Zoo Tycoon Dinosaur Digs Expansion Pack
Zoo Tycoon was a runaway sim success. The combination of cute and cuddly, resource management and ecology made it a hit with adults and kids alike. The first expansion pack adds dinosaurs into the mix. Dinosaur Digs is more of the same winning formula and adds to, rather than radically changes, the existing gameplay. There are over two-dozen new species, from everyone's favourite glam-rock predator, the T-Rex, to the more harmless end of the evolutionary spectrum the Camptosaurus.
Some themed buildings such as the dino-burger stand and mammoth cone ice-cream parlour are included, as well as extra staff that specialise in the care and containment of your reptilian chums. Alongside the beasts themselves, there is some new foliage and caves and huge electrified fencing to keep the beasties in and free from rampaging.
The game itself is unchanged; you get six extra dino-centric missions such as creating an ice-age park and a Dinosaur Digs tutorial to introduce the new elements. What is different is the way in which you acquire and raise the dinos. Rather than exporting fully-fledged specimens, you are given eggs and have to employ research scientists who care for their embryonic charges until they hatch. These then grow up into adult dinos. However, there is still the opportunity for amorous antics and the pitter-patter of tiny hooves to add to your growing brood.
Enhancements to the existing game include the ability to filter various elements of you park on and off and a new screen on the main zoo status display lets you track the profitability of commercial buildings such as restaurants, animal theatres and gift shops.
Graphically the new features are great; there are some good effects such as the volcanoes and geysers erupting and fun sound effects such as the menacing snarling and ear-drum shattering roars. But don't expect massive advances in gameplay and if you have already played the original game to death you might find this first add on a bit samey, but played together it is a well done (if not particularly ground-breaking) extension of a brilliant game.
In good condition