by Eric Fauble

Created on: April 26, 2009   Last Updated: June 23, 2009

Ever wanted to have your own zoo when you were a child? Did your parents ever take you to the zoo and ask what your favorite animal was? Did you get the feeling of wanting to stay in the zoo forever, not wanting to go home?

Well, let your childhood dreams come true! Introducing a game from Microsoft studios, Zoo Tycoon 2! I have to say, I have the whole series at home. I play it all the time! The best part about Zoo Tycoon 2 is the five expansion packs: Dino Danger pack (which is really a download), Marine Mania, Endangered Species, Extinct Animals, and African Adventures. The whole six games make up the Ultimate Collection, a three-disc set.

Prior to the 2001 game, Zoo Tycoon, Zoo Tycoon 2 differs in many ways. For one, Zoo Tycoon is 2-dimensional. Meaning, if the producers had made the zoom first person, it would have been blurry. ZT2, however, is 3-dimensional. Meaning, the player is able to see the animals up close and not have to worry about the game being blurry. Another example as to why ZT2 is a better seller than ZT is that the player can actually be a zoo keeper and a guest! How cool is that? Being able to clean up after animals sounds like fun.

ZT2 is a great game, no lie about it. Graphics are great, which is another plus. However, ZT2 is only made for PC, Nintendo DS, or for your mobile phone. Sorry, PS2 and Xbox. No ZT2 for you guys!

Zoo Tycoon 2: Ultimate Collection has a variety of many different species, animals from the alpine to the wetlands. Some of these animals are the lion, tiger, bear, American bison, Nile crocodile, and the mountain gorilla. Word of advice, if you make a savanna habitat, with animals like zebras and wildebeest, you should do one of two things: don't put in a predator, like cheetahs or lions, and make sure the animals have enough space to run around in; they become irritated quickly.

Like many other games, the animals do eventually die. Old age, hunger, thirst, or being attacked by a carnivore can kill them. Luckily, there is another way to set the animals free; send them to the wild, or sell them for adoption. If you plan on releasing the animal into the wild, be sure they are in a good mood and all of their needs are met. If the animal is neither, it'll remain in your zoo.

Here's another cool example that has been applied to ZT2 rather than ZT. In ZT, you cannot open your close your zoo. You cannot let your animals roam free. You'd have to put them in a fence, then delete the fence in order for them to be 'free.' In ZT2, however, the player is able to open the zoo to the public or keep it closed for themselves to enjoy. The player can also select their animals and let them roam free, without the hassle of building an enclosure.

There are new items in ZT2 that were never in it's successor. The only last thing I can tell you all is to buy the game and try it out. It's a great game!

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