The graphics are grainy and occasionally glitchy, but they’re not terrible. Overall, it probably took me twenty minutes to get the game to install. Considering I did get the game to work in the end with no further issues (I’ve been playing the game for about twenty hours so far and have only had the game crash once on me), I suggest having a little patience and trying a few low-level troubleshooting if you’re having issues with installation. I did some troubleshooting online and tried a few recommended fixes, such as changing the name of the InstallShield on the C: Drive (which didn’t work) to copying the disc’s files to my desktop and recommencing installation (which maybe worked? It took two restarts but I had no issues installing the game after this). Like many others, I did initially have some problems installing the game: the first disc kept stalling half-way through installation and, when I clicked cancel, an error message would come up stating that ‘the installation pathway cannot be found’. I installed this game on my Surface Pro 4 which has a fairly recent version of Windows 10. The main challenge though is trying to make your zoos profitable enough that you can build more exhibits and buildings for your guests to enjoy, as your zoo is essentially a business where your expenditure must not exceed your profit (generated by your buildings’ sales and guest donations). If you complete all the requirements in a given campaign, you can unlock additional bonus items which greatly boost your guest’s happiness. While there is an option to play in freedom mode (where you have unlimited money and access to all the game’s content from the onset), often your zoos will have to fulfil certain goals or requirements, or earn a certain amount of stars/fame (calculated based on a number of factors, such as guests’ and animals’ happiness) to unlock more items and animals to place in your zoos. Remembering my favourite childhood game, I decided a few months ago to buy online a second-hand physical copy of Zoo Tycoon 2: Ultimate Collection, a five-pack game set which includes the Zoo Tycoon 2 base game and its four most recent expansion packs: African Adventure, Endangered Species, Extinct Animals and Marine Mania.įor those unfamiliar with the series, Zoo Tycoon 2 is a simulation game where you have the ability to create your own zoo. (Although my zoos never seemed to last long, as my dinosaurs always managed to escape their habitats and start eating visitors).

Zoo Tycoon was one of my favourite games as a young child.Īfter watching the 1999 Walking with Dinosaurs documentary, I developed a fascination for dinosaurs and, through that, an obsession for Zoo Tycoon’s Dinosaur Digs expansion pack.

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