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Zoo Tycoon

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9.2 User Score:

Mixed or average reviews

Based on 18 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

Based on 19 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: Microsoft

Developer: Blue Fang Games

Genre(s): Strategy, Simulation

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Release Date: October 18, 2001

Summary

Build, manage, and maintain the most healthy and vibrant zoo possible with over 200 animals, exhibits, and zoo materials. Plan wisely, and all of your animals will be happy. Plan poorly, and those lions, tigers, and bears may find a new found interest in you! [Microsoft]

Also On Metacritic

GAMES: Zoo Tycoon 2

Cheat Codes & Hints: Adrenaline Vault Cheat Code Central Game Revolution

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Computer Games Magazine

It's a benchmark for finely tuned balance, interface, and polish. It has nearly all the little features we cry out for in these types of games but never overwhelms or frustrates.

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Media and Games Online Network

A fresh breath of air for the management style of gaming genre.

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GameZone

An addictive experience for any animal and zoo lover who may or may not be accustomed to sim games. Unfortunately, experienced simmers may find the game lacking in complexity or motivation.

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Game Over Online

A little repetitive, and it’s lacking in strategy, and the scenarios can take forever to play.

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Electric Playground

The zoo theme is a lot of fun. Newcomers to sim gaming may get more bang for their buck, but oldtimers with a Noah (as in the Ark) complex will enjoy it as well.

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Game Informer

Fun for what it was worth, but I didn't have a problem walking away from it when the time came. [Dec 2001, p.117]

Gamezilla!

Once they fix the problems, and I’m sure they will, the game will be a great diversion for kids and adults alike looking for a good, educational and more-or-less non-violent game.

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GameSpot

Caring for a zoo full of your own miniature animals has its own charm, and despite its visual flaws and less-than-spectacular sound, Zoo Tycoon conveys this charm well.

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Yahoo! Games

In choosing to take their inspiration from such a strong game ["RollerCoaster Tycoon"], the developers have invited comparison with it, and, perhaps inevitably, it's a little wanting in that context.

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Computer Gaming World

There are only two view levels, and they’re both fairly distant. This makes it not only hard to find animals or workers in a crowded zoo, but also, frankly, less fun to watch. [Feb 2002, p.98]

IGN

I just think you'll be bored by the average graphics and sound and the sad lack of real creativity that makes some real world zoos absolutely amazing.

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GameSpy

More often than not, the gameplay mechanics and the zoos themselves are just plain dull. Watching animals circle around in cages while guests amble around on sidewalks offers little to hold your attention or capture your imagination.

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TotalGames.net

Shows a total lack of innovation and desire to improve the gaming experience, but it does have cute animals in it. If you can accept the fact that you are here to manage tigers rather than whatever the focus is in any other management game then you can have a lot of fun.

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Next Generation Magazine

A pleasant diversion, but it’s about as deep as a puddle, and frustratingly finicky. [Jan 2002, p.93]

All Game Guide

Beyond basic maintenance, you'll mostly just watch and wait for the next rush of action.

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ActionTrip

Zoo Tycoon is somewhere on the verge of turning from nice fun for long winter nights into arduous work that would make your eyes, hand and brain hurt.

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PC Gamer

This game has the imaginative spark of a wet napkin. [Jan 2002, p.76]

Adrenaline Vault

Due to severe problems in graphics and gameplay, this title cannot hold a candle to "RollerCoaster Tycoon," still firmly at the head of the class.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 9.2 (out of 10) based on 19 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Tim L. gave it a10:
Old graphics but sweeeet. So many options, specifically downloading new stuff.

[Anonymous] gave it a 6:
Animal and tycoon lovers only im afraid. But quite fun.

[Anonymous] gave it a 10:
This game is SO awesome! I kinda hope they come out with more animals though.

Ryan U. gave it a 10:
I luv this game so much it is so cool dont think any other microsoft games can beat it.

[Anonymous] gave it a 10:
This game rocks! It's really fun to play, especially when you can make the animals kill each other.

Tati O. gave it a 10:
O jogo eh muito legal, mas se torna cansativo com o tempo, se voce nao fizer novos downloads. Acho que vale a pena ter o jogo, nao me arrependi. Quem quiser me escreva.

Mark D. gave it a 5:
Standard Fare for a tycoon game. I doubt that I'm alone when I say that there is a lot of ratsh*t swimming in the Tycoon Pool. The concept is original, but this is just another developer trying to rip off Chris Sawyer's Excellent game. The graphics are also pretty average, the sound track could be improved, and there are lots of tiny bugs.

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Zoo Tycoon

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Summary

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What The Critics Said

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