Wildlife Tycoon: Venture Africa
- May 1, 2018
- Pocketwatch Games
Get on SteamWildlife Tycoon: Venture Africa is a unique tycoon game that puts you in charge of creating and managing ecosystems filled with various animals. You can take control of any creature with the "Be the Animal" feature, and earn jewels by building balanced ecosystems. Use these jewels to bring rain to the desert, compete for trophies, and unlock hidden content in the Sandbox or follow the story of Dr. Willoughby and Miss Carrilou in Story Mode. There are no people to please and no money to hoard, only animals to care for in this immersive simulation game.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a nostalgic experience for those who played it as kids, with engaging mechanics and strategic challenges that remain fun even years later.
- Despite its age, the game features beautiful landscapes and a simplistic yet charming aesthetic that appeals to both children and adults.
- At a low price point, the game provides substantial content and replayability, making it a worthwhile purchase for fans of animal simulation games.
- The game suffers from various bugs, including crashes and issues with animal behavior, which can disrupt gameplay and lead to frustration.
- Key features such as music and voiceovers from the original version are missing in the Steam release, detracting from the overall atmosphere and experience.
- The graphics and UI show their age, with some players noting that the visuals can be quite poor compared to modern standards.
- music18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The music and voiceovers in the game are largely missing or bugged in the Steam version, significantly detracting from the overall atmosphere and nostalgia for players. Many users express disappointment over the absence of background music and voiced lines that were present in earlier versions, with some resorting to YouTube for the original soundtrack. Overall, the lack of these audio elements has left a negative impact on the gaming experience.
“However, there are YouTube videos of the game that you can listen to for the music.”
“There is also gameplay footage on YouTube you can pull up to listen to the music, though I do wish it was still in the game.”
“I played this game a lot when I was a kid; unfortunately, this version of the game has a lot of small changes that cut down on the nostalgia.”
“As some other reviews have mentioned, the level music and voiceovers are completely amiss here, which is pretty bizarre and really takes away a lot from the atmosphere.”
“Unfortunately, there's no music or voiceovers, which I remember there being for the poems, but I'll take what I can get.”
“The only unfortunate thing is that the gameplay music and voiceover poems before each level seemed to be bugged or edited out.”
- gameplay14 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
Gameplay is generally enjoyable and features fun mechanics and challenges, though it is marred by various bugs, including issues with animal spawning and display problems that do not significantly disrupt play. While some users report bugs affecting music and cursor calibration, many still find the core gameplay engaging and entertaining. Overall, despite the technical issues, players appreciate the simplicity and fun of the mechanics.
“My final thoughts: you'll probably have lots of fun with the mechanics and challenges of various levels.”
“Like other reviews, there are also some bugs that are probably never going to be addressed (when you adjust window dimensions in settings, the cursor might not calibrate correctly), but I feel like the gameplay itself has been uninterrupted.”
“Loved it a lot, it's a simple mechanic that's fun to play.”
“Bugged gameplay as during the second level, all the animals died within 10 seconds of spawning them.”
“The only unfortunate thing is that the gameplay music and voiceover poems before each level seemed to be bugged or edited out.”
“In terms of bugs, the only ones I've noticed so far are just some display issues on background/sky which don't interfere in gameplay, and that sometimes when selecting animals or flora, nothing shows up at first and you can't place them.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally considered outdated, reflecting its 2005 origins, with some users noting significant graphical glitches and a simplistic aesthetic. However, many appreciate the charming atmosphere and attention to detail in certain maps, which contribute to an enjoyable experience despite the rough edges. Overall, while the graphics may not impress, they evoke nostalgia and complement the game's unique appeal.
“It's simplistic in certain areas, especially the graphics, but the general flow of watching your map slowly come to life is just... *mwah* c'est magnifique, and it runs great.”
“The game offers some really nice graphics and a nice yet simplistic aesthetic which is pleasant all the same and has some amazing attention to detail even though it is a little rough around the edges.”
“The atmosphere of this game is really nice and some of the maps are surprisingly pretty considering how poorly the rest of the graphics aged.”
“I bought the game to relive the memories, but instead when I go to the first level I get graphical UI glitches up the wazoo.”
“The graphics are clearly from 2005, but I love it anyway, and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a 'different' animal tycoon game.”
- story8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The story features two main characters whose goofy poems and commentary, complemented by decent voice acting, add charm to the gameplay, despite its cheesiness. Players appreciate the blend of set goals and randomized challenges that keep the experience fresh, while the narrative culminates in a surprisingly cute ending. Overall, the story effectively combines fun and strategy, enhancing replayability.
“The way their story ends is actually surprisingly cute.”
“The set goals to finish each level of story mode while also having randomized jewel goals to unlock and progress feels like a fresh challenge each time you replay.”
“Currently, I'm about halfway through the story on easy, and you can quickly pick up how the fun scientific outer layer actually can require strategy and planning on your part.”
- stability8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- -12 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is mixed; while some players report a smooth experience with no glitches, others have encountered significant graphical issues that hinder gameplay. The lack of a save feature has also been noted as a drawback, contributing to a sense of frustration for some users.
“The general flow of watching your map slowly come to life is just... *mwah* c'est magnifique, and it runs great.”
“The game runs smoothly, providing a stable experience that enhances the overall enjoyment.”
“Despite some simplistic graphics, the stability of the gameplay allows for an immersive experience.”
“I bought the game to relive the memories, but instead when I go to the first level I get graphical UI glitches up the wazoo.”
“When I was younger, my disc cracked and became unplayable due to graphical glitches.”
- atmosphere6 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is generally praised for its appealing maps and vibrant colors, despite the aging graphics. However, the lack of effective level music and voiceovers detracts significantly from the overall experience, leaving some players feeling that the atmosphere could have been enhanced.
“The atmosphere of this game is really nice, and some of the maps are surprisingly pretty considering how poorly the rest of the graphics aged.”
“Although it's not the prettiest game by today's standards, I still appreciate a lot of the colors and atmosphere.”
“The level music and voiceovers are completely amiss here, which is pretty bizarre and really takes away a lot from the atmosphere.”
“The lack of cohesive sound design makes the environment feel lifeless and unengaging.”
“The overall ambiance feels flat and uninspired, failing to draw players into the game's world.”
