It's easy to create depressed enclosures, raised mesas, or simple hilly terrain. There's a variety of tools to make interesting enclosures with different types of landscapes. The engine also allows for more park manipulation thanks to the terrain editor. Still, everything from a visual standpoint is functional and nothing is particularly displeasing even if nothing is particularly pleasing either. There are plenty of collision detection problems with animals and environments causing them to slide across the ground. Animation sets are bigger for each of the animals, reflecting their moods, and aren't bad, but aren't exactly fluid.
Neither models nor textures are especially detailed. They're simple, easy, and obviously created for children. But even with the new engine the graphics aren't exactly impressive. The 3D engine is the big new improvement here because it allows the other additions to gameplay. The interface is a bit better, there are a few more features to fill in during some of the duller times, and the game has a new 3D engine that makes more creative enclosures possible.
While I can't say it's perfect or really that much more exciting, Zoo Tycoon 2 is certainly better than its predecessor. While the idea of running a zoo is certainly appealing, it wasn't exactly exciting.
It's no secret that I wasn't Zoo Tycoon's biggest fan.
