Zoo Tycoon impresses you immediately with its animals. The authentic and adorable behaviors they exhibit make Zoo Tycoon an endearing game that fosters an appreciation for the diversity of creatures with whom we share this planet. Unfortunately, Zoo Tycoon's interface makes the work of building and managing your zoo really feel like work, diminishing the pleasures to be had in creating a great place for people to observe and interact with the animal kingdom.

You spend some of your time with Zoo Tycoon in what's called zoo view, controlling a zookeeper who can run about the zoo grounds on foot, or leap into cute buggies that look like tigers or zebras and go careening about on four wheels. The buggies are fun to drive, and come complete with hand brakes you can slam on to make wild turns and leave tire tracks in your wake. And don't worry; you can't hurt anyone, no matter how recklessly you speed about in your elephant buggy. It's also in zoo view that you can interact with animals, holding out fruit or vegetables to be plucked right from your hands by elephants, giraffes, or antelopes; spraying hippos, rhinos, and other animals; or playing monkey see, monkey do with lions, tigers, or chimpanzees (which are not monkeys). The first time a giraffe slowly lowers its long neck to grab that apple from you is magical, and it's fun to just watch meerkats stand about in that adorable vigilant pose of theirs or observe bears as they go down a slide.

But the game's other view, called tycoon view, is far more practical for accomplishing the sorts of things you need to spend most of your time doing. In this overhead view, you place new exhibits and edit existing ones, as well as adopt new animals; build concession stands, restrooms, zookeeper centers, and other facilities; and beautify your zoo with all sorts of statues, fountains, topiaries, and other decorations. Placing new exhibits is a breeze, and you never need to put too much thought into designing the layout of your zoo, if you don't want to. Pathways automatically spring up to connect any new exhibits to the existing zoo.

Source: www.gamespot.com