That Challenge Mode, alongside the Campaign Mode, are the core parts of the single player experience. This means you can't just truly build what you want and interact with rare animals from the get-go, and have to reach high Zoo Levels through Challenge Mode first, which is a bit of a disappointing design choice, especially if you've got younger players who just want to see the animals in Sandbox mode. The only downside to this mode is that, while you have unlimited time and funds, the animals and items that you can access are still locked away behind the Zoo Level rating that you've achieved in Challenge Mode. There's also a Sandbox mode, where players are free of any goals and restrictions, and so you can simply build and grow a zoo to your heart's content at any of the game's 20+ locations across the globe. It does feel like the game could have sped up this process a bit, but it feels disingenuous to complain that a tutorial is too lengthy.
In Training mode, players get to play through a series of guided missions that do a good job of introducing you to all the mechanics within the game, from the basics of running a zoo to the more advanced features like finances and animal breeding. Despite a few gameplay and control blemishes, the $30 price tag and lots of content in Ultimate Animal Collection should satisfy fans of management games.
This expanded edition features all of the previously released content, updated with better visuals and the same family-friendly vibe, in hopes of further expanding the Xbox One X Enhanced games program.
The title must have done well with audiences, as Microsoft has now re-launched the game in time for the Xbox One X and Windows 10 as Zoo Tycoon: Ultimate Animal Collection. It also featured Kinect integration for interaction with some of the critters. As the name might imply, the game put players in charge of running a zoo as a manager, looking after the animals, the park itself, the finances, and so on. One such title was Zoo Tycoon, launched in 2013 for both Xbox One and Xbox 360. That hasn't stopped various studios from trying though, even if it means mixing things up with other elements. For the most part, the somewhat awkward and restrictive nature of a controller prevents titles in this genre from really establishing a foothold. Strategy games aren't typically well-adapted to consoles.