A well-produced Tycoon game for the DS, with a twist inspired by the current crop of pet simulators.

Zoo Tycoon 2 on the DS is a worthy, entertaining chapter of the long running economic simulation series. The gameplay is pure Tycoon – you are an omniscient force tasked with building a park that works from every design standpoint – and you must manage several important aspects of your growing business.

In this particular title, you are tasked with building a zoo, from constructing actual exhibits and placing animals/zookeepers to designing support structures (restrooms, food stands, benches, etc.) for your virtual customers. The game’s newbie-friendly tutorials do a fantastic job of easing players into the many roles of a successful zoo tycoon, from construction to learning how to draw high traffic, popular exhibits, to micro-managing the zoo’s finances.

Each individual campaign has its own challenges, but the overall goal of the campaign mode (the main single player game) is to make money, accomplished by keeping guests and animals alike happy. Running a successful zoo allows the player to do “research” and unlock cooler animals and possible exhibits, in turn raking in more cash. This is easy enough to accomplish, as there are really no “disasters” or particularly difficult elements to deal with, aside from a ticking clock. Tycoon vets will have an uber zoo running in no time at all, and those new to the genre will appreciate the relatively gentle learning curve.