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Zoo Tycoon 2
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Release Date:
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November 9, 2004
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Rating:
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ESRB (E10+)
PEGI (3+)
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Genre:
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Zoo Business Simulation
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Publisher:
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Microsoft
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Developer:
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Blue Fang Games
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Interface:
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Green
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Zoo Tycoon 2 is the sequel to the 2001 game Zoo Tycoon.
Originally released for Microsoft Windows on November 9, 2004, Zoo Tycoon 2 is also available for the mobile phone, Mac OS X, and Nintendo DS.
Gameplay
Zoo Tycoon 2 has 3 modes of play: Freeform mode, Challenge mode, and Campaign Mode.
Freeform mode allows the player to create a zoo of limited space with no restrictions. The player is given an unlimited money supply and every animal is available. All objects, except the ones yet to be unlocked in campaign and challenge games, are available.
Challenge mode is very similar to freeform mode. The player chooses the initial amount of money available; players must earn money through donations. There is initially a limited amount of animals and objects. As the zoo increases in fame, more animal species and objects will become available. Many objects must be researched before they can be purchased. In this mode, the player is given tasks that must be included. These include pleasing a celebrity guest, or photographing an animal's behavior. The reward for completing these challenges could be an in-game award or cash grant, and may also unlock themed objects for use in freeform mode.
Campaign mode involves the player receiving a specific goal, and the completion of the goal allows the player to go on to a harder challenge. If all the scenarios are completed, objects become available for purchase in freeform mode.
Game Mechanics
The Zoopedia, an encyclopedia on the entire game and all of its objects, will give the player information about anything in the game. Animal's dietary habits, compatibilities, preferred habitats, real-world and in-game behaviors, for example, are noted on the Zoopedia.
Animals each have their own biome that they belong in. A biome is an important feature in the game, as an animal in an unsuitable habitat will quickly become unhappy. Biomes include alpine, boreal forest, desert, grassland, savannah, scrub, temperate forest, tropical rainforest, wetlands, and tundra.
As a player's zoo becomes more popular, the zoo will increase its fame rating. Accessible pathways, a wide variety of happy animal species in well-kept exhibits, guest activities all play a role in the guests' enjoyment of the zoo.
Animals
Original Content
Animal | Biome | Zoo Fame | Conservation Status | Scientific name | Picture |
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African Elephant | Savannah | 4 | Endangered | Loxodonta africana | |
American Beaver | Wetlands | 3 | Vulnerable | Castor canadensis | |
Bengal Tiger | Tropical Rainforest | 3.5 | Endangered | Panthera tigris tigris (referred to in game as Panthera tigris) | |
Black Rhinoceros | Savannah | 3 | Critically Endangered | Diceros bicornis | |
Cheetah | Savannah | 2.5 | Vulnerable | Acinonyx jubatus | |
Chimpanzee | Tropical Rainforest | 3.5 | Endangered | Pan troglodytes | |
Common Peafowl | Temperate Forest | 0.5 | Lower Risk | Pavo cristatus | |
Common Zebra | Savannah | 1.5 | Lower Risk | Equus quagga | |
Dromedary Camel | Desert | 0.5 | Lower Risk | Camelus dromedarius | |
Emperor Penguin | Tundra | 1 | Lower Risk | Aptenodytes forsteri | |
Gemsbok | Scrub | 1 | Lower Risk | Oryx gazella | |
Giant Panda | Temperate Forest | 5 | Endangered | Ailuropoda melanoleuca | |
Greater Flamingo | Wetlands | 1 | Lower Risk | Phoenicopterus roseus (referred to in game as Phoenicopterus ruber) | |
Grizzly Bear | Boreal Forest | 3.5 | Endangered | Ursus arctos horribilis | |
Hippopotamus | Wetlands | 2.5 | Vulnerable | Hippopotamus amphibius | |
Ibex | Alpine | 1.5 | Vulnerable | Capra ibex | |
Jaguar | Tropical Rainforest | 2 | Lower Risk | Panthera onca | |
Lion | Savannah | 2.5 | Vulnerable | Panthera leo | |
Moose | Boreal Forest | 0.5 | Lower Risk | Alces alces | |
Mountain Gorilla | Tropical Rainforest | 4 | Endangered | Gorilla beringei beringei (referred to in game as Gorilla gorilla beringei) | |
Nile Crocodile | Wetlands | 1.5 | Lower Risk | Crocodylus niloticus | |
Okapi | Tropical Rainforest | 2 | Lower Risk | Okapia johnstoni | |
Ostrich | Savannah | 2 | Lower Risk | Struthio camelus | |
Polar Bear | Tundra | 3 | Lower risk | Ursus maritimus | |
Red Kangaroo | Scrub | 1.5 | Lower Risk | Macropus rufus | |
Red Panda | Temperate Forest | 4 | Endangered | Ailurus fulgens | |
Reticulated Giraffe | Savannah | 2.5 | Lower Risk | Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata (referred to in game as Giraffa camelopardalis) | |
Ring-Tailed Lemur | Tropical Rainforest | 3 | Vulnerable | Lemur catta | |
Snow Leopard | Alpine | 4 | Endangered | Panthera unica (referred to in game as Uncia uncia) | |
Savannah | 0.5 | Lower Risk | Eudorcas thomsonii |
Downloadable Content
Animal | Biome | Zoo Fame | Conservation Status | Scientific name | Picture |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Addax | Desert | 2 | Critically Endangered | Addax nasomaculatus | |
Asian Elephant | Scrub | 3 | Endangered | Elephas maximus | |
Black Leopard | Tropical Rainforest | 2.5 | Lower Risk | Panthera pardus | |
Musk Ox | Tundra | 0.5 | Lower Risk | Ovibos moschatus | |
Asiatic Black Bear | Temperate Forest | 2 | Vulnerable | Ursus thibetanus |
NOTE: The Asiatic Black Bear used to be downloadable content if the player had both the PC and Mobile game. It has since been discontinued.
Ambient Animals
Ambient animals appear in the zoo depending on the biome that the zoo is based in. For example, the red squirrel will appear in a temperate forest zoo. However, the player cannot interact with these animals.
- Blue-and-gold macaw
- Common Loon
- Giant Bullfrog
- Herring Gull
- Lappet-faced Vulture
- Mallard Duck
- Monarch Butterfly
- Pigeon
- Red Squirrel
- Springhare
- Toco Toucan
- Yellow-billed Oxpecker
Plants
Trees
Tree | Biome |
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Acacia Caffra Tree | Savannah |
Balsam Fir Tree | Boreal Forest |
Banana Tree | Tropical Rainforest |
Baobab Tree | Savannah |
Birch Tree | Temperate Forest |
Black Spruce Tree | Boreal Forest |
Camel Thorn Acacia Tree | Desert |
Cypress Tree | Wetlands |
Date Palm Tree | Desert |
Elephant Ear Tree | Tropical Rainforest |
Foxtail Palm Tree | Tropical Rainforest |
Himalayan Birch | Alpine |
Himalayan Pine Tree | Alpine |
Kapok Tree | Tropical Rainforest |
Kily Tree | Tropical Rainforest |
Mangrove Tree | Wetlands |
Maple Tree | Temperate Forest |
Orchid Tree | Tropical Rainforest |
Red Cedar Tree | Boreal Forest |
Tamarack Tree | Boreal Forest |
Tree Fern | Tropical Rainforest |
Trembling Aspen Tree | Grassland |
Umbrella Acacia Tree | Savannah |
Weeping Myall | Scrub |
Yellow Cedar Tree | Alpine |
Yellow Fever Acacia Tree | Scrub |
Plants
Tree | Biome |
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African Daisies | Savannah |
African Violets | Tropical Rainforest |
Arctic Moss | Tundra |
Banana Leaf Plant | Tropical Rainforest |
Blackthorn Bush | Savannah |
Bluebush | Scrub |
Cattails | Wetlands |
Dandelions | Grassland |
Desert Grass | Desert |
Elephant Grass | Savannah |
Fountain Bamboo | Temperate Forest |
Fringed Polygala Plant | Boreal Forest |
Large Blue Flowers | Grassland |
Large Orange Flowers | Grassland |
Medium Purple Flowers | Grassland |
Medium Yellow Flowers | Grassland |
Small Bed of Tulips | Grassland |
Small Flowers | Grassland |
Expansion Packs
Endangered Species
- Main article: Zoo Tycoon 2: Endangered Species.
In October 2005, Microsoft released the Zoo Tycoon 2: Endangered Species expansion pack. This expansion pack adds rarer animals, including the komodo dragon, scimitar-horned oryx, and orangutan, in addition to new forms of transportation for guests, such as sky trams, jeep tours and elevated paths. The expansion also has a feature called "variant skins", which means that when the player adopts an animal, it may look different from normal members of its species (such as a white Bengal tiger and King Cheetah).
African Adventure
- Main article: Zoo Tycoon 2: African Adventure.
Zoo Tycoon 2: African Adventure, released May 2006, adds 20 new African animals such as the bongo, striped hyena, and the meerkat. In addition, it includes African-themed jeep tours, new maps based on well-known African locations, desert-themed buildings, lizard live food, and a new set of challenges and campaigns. The Jeep vehicle tours originally included in Endangered Species are featured in this expansion, with the addition of the new Jeep Liberty.
Dino Danger (Premium Download)
- Main article: Zoo Tycoon 2: Dino Danger.
The Dino Danger was released at the end of July 2006. This pack could only be downloaded from the Zoo Tycoon website via credit card. It added four new animals and a campaign scenario. Since the release of Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals, which includes more updated versions of all of the animals included in the pack, Dino Danger was taken offline from the Zoo Tycoon website and can no longer be downloaded.
Zookeeper Collection
- Main article: Zoo Tycoon 2: Zookeeper Collection.
The Zookeeper Collection was released in October 2006. Rather than being an expansion, it's more of a large standalone pack featuring the Endangered Species and African Adventure expansions, as well as all animals and content from Zoo Tycoon 2. It includes some Marine Mania features, such as the new mode of biome layout.
Marine Mania
- Main article: Zoo Tycoon 2: Marine Mania.
Zoo Tycoon 2: Marine Mania was released on October 17th, 2006. It features 20 new aquatic animals, new marine options, marine shows and several other brand new gaming features. The expansion also includes marine plants, the ability to build tanks, animal shows, minigames to teach some of your marine animals behaviors, 4 new aquatic biomes, and new scenarios and challenges. Changes have been made to the original method of biome layout allowing the ability to turn off rocks , flowers, and trees.
Extinct Animals
- Main article: Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals.
Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals, was released on October 17, 2007. It is the largest and latest expansion in the Zoo Tycoon series, with 34 adoptable animals, plus two bonus animals. Paleontologists can be hired to find fossils hidden under the ground, or players can go in first person to find them themselves. The tools are a fossil finder gun that beeps based on proximity to the fossils. Then, in the laboratory, depending on the animal, the player executes a series of clicks and spacebars to increase the lifespan and rarity of the animal. If the clicks are executed perfectly, a perfect animal clone will be made. Like the animals in Zoo Tycoon, they get sick with diseases. Due to the extinction of these diseases, the player must utilize the Extinct Research Lab to investigate and find the cure.
Ultimate Collection
- Main article: Zoo Tycoon 2: Ultimate Collection.
Zoo Tycoon 2: Ultimate Collection was released on September 30, 2008. It contains the original game and all four official expansions, similar to Zoo Tycoon: Complete Collection. Many people have had a formatting program on their Ultimate collection discs, causing this particular expansion to be not so popular.
Reception and Awards
The release of Zoo Tycoon 2 in 2004 received mixed views. Many parents played the game with their children, which resulted in the numerous awards for the sequel. Although the game is aimed at children and teenagers, the educational side of the game was the rise to popularity. However, there were numerous bugs. Reviews from Gamespot and IGN pointed out poor performance of lower-resolution computers, unimpressive sound system, and acceptable graphics.
Zoo Tycoon 2 received several awards. These include multiple awards from parent organizations for being a family-friendly game that could be played by young children with adult supervision. The sequel also received Dan Takahashi’s "Top 10 Games of 2004". The expansion packs for Zoo Tycoon 2, in particular Marine Mania, also strut over 5 different family friendly gaming awards.
Competition
Since the release of Zoo Tycoon in 2001, many other companies have imitated the gameplay, and the concept of running a zoo. The followers since include RollerCoaster Tycoon 3: Wild!; Zoo World; Wildlife Park 2, its expansion packs Crazy Zoo, Marine World, and more to follow; Zoo Empire and its platinum pack Marine Park Empire. All of these have different gameplay and content, but all have the same basic concept.
However, Zoo Tycoon seems to have become more popular and better known. Zoo Empire was a relative failure, while the Zoo Tycoon franchise has continued to expand since it first came out. The most recent competition is Deep Silver's Wildlife Park 2, originated in Germany, which has produced many expansions in the following years, and eventually gained a short-lived sequel called Wildlife Park 3.
Frontier, the developers of the Elite series, Planet Coaster, and RollerCoaster Tycoon 3 have released their zoo business simulator Planet Zoo.
Gallery
For this subject's image gallery, see Gallery:Zoo Tycoon 2.