Zoo Tycoon - Board Game Review - Animal Happiness Simulator
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 ก.ค. 2024
- Zoo Tycoon - Board Game Review - Animal Happiness Simulator
In Zoo Tycoon the board game, 1-4 players compete to build the most successful zoo. In this strategic and thematic board game, each player has the freedom to develop their own zoo with 35 species, food booths, zoo shops, etc. Each animal has its own care requirements focused on 3 key areas - popularity for visitors, educational value, and nature conservation. As with zoos in real life, players must find the right balance between popularity and conservation over the course of the game. In the end, the lower value between those two measurements will count as your final score.
Each game you play will be different, delivering high replay value. Thanks to a novel game mechanism, the animal market with supply and demand changes continuously. In addition, small events will shape the gameplay in every round.
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Who Am I?
One single batchelor from the UK talking about his passion for board games and the people who play them! I support small content creators, board game cafes and go against the status quo when it comes to the board game industry. I give my honest opinions without bias towards any publishers or designers and will not hold back if I don't like a game.
The Broken Meeple is a variety channel that hosts all kinds of board game content from reviews to Top 10 lists to playthroughs to live stream collaborations with special guests (predominantly small channels who deserve more exposure).
I look forward to engaging with you, the community on my live streams or in the comments on my videos!
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Timestamps:
00:00 - Opening Promo
01:07 - Introduction
02:30 - Basic Overview & Game Comparisons
06:31 - The Good Stuff
13:43 - The Bad Things
24:18 - Summary, Verdict & Player Scaling
28:29 - Please Share and Support The Show
#brokenmeeple #essen #zootycoon #planetzoo #topten #top100 #top10 #boardgames #boardgame #lukehector #supportsmallcreators #tabletop #tabletopgames #boardgamer #boardgamereview
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Full credit to BoardGameGeek and its members for any images used that aren't my own or part of the publisher press kit. - เกม
![เปิดบ้านสุดหรู "เเจ็ค the ghost" ลั่นถ้าป๋องกพลลำบากผมเลี้ยงเอง!! l [Nickynachat]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/1xbW4vULqGc/mqdefault.jpg)
"Ark Nover!"
😅 ☺️
And it wasn't just once, like 20 times 😄.
Anyways, let's give more praise to Ark Nover, since it was designed by a first timer, although published by an old timer.
Feuerland probably helped a lot in the process of making the game so flawless.
@@mikaeki5245”flawless”. Debatable.
@@mrp4242 Well duh 🙄
Gotta say that this review nails the issues my wife and I have with this game. A revised, streamlined rulebook and reference cards is what I'd like to see, not a version 2.0 of the entire game. We just got the game, don't make it obsolete before we even get the game down!
Not saying I could do any better as I have never designed a game, but the creation of exceptions to a rule is often a trap for new designers. When you start needing to write more rules to fix edge cases then it starts to indicate that the core machanism needs refinement. I am hoping that this game gets to settle for a bit and a 2nd edition gets made with some streamlining in a couple years or so
Appreciate the always honest review! Luckily those negatives aren’t too bad for me solo, and I love your point about throwing this game a life line. I’m happy to house rule this up until it gets a rule revision as I agree the game underneath would be great with some streamlining.
Excellent review Luke. Think I'll wait for the more streamlined 2nd edition.
You could probably leave our the worker board, event deck, and doner card. You could also just make offspring automatically (like most games) and get rid of the dice.
That might help ro streamline the game without breaking it.
Thank you for your honest and upfront review. I'm waiting on my game and now know what to expect. Still looking forward to playing it, with the shortcomings in mind.
Glad I could help!
My copy arrived yesterday. It looks great and everything feels High quality. I just haven't sat down with the rulebook yet. Being based on the computer game, hits the nostalgia button that got many of us to back. Planet Zoo is actually entirely different from a different company. It's Planet Coaster. Microsoft took Zoo Tycoon to the Xbox. I have the Gameboy Advance version still.
I've already hearing mixed things about the rule book. And it sounds excessively complicated for the sake of it. I appreciate your perspective on it too.
Good to know on the length of the game. After playing Mage Knight for a while, I'm probably not a good judge on game length for other games lol.
Will buy.... will wait for inevitable corrective rulebook and rationalising expansion..... with a better solo mode. I really like the reality of the complexity of running a zoo - even the random luck regarding babies! But will definitely need a clearer rule book and a good solo mode.
The solo mode isn't bad. I just don't really care for "beat your own score" solos. But I can't imagine how else you could solo this ga.e.
Oh no, another argument in its favour as I don't mind beat your own score.... I just wanna build a zoo....
@wiblick lol. Well that part is excellent. I enjoy taking my time and planning out my moves...it's really good for that.
Fantastic, in-depth revirew - thank you! You've just saved me a solid chunk of money, sir 😁🙏
My pleasure!
I have this but not played it yet, I'll be honest I was swayed by all of the beautiful animal meeples (which is prob not the best way to choose a game :P ) Honest reviews are always appreciated and I hope the publisher takes note of your feedback. On a side note am I the only one who found it odd Luke was pronouncing Zebras the America way? :o
Here's hoping they can do a revised version. Would love to have that game.
Yeah, I was one of the backers. I don't regret backing it and I do like to mess around with the game (I honestly really like the animal choices), although I definitely doubt I could play it with anyone.
I believe there are a few options for "streamlining" the game listed in the actual rule book, although I wouldn't be surprised if people added more.
The intro rules don't really make much of a tangible difference.
I wanted this so bad, but finally had to say no because of the high price point. Thank you for making me feel better that I passed on this one!
Nice review Luke, I have to say I did back this one but then sold it once it arrived - Circumstances changed and I just didn't think I'd get something so long and heavy played regularly
But was still curious how it would turn out!
Great review! Thanks for sharing
Thanks for watching!
Thank you for the great review! You confirmed my suspicions, and made me feel better about the rules. I had the same feelings that I never quite got them right in the three play throughs that my wife and I tried. I totally agree that I would definitely take a second try at a version 2.0.
Glad it was helpful!
the big cards are actually larger than tarot size (same as Dixit)
The audio is not synchronized. Good review, yeah, I can see the problems and I will go for ARK NOVA for now.
The "almost zero player interaction" part completely kills my interest, given the length of the game as well.
Not to mention the dice...
Many things kill it! :P
@@TheBrokenMeeple Oh, more than likely. But those two points are pretty much enough for me to not really feel like I need to play it. I was just looking at the review because someone had posted about it on a discord server, it wasn't on my radar before. I knew about it but that's about it; probably read about it when the kickstarter campaign ran, but I don't remember it.
Played it yesterday and I share your criticism pretty much 1:1
Glad to hear!
That intro though! 😂
Gets ya in the feels!! :P Providing it's the original, not that remake crap! :P
Totally agree with you. Fun fact : I was opening my box of zoo tycoon on Saturday Night to play for the 1st time when I saw that you posted this video. Even before playing I had mixed feelings : beautiful games but had couldn't figure out where to put the enclosure tiles. When I read the set up part, I was upset there was no proper picture of the whole table, and no mention that one could choose any kind of enclosure. If you like nature and animal meeples I recommend two games from bad comets games : wild serengeti and life of the amazonia. Not perfectly balanced but really more fun.
Not tried either of those two though I heard Serengeti was too long?
@@TheBrokenMeeple In fact both of them will be too long at 4 players. They're better at two or three, especially wild serengeti, as the others players may ( or more probably will sometimes) move that lion you've just placed on grass, as you just needed to add just one animal to validate a card ! A two or three players that can happen from time to time. At 4, that might be too upsetting. In Wild serengeti, you have to plan your actions ahead, and adapt to what the others do or migrations. You feel clever when you manage to overcome, that's a nice feeling, a bit like in a magazine's game, but with cute meeples !!!
Life of the Amazonia is great too ( I bought all the wooden components, especially the tokens for a better experience). I can be long but you don't feel it : at your turn you can do as many possible actions as possible, and during the others' turn, you think about what you'll do next turn. It's so satisfying to see your forest growing and welcoming animals.
In both games some starting cards are better than others, but you can use this "weakness" to help new players.
You should definitelty try them if you can 🙂
And by the way treecer is not a new editor, they've already published Darwin's Choice and it's expansion ( great cards, a bit fidly to play), pachakuna ...
I love this game. What I miss is player interaction when it comes to trade.
The offspring being random makes loads of sense though. If you don’t get that, you don’t know how fertility works.
I agree with you on the rulebook and the explanation video. I couldn’t find the answers.
So it’s house rule time for this video.
It says in the rulebook that when you run out of meeples for one species you should use meeples for another species. We don’t do that. When we run out of meeples that’s it.
I also think you should be able to put adult animals into the trade board and not just offspring.
And if there are animals on the animal exchange, put there by someone else I personally think other players should be allowed to get those.
The animal exchange symbolises organisations that help zoos trade animals with one another. I don’t believe that zoos trade animals with each other directly.
Though I have to be honest. I’ve never been able to finish an entire game, because it just takes so long.
Not saying that the random offspring isn't thematic, it's just a bad mechanic to use in a 3-4 hour game when it has a big impact on your strategy.
If there are offspring discs put on the animal exchange during ‘leaving’ phase, other players CAN pick those up during ‘arrival’ phase. It’s in the rulebook.
Yo the review was good!
Thank you!!
18:00 It feels like this game would do better as a video game.
We spent so long trying to figure out that the enclosure tiles don't actually go in the tuckbox which is disappointing and slightly annoying
Many have done so!
Knew this is gonna be a miss for me and glad I pulled out from ks last minute…
I was really excited for this, but ultimately didnt back it as i was concerned about all the things you outlined in your review. Also, first campaigns have to be exceptional for me to go in. I'm really happy it delivered and hope it gets a 2nd edition. Thanks for the review!
You get a like for the always fair review and the effort. I understand many of your cons, but I don't agree with the rating. I think the pros outweigh the cons. I like many things, but my favorite is how the animal wellness and happiness is such an unbelievably realistic take.
The theme is well done but that alone doesn't forgive all the clunky rules problems and fiddliness. I've zero desire to play this with more than 2 people ever again and even then I'm going to house rule things out of the game like events and donors etc
@@TheBrokenMeeple no offense, but that's your opinion. Mine is just different.
@@denisgraziano8722 Well yes it's just opinion, not trying to convert you
1.25-1.5 hours per player, perhaps?
I can see how part of the sticker price is paying Microsoft.
It's at minimum 2 hours solo, you can't race through this in an hour.
I didn't like Ark Nova, but I like Zoo Tycoon, in my opinion it is much more thematic. To me Ark Nova had nothing to do with managing a zoo.
Zoo tycoon has the stronger theme I agree, but mechanically it suffers greatly.
Thanks for the review. So glad i didn't get this.
Glad I could help!
Agree with what you say Luke and what every one has else has said about the rules and a bit of a complexity but too much luck based. The game on one try has been a big disappointment for me. But I want to give it another go later after having another re read of the rules. This game was never going to be like Ark Nova and is probably half as much closer to Zooloretto to be fair and even then it is not really anything like Zooloretto.
I do not agree with the 2.0 comments. I think a bit of a upgrade, errata, new rules and those types of changes should be considered first. Potentially like previous games that the initial base game is not great but a decent expansion that fixed things makes it better. Not a 2.0.
But on a personal note there is one thing I will give this game a massive tick, the Kickstarter game at least for me was just smooth. The developer pretty much followed through with every promise made, kept communication alive and even when posting questions replied. When he wasn't sure on something with us here in Oz regarding fulfilment he listened to suggestions, followed those suggestions and responded to keep us informed. I think it was his first KS project so he might not be so eager next time, but it just felt like this guy really wanted his game to work and made sure he was accessible through every step - sort of like having great customer service at a shop if you know what I mean. So that was a big plus.
To implement all those changes, you are essentially doing 2.0 as they have to completely re-write half the game!
A nice video for people who already has an idea how this game plays. For me, not knowing anything about how It plays It's mostly a video full of confusion. It may help to explain the game a bit for context before jumping in comparisons etc ... Lost interest after 5 mins.
I disagree with claim that Ark Nova have low amount of interaction. Claiming cards from card row, break mechanic and RACE is good amount of interactions which are key in game. Yes, it's not TI4 or Cosmic Encounter, but there is a lot to counter your opponents.
Good review of Zoo Tycoon, we thought to buy it with GF, but after research is just not for us. (note that i love Lacerda games) This was just too much and should stay as video game.
Every time someone says a Euro is a bit solitaire, someone comes back with "it's not cosmic encounter." There is a spectrum of interaction, and a lot in between CE and Ark Nova, and a lot of Euros lie in between.
To me that's not a lot of interaction. Then any board game that plays solitair has interaction because you try to beat the others to score more points, often with a shared board, track or card row etc. There's even automa systems more interactive than that 😂So, compared to what? Compared to TFM this has very low interaction, compared to "patience" this is has a lot. I think AN is a very solitaire experience. Honestly, I'd never want to play AN again other than solo ...
@@deuxvega Ark Nova is not beat your score game it's a race. You have way more mechanism in game to prevent your oponnents scoring point. Best example is snap mechanic where on display you may have cards best for you opponent and you HAVE to steal it. Next is break track when you force opponent to discard their cards in early game and control income in late game, which is huge when you break with sponsors and your oponent was one action away to play animals. You also have to check opponent zoo when you play any conservation cards. This is beyond Solitaire imo.
Tfm interaction is way lower since you can build your engine without interacting with board at all. You also have lots of space on Mars to Play your cards and only in endgame you find "interacting" with players.
@@PentaHousen Lol. TFM has a shared board, so area control, placement, timing, racing for space etc vs your solitaire zoo.And you use It as an argument in favour of AN being more interactive 🤣I mean, come on! Positioning is hugely important, not just at the end, then there's not much you can do anymore.
It has drafting every round vs snapping out of maybe 5 or 6 cards, well, amazing ... which you have to unlock first If you choose too after 1.5 hour or so. Where in TFM you can already pick from 40+ cards even before you begin. AN is therefor also way more random and luck-heavy.
How can you not see the differences? In TFM you also race for cards, milestones, awards, map position, greeneries, cities, 3 tracks, oceans etc etc Almost every EURO has a public display in some form that interacts with people. Any WP game even by taking away a spot somebody else wants. That's just the bare minimum of interactivity. Chess is also a race ... that doesn't make It interactive in Itself. A definition of race is also that It goes quick, AN is not that.
@@deuxvega "Ark Nova is luck heavy" tell that to BGA players with more than 80% winrate mr. clown. They have lots of data about this one.
There is no interaction on board in TFM at begining of the game, since there is lots of spaces on Mars to build your city or forests. You can't be blocked at all in early and after 3h+ you can finally block someone which will lose 2-3VP. (Such interaction, much wow) This is the weakest part of TFM interaction and you think this is something ground breaking.
Hate draft in Ark Nova is present constantly since you have row shown, which players can snap cards. (Mr. Clown you have snapping at the start of the game unlocked, not to mention cards or unlocks/upgrades)
In Ark Nova you race for victory which is most imporatant track in any of the game. Player have to judge when to tigger it and if they are safe to tigger it, since they don't get last turn.
Sometimes you should just give up with your stupid opinions and actually play a game.
I'm surprised you said that you really like Ark Nova yet you have so many issues with this game. 🤔 I find Ark Nova not only "ugly" game considering art work and design, it is terribly unbalanced game that also takes a loong time and if you're not lucky on cards, it's harsh. From my point of view, I would not recommend Ark Nova to anyone. 😄 maybe Zoo Tycoon has the issues you mentioned but for me as a biologist the game makes sense and is not "just" a race for points.
I've won the vast majority of my Ark Nova games so I wouldn't put it all down to card luck. I'm far from the luckiest person around. You still need to make the right efficient action choices.
Tried this yesterday and had to check a review to see if was just me had had issues with the game.. Agree with all you mentioned here😅
The random elements, especially the insane point swing with babies on lvl 3 animals killed it for me. The winner of the game won 100% on pure luck in a 4+ hour game....
While this game isn’t perfect, I think it does what it’s set out to do--create a challenging zoo managing game with an emphasis on animal welfare. I like it!
However, I often disagree with Luke from the Broken Meeple. For example, his #1 game of all time is “Spirit Island” and I find that game horrific, despite many attempts at trying to like it, and I find its ‘brilliance’ overstated. So I always take these reviews--which are simply opinions from other gamers-with a giant grain of salt. But while there are reviewers out there who’s opinions more closely match mine; I still like to watch these from reviewers who’s taste varies from mine, and he makes great reviews.
Knowing what you like and dislike helps you avoid spending money on things that won’t get played. Even still, and despite nearly 50 years in board games, I’ve bought some misses. Aside from the aforementioned Spirit Island, Oath comes to mind.
With regards to this game, comparisons to Ark Nova are inevitable because of theme. Whereas Ark Nova is a mish-mash of familiar mechanisms (action selection card play like Civ: A New Dawn, tile placement like Feast for Odin, and card icon collection like Terraforming Mars)--I’m surprised it wasn’t a Stonemeier game--it has few unique qualities overall; but it is a good game. Zoo Tycoon has a few more unique mechanisms, like the animal exchange, but also has more complexity and fiddliness, and even tile placement is different--and that lack of ‘familiarity’ will hurt it with many players who crave ‘familiarity’. There most certainly is randomness to Ark Nova, such as in the card distribution, which can greatly affect your strategy--Luke gives that a pass, as Ark Nova is in his Top-10 of all time, but ‘offspring’ randomness in this game is a strategy deal breaker? Curious. To me, they are equal in their rank.
So I appreciate his reviews even if, after playing the same games, I disagree with his assessment in places.
I give this game 9/10, the same rank I give Ark Nova, and a little ahead of Zooloretto.
Cheers.
In Ark Nova there is of course randomness, I don't deny that. But people over estimate how much. I've won way more games then lost of Ark Nova, and I'm far from the luckiest man in the world. The other solid aspects of Ark Nova make up for the shortfalls of the game.
Zoo Tycoon has a market system that entirely is randomised every round and there aren't a lot of rounds in the game so having bad luck screw for a round is way more damaging. You also have a primary means of income generation based on a random die roll of offspring. Again, the impact of the luck factor is stronger.
In Ark Nova, if I can't find another bird, then fine I'll grab that cool sponsor. Can't find a small animal? Then build some infrastructure and generate income and grab a partner zoo. There's always other good options.
Zoo has a good foundation but for a game that takes twice as long as the game really should given the mechanics aren't even that heavy (but the terrible rulebook makes a minefield of it), it needs more development time.
And it's not like this game has taken off at all.