Planet Zoo

Planet Zoo is an economic strategy game in which player run a zoological park. The production is a continuation of Planet Coaster released in 2016 (although it differs in its subject matter - in that game, players ran an amusement park, not a zoo). It was created and published by Frontier Developments studio (also known from the Elite: Dangerous).

Mechanics

In Planet Zoo, players' task is to run the zoological park in an efficient way. It is necessary to adapt the individual places to the needs of given animals (they are described by an extensive set of statistics). Players decide, among other things, about the shape of the terrain, take care of the right temperature, as well as the guests' impressions (by choosing the right buildings and also determining the design and decoration of the park). It is also necessary to take into account the financial condition of one's zoo.

In the game, players can find a wide range of different animals, such as elephants, wolves, bears, lions, hippos, and giraffes. Each creature has different needs, behaviors, and even its own character. Almost all decisions, even seemingly trivial ones, like choosing the colour of the walls, may have some meaning. Realistic representation of the animals is one of the most important features of the game - creatures "think", "feel", and behave in a way very similar to their equivalents from the real world.

The creators at Frontier Developments have also included several interesting mechanics in their production, such as genetics and reproduction, which allow players to plan future generations of species to avoid the consequences of too limited genetic pool. The game also features a variable weather system.

Game modes

One can playPlanet Zoo solo. The game is based on single player modes - sandbox and a feature campaign.

Frontier Developments also offers limited network functionality, allowing players to share their scenery, habitat, and even entire parks with the community through Steam Workshop.

Technical aspects

Planet Zoo has a very attractive 3D visuals. The game world is quite detailed, but the best impressions are definitely made by the animals - their models are realistic and very well animated. The creators even used a special technology, which is responsible for a credible fur simulation.

Last updated on 01 March 2024