''Zoo Tycoon DS'' is the

Nintendo DS The is a handheld game console produced by Nintendo, released globally across 2004 and 2005. The DS, an initialism for "Developers' System" or "Dual Screen", introduced distinctive new features to handheld games: two LCD screens working in tan ...

version of the

business simulation game Business simulation games, also known as economic simulation games

Zoo Tycoon ''Zoo Tycoon'' is a series of business simulation video games. The worlds focus around building and running successful zoo scenarios. The series was initially developed by Blue Fang Games and published by Microsoft Studios who later in 2001–200 ...

''. A sequel to the game, titled ''

Zoo Tycoon 2 DS ''Zoo Tycoon 2 DS'' is a Nintendo DS game based on the PC game ''Zoo Tycoon 2''. It is the sequel to '' Zoo Tycoon DS''. Gameplay In ''Zoo Tycoon 2 DS'', the player edits and builds the zoo in a main mode resembling the original ''Zoo Tycoon.'' ...

'', was released in 2008.

Content

The graphics and gameplay are somewhat similar to the first ''

'' game, however, for the DS version, the terrain is in a grid format and does not blend smoothly with other terrain types like they do in the PC and Mac versions. The objects and animals available in the game are also that of the first ''

'' game. The game has two playing options, either tutorial/scenario or freeform. Tutorial/Scenario mode takes the player through many short games, each with a set goal, increasing in difficulty. Freeform lets players create a zoo free of time restrictions and goals.

Reception

''Zoo Tycoon DS'' received mixed to poor reviews, with an average score of 44.96% on

GameRankings GameRankings was a video gaming review aggregator that was founded in 1999 and owned by CBS Interactive. It indexed over 315,000 articles relating to more than 14,500 video games. GameRankings was discontinued in December 2019, with its staff bei ...

and 44/100 on

Metacritic Metacritic is a website that review aggregator, aggregates reviews of films, TV shows, music albums, video games and formerly, books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted arithmetic mean, weighted average). M ...

, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews". Greg Mueller, reviewing ''Zoo Tycoon DS'' for

GameSpot ''GameSpot'' is an American video gaming website that provides news, reviews, previews, downloads, and other information on video games. The site was launched on May 1, 1996, created by Pete Deemer, Vince Broady and Jon Epstein. In addition ...

, disproved of the game's graphics, criticizing how "Of all the 50 animals n the game only a few of them actually have distinct looks. You'll see the same brownish blob move around using the same two or three frames of animation over and over, which just doesn't look natural at all.". Muller also criticized the near-complete lack of music and sound effects, remarking "You could play this game on mute without missing anything. You might be deprived of the sweeping noise maintenance workers make, but you can just grab a broom and make the noise yourself, which, incidentally, would probably be about as much fun as playing this game". Dan Adams of

IGN ''IGN'' (formerly ''Imagine Games Network'') is an American video game and entertainment media website operated by IGN Entertainment Inc., a subsidiary of Ziff Davis, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in San Francisco's SoMa distri ...

also strongly detested the game, despairingly opening up his review with the words, while sending himself death threads; "Please kill me. I just want to die. ''Zoo Tycoon DS'' has sucked the will to live out of my eyeballs and left me with nothing but cramped hands. ... I can't remember the last time I saw such an ugly game with so many deficiencies." The most positive review came from

Nintendo Power ''Nintendo Power'' was a video game news and strategy magazine from Nintendo of America, first published in July/August 1988 as Nintendo's official print magazine for North America. The magazine's publication was initially done monthly by Ninten ...

, who praised the game for "faithfully reproducing the ''

'' experience" on the

, November 2005 issue, Page 112 ''Zoo Tycoon DS'' received a "Platinum" sales award from the

Entertainment and Leisure Software Publishers Association The Association for UK Interactive Entertainment (Ukie) is a non-profit trade association for the video game industry in the United Kingdom (UK). Ukie was originally founded as the European Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA), and the ...

(ELSPA), indicating sales of at least 300,000 copies in the United Kingdom.

References

External links

Zoo Tycoon DS
at

{{Zoo Tycoon 2005 video games Altron games Nintendo DS games Nintendo DS-only games THQ games Video games developed in Japan Video games with isometric graphics Zoo Tycoon