difference between this version and Zoo Tycoon 2 is that this version includes a ballpoint pen, either one with a monkey on top or one with a tiger on top. Mine came with the tiger, it's a nice pen, don't know if I would have gone out of my way for it.

Otherwise the games are the same.

and so far it plays fine on my computer.

Love the Sequel

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 6 / 10
Date: November 19, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I have tested it on 3 machines and it installs and plays without a hitch.

Here are the requirements as posted on the official website:
Zoo Tycoon 2 requires a personal computer with the following minimum requirements:
A Pentium 733 or higher processor.
Windows 98 Second Edition, Windows Me, Windows 2000, or Windows XP.
256 Megabytes (MB) of RAM.
900 MB of available hard disk space (requires the CD in the CD-ROM drive to play the game).
A 4× CD-ROM drive.
A Direct3D-compatible super VGA display adapter with 16 MB of VRAM.
A keyboard and Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device.
A sound card and speakers or headphones for audio.
DirectX 9.0b or later (included on CD; see below for installation instructions if not installed automatically).
Internet access for optional downloadable content.

If your computer meets or beats the above, you should have no problems

Microsoft Arrogance Strikes Again

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 4 / 5
Date: December 26, 2004
Author: Amazon User

The incompatibility of this game with a long list of video cards it is outrageous. No mention until after the game is loaded. Fat chance trying to return a piece of opened software.

Microsoft should be proud that they have children crying themselves to sleep on Christmas due to their inability to play with this "gift".

Don't buy this software!

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 4 / 5
Date: December 27, 2004
Author: Amazon User

I purchased Zoo Tycoon 2 without reading all the reviews because my daughters enjoyed Zoo Tycoon 1 so much and we'd never had any problems with it. Big mistake! Unless your computer was purchased since September 2004 AND has expensive video card options this game will not work! What a complete joke. This game works on my brand new Dell but I don't really like the kids using my computer. The game will not work on our 2 year old Dell which was purchased with all the bells & whistles at that time. Unacceptable and I will not be buying Microsoft products in the future.

Please read before you buy and save yourself a headache!

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 4 / 5
Date: December 29, 2004
Author: Amazon User

After a week of trying, including buying a brand new computer, I still cannot get this game to run. I now need a new graphics card. I found a list of over 60 newer graphics cards that it doesn't support. However, I can't seem to find a card it will support and I don't want to spend $100 on a new card and find out it won't work. It looks like the game will remain unplayed for some time. The requirements on the box say you need a 3D, 8mb graphics card; wrong! Hopefully Microsoft will come out with a list of cards that will work. I found one website which said there are only 2 graphics cards that it will work with. At this point the only thing I have found is this Microsoft site where it lists the ones that it won't work with. I wish you luck. I hope to be playing this soon. Everyday I come home and the kids ask if we can play Zoo Tycoon 2. Thanks Microsoft!Disappointed! http://support.microsoft.com/kb/889368

Awesome. Don't listen to them

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 6
Date: February 04, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This game is so cool! You get to build a zoo from all across the world, City Zoos, African Zoos, Wetland Zoos, WHEREEVER. The animal spand ranges from about 30 different animals, there are tigers, bears, penguins, flamingo's, and much more. You can take care of the animals, too! You may need a good computer to play this game, though.

Review Page: 1 2 3 4 Next 

Actions