World of Zoo Updated Impressions

There are games that let you care for and play with virtual pets. There are games that let you create and manage the day-to-day workings of a zoo. At THQ's E3 booth, we got a demo of a game that aims to deliver the best of both genres, World of Zoo.

Who's Making This Game:

Developer Blue Fang has spent years making Zoo Tycoon games. This popular series of zoo management sims lets you devote your energies to planning and running a zoo. This time around, Blue Fang is aiming for a broader animal experience that will appeal to a younger, more cuddle-minded demographic.

What the Game Looks Like

Bright colors and stylish cel-shading are the order of the day. The lion pen that we saw was nicely detailed and gave off a cozy savannah vibe. The animals themselves were impressively animated, frolicking realistically but filled with personality. The focus seems to have been on creating friendly animal pets rather than wacky animal caricatures, which gives World of Zoo an authentic feel. In so-called "Magical Moments," the animals run toward the screen affectionately and present themselves for pats and scratches from the Wii Remote. There's a temporary letterbox effect in these moments, and the animals put their paws on the black bars to give the illusion that they are sticking their heads out of the TV screen. The result is surprisingly charming.

What There Is to Do:

You begin World of Zoo by choosing one animal family: Big Cats, Bears, Small Monkeys, Antelopes, Zebras/Horses, Koalas, Crocodiles, Pandas, Giraffes, Penguins, and Elephants are all available. You then pick one species within that family to start with, and you focus on keeping one animal happy. Feeding it, playing with it, and improving its environment (called an "exhibit") will earn you hearts and tokens. These can be used to purchase new items, such as food and tools, and you can also buy new animals to fill out your exhibits. Eventually, you'll be able to expand and open new exhibits, incorporating new animal families into your growing menagerie. There are also in-game awards that you can unlock, such as ranking up your status with particular animals (moving from Junior Big Cat Handler all the way up through Big Cat Whisperer, for example).

Players can also create their own animals, name them, and decide on a personality type (playful? sleepy? hungry?). The potential options aren't too fantastical, so your animal will always be generally recognizable as the right species. You can, however, go crazy with colors by patterning and shading the animal's skin or fur to your heart's content. National Geographic has provided an array of animal facts to give World of Zoo some educational flavor.

How the Game Is Played:

The game is entirely played by pointing the Wii Remote and using a few buttons. When you're not customizing animals or purchasing upgrades in the menu, you'll be looking at your exhibits. These spacious environments are tailored to each species and have a number of different areas where the animals can play (or hide!). Up to four players can join in the frolicking fun as well, and romping chaos ensues.

What They Say:

World of Zoo is the only life sim game that pushes you past the fences and into the world of your own zoo. Create and customize your zoo experience and develop hands-on relationships to earn the trust and love of your animals.

What We Say:

It's adorable. The art style and animation combine well to make even the crocodiles look charming, yet still reasonably realistic. Frolicking with the animals will definitely appeal to the younger set, while older kids will get a kick out of the numerous unlockables and progressive ranks.