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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed games.
Zoo Tycoon 2
Mixed or average reviews
Based on 34 critic reviews
How did we calculate this?
Based on 5 votes
Read user comments
Rate this game >
Game Info
Publisher: Microsoft
Developer: Blue Fang Games
Genre(s): Strategy, Economic Simulation
Players: 1
ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)
Release Date: November 9, 2004
Summary
Featuring 30 incredibly detailed animals, a dazzling array of building tools and objects, a new zoom feature, and 3D graphics that allow players to keep a closer eye on the action and craft more creative zoos, Zoo Tycoon 2 is set to crank up the excitement, challenge, and fun of building the ultimate zoo. Easy to start and easy to play, Zoo Tycoon 2 gets you up close and interacting with the animals and zoo, offering intuitive controls and fun tutorials that allow players of all ages to enjoy the game right out of the box. From the start, you'll be immersed in the zoo experience with new features including the Zoo Guest mode, in which you can walk around and enjoy the game like visitors on a day at the zoo; Zookeeper mode, which allows you to interact with your animals as never before; and a new Photo mode, which lets you snap pictures of your favorite animals and guests and share them online with friends. Zoopedia, detailing all types of entertaining and interesting facts about animals, rounds out the new and improved features of the upcoming game. Unlike the original Zoo Tycoon, the new version allows players to participate in up to three challenging gameplay types: Campaign, Freeform, and Sandbox. [Microsoft]
Also On Metacritic
GAMES: Zoo Tycoon Zoo Tycoon 2: Endangered Species Zoo Tycoon 2: Extinct Animals Zoo Tycoon: Dinosaur Digs Zoo Tycoon: Marine Mania
Also On The Web: Gamer's Pulse Preview Games Domain Preview GameSpot Preview GameSpy Preview IGN Preview Official Website Worth Playing Preview
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...
Gamezilla!
Zoo Tycoon 2, for the animal lover young and old, is far more than twice the game as its predecessor and could easily have been called Zoo Tycoon Squared.
Read Full Review >Warcry
The mix of gameplay elements, the many types of animals and biomes to place them in, and the open-style freeform mode allow this game to last for a long time, for both child and adult. I just wish I could make monkeys throw poop.
Read Full Review >IC-Games
Colourful, loveable and extremely enjoyable to play. With the incredibly detailed zoopedia, drip fed online downloads and exceptionally fun and rewarding gameplay this is certainly one game I wouldn’t mind my children playing, that’s if they can get me off the thing first. Genuine family fun and for once, brilliance that's suitable for all.
Read Full Review >DailyGame
If you're a sim fan or have kids between 6 and 60, it’s a "must buy." Aging graphics, sound and slowdown are its only detractors.
Read Full Review >eToychest
It’s a simple, if utterly engrossing game with a concept that appeals to the kid in all of us.
Read Full Review >3DAvenue
Not only does the 3D engine add far more versatility to the game, but you get the overall feeling far more attention to detail went into this sequel.
Read Full Review >GameZone
While more choices in exhibit design and more stats would have added to the enjoyment a trifle for adults, the lack of these won't bother the kids, and really won't most adults, either.
Read Full Review >Yahoo! Games
It's inoffensive and challenging enough to keep both the builders and the managers entertained for much longer than an outing to a real zoo would.
Read Full Review >VGPub
The graphics are solid, though nothing spectacular. Gameplay is very streamlined, and the controls are very easy to learn.
Read Full Review >GameShark
In just about every way Zoo Tycoon 2 is bigger and better than the original, but is still holds true to the heart of what made Zoo Tycoon such a great game.
Read Full Review >GamerFeed
An impressive game that will teach as well as entertain. Microsoft does a wonderful job in accurately and beautifully portraying both the sights and sounds of zoo life.
Read Full Review >Times Online
This update, happily, is more appealing, with improved, streamlined gameplay.
Read Full Review >Australian GamePro
A solid game that is a dream for animal lovers and younger players. It is well laid out and well-presented. It just isn't challenging enough for older gamers.
Read Full Review >Pelit (Finland)
A nice, sunny, feel-good game. Best in free mode with unlimited funds. [Feb. 05]
ActionTrip
It does have that irritating childish feel and some minor bugs, but if you're an incorrigible animal-lover such as myself you will love it, for one and one reason only, and that is its addictiveness.
Read Full Review >WHAM! Gaming
Given its target audience, you’d have a hard time finding anything on the market quite this good that is also targeted at the 12 and under crowd.
Read Full Review >Detroit Free Press
Has its glitches, like zookeepers walking through animals, but all in all it's worth purchasing if you are a fan of the strategy genre or just need a break from other games.
Read Full Review >Next Level Gaming
The hours of gameplay enjoyment are more limited by your personal interest in the game style and topic than on the breadth of the game itself.
Read Full Review >IGN
The new 3D engine helps out with that a lot, but the art that fills out the world is nothing special. Animations are decent, but models and textures are low detail.
Read Full Review >Gaming Nexus
The only place I felt the game could really be improved outside of more realistic graphics was the control for the overhead view didn’t allow for very accurate rotation. If I wanted to see my zoo from a specific angle, it often took about a minute of adjusting the rotation.
Read Full Review >GameSpot
The sequel's enhanced graphics and sound make it a good "sandbox" kind of game, and if you're a parent with small children who need to be entertained, that might be all you need.
Read Full Review >Game Over Online
Novice gamers or gamers who don’t really like games where there are objectives (such as fans of "The Sims" or "SimCity") might like Zoo Tycoon 2.
Read Full Review >Game Chronicles
Zoo Tycoon 2 successfully acheives what it sets out to do and that's to let you build your own zoo.
Read Full Review >Sydney Morning Herald
The biggest grumble is that, once you have constructed a basic park, there is often nothing to do except sit back and wait for more money to roll in. Your zookeepers and maintenance staff take care of the park, and there is rarely a calamity that needs your attention.
Read Full Review >Loaded Inc
It is certainly not a rehashing of the former title and is a respectable entry into the crowded world of Tycoon-style games.
Read Full Review >GameSpy
It's stable, almost bug-free, and has easy-to-use controls, which makes it a nice way to introduce kids to the genre. But anyone who has spent any significant time with tycoon strategy games will probably find it a little light on the strategy.
Read Full Review >Eurogamer
There are some surprising omissions. The main one being the complete lack of any ability to speed up time - especially since that once a park has stabilised there can be a lot of waiting around while you amass enough cash to buy a Gorilla or whatever.
Read Full Review >PC Format
Unimpressive sim that misses a chance to impress with groovy visuals. [Jan 2005, p.94]
Read Full Review >AceGamez
It almost angers me at times that publishers have the gall to demand a fee of £35 - £40 for simply applying a lick of paint to something that in essence people have played many times before.
Read Full Review >Computer Games Magazine
The irony is that although it plays better now, the 3D makes it look, well, flatter. [Feb 2005, p.61]
PC Gamer
Undulates between periods of manic maintenance and mundane management, with long stretches of ho-hum in between. [Feb 2005, p.58]
Computer Gaming World
The main problem with Zoo Tycoon is its lack of a fast-forward button: A single year of gameplay consumes a grand total of six hours. [Feb 2005, p.85]
Game Revolution
It should have waited for the next generation of 3D hardware before going 3D and should have been left in the development oven a bit longer to smooth out the control and gameplay issues.
Read Full Review >G4 TV
It's passable in short spurts, but if you’re looking for something deep and challenging, look elsewhere.
Read Full Review >What Our Users Said
The average user rating for this game is 8.2 (out of 10) based on 5 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.
Lukas K. gave it a7:
It's very nice game. If you search for something for your kids you should take that. I spend 15 hours playing this game and it's quite good but you should buy a good pc too. The game has got a high requirements for that type of game. But the graphics is very nice and the customers in game are really "inteligent". Animals are breeding and dying. And don't forget to get a datadisc. Endagered species. Just try it.
K. Lawson gave it an 8:
It's a little rough at times, but Beth was wrong about the game not being 'worth the money' - I got a National Geographic DVD and monkey pen with my game, on sale to boot! I'm having plenty of fun in the Freeform mode, since I can build whatever I want at no cost!
Beth S. gave it a 7:
If you played the first one this is disappointing. It is now a kids game. The scenarios are fairly simple. Creating animal environments is easy with the biome tool which simply puts all the necessary trees, rocks, etc. It is fun to walk around and do the zookeeper chores. You earn money fairly slowly which, just like the first one, leaves you staring at the screen until you can afford to build or buy something. The good animals are super expensive. African elephant is 20k. All in all not worth the money.
Ty R. gave it a 9:
Pretty amazing stuff considering it's a kids game.
