Rewind back to the early days when the Zoo Tycoon was releasing games and expansions, for me that was truly a great experience. My overall dream in life was to work in a zoo when I was very young, Zoo Tycoon was the closest I could get to living that dream. The animals all displayed different behaviours, they needed certain needs met like the correct biomes, enrichment, a big and comfy enough enclosure, the list goes on. All these little tasks breathed life into the game, made it feel realistic. Not only that but the enclosures you could design would be breath taking (though as a kid it was usually different size square enclosures). Zoo Tycoon was a special game in the past and then Frontier announced Planet Zoo.
Frontier are behind such games as Jurassic World Evolution, Elite Dangerous and much more but the primary focus on why I am so hyped is Planet Coaster. Roller Coaster Tycoon was the dominating force on theme park tycoon games. Everyone knew what it was and it did its job really well, from the management, the coaster building and the challenge. Eventually as time moved on the world was missing a really good successor to the once great series of Roller Coaster Tycoon. Frontier steps in and announces Planet Coaster. Planet Coaster restored everything we loved about theme park tycoon games and expanded on it by letting people create endless amounts of custom content and sharing some of the most incredible rides and parks you’ll ever see. Of course because of this I feel like Planet Zoo could be the game that rejuvenates the animal tycoon genre.
As soon as the announcement trailer was released I ran to social media, (as you do) and expressed my hype. It takes a lot now for me to be excited about a video game, some do some don’t. But when I look at images or videos or even see the game get mentioned, I’m instantly hyped, the hype train is going and I can’t seem to slow it down. The list of features as-well absolutely sold it for me instantly. You can view a few below:
“Simulation Runs Wild – Meet a world of incredible animals. From playful lion cubs to mighty elephants. Every animal in Planet Zoo is a thinking, feeling individual with a distinctive look and personality of their own”.
“Meaningful Management – Manage an amazing living world that responds to every decision you make. Focus on the big picture or go hands-on and control the smallest details”.
“Limitless Creativity – Planet Zoo’s powerful piece-by-piece construction tools let you effortlessly make your zoo unique. Every creative decision you make impacts the lives of your animals and the experience of your visitors”.
“Share and Inspire – Join a connected community and share the world’s most creative habitats, scenery and even whole zoos on the Steam Workshop”.
All of this has me really excited for Planet Zoo and I can’t wait to see where Frontier goes with it, what people create and to get my hands on it. Where’s a time machine when you need one.
Nerdy Bird Games 