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
Reviews
- The game offers a nostalgic experience for players who enjoyed it as kids, with engaging gameplay that remains fun and challenging even years later.
- It features a unique ecosystem management mechanic that requires strategic planning, making it suitable for both children and adults.
- The game is available at a very low price, providing good value for those looking for a simple yet enjoyable simulation experience.
- Many players have reported bugs, including graphical glitches and crashes, which can disrupt gameplay and lead to frustration.
- The absence of background music and voiceovers, which were present in earlier versions, detracts from the overall atmosphere and enjoyment of the game.
- Some players find the animal behavior simplistic and lacking depth, making the gameplay feel shallow compared to other similar titles.
- music9 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music aspect of the game has received significant criticism, as many players note the absence of background music and voiceovers that were integral to the original experience. This removal has detracted from the nostalgic atmosphere, leading some to speculate that it may be a bug or an oversight in the Steam version. Players have expressed disappointment, wishing for the return of the original audio elements that enhanced gameplay.
“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 voice acting, 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.”
- gameplay7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
Overall, the gameplay is engaging and enjoyable, featuring simple yet fun mechanics and various challenges across levels. While players have reported some bugs, such as display issues and occasional failures in selecting animals or flora, these do not significantly disrupt the overall experience. However, the absence of in-game music and voiceovers has been noted as a downside.
“My final thoughts: you'll probably have lots of fun with the mechanics and challenges of various levels.”
“Loved it a lot, it's a simple mechanic that's fun to play.”
“Like other reviews, there are also some bugs that are probably never going to be addressed, but I feel like the gameplay itself has been uninterrupted.”
“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.”
“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.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are a mixed bag, with many users noting significant aging and glitches that detract from the experience. However, the atmosphere and some map designs are praised for their charm and detail, creating a nostalgic yet simplistic aesthetic that appeals to fans despite the technical shortcomings. Overall, while the visuals reflect their 2005 origins, they still manage to evoke a sense of enjoyment and nostalgia.
“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 graphics are clearly from 2005, but I love it anyway, and would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a 'different' animal tycoon game.”
“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 atmosphere of this game is really nice and some of the maps are surprisingly pretty considering how poorly the rest of the graphics aged.”
“When I was younger, my disc cracked and became unplayable due to graphical glitches.”
- stability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Overall, user experiences with stability are mixed; while some report significant graphical glitches and a lack of a save feature, others praise the game's smooth performance and lack of issues.
“The general flow of watching your map slowly come to life is just... *mwah* c'est magnifique, and it runs great.”
“The game maintains a smooth performance throughout, ensuring a stable experience that keeps you engaged.”
“Despite some simplistic elements, the overall stability of the gameplay allows for an enjoyable and 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.”
- story4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The story features engaging and humorous commentary from two well-voiced main characters, adding charm to the missions despite their cheesy nature. Players appreciate the blend of set goals and randomized challenges, which keeps the gameplay fresh and encourages strategic thinking as they progress through the story mode. The conclusion of the narrative is noted to be unexpectedly cute, enhancing the overall experience.
“You can watch them on YouTube, but experiencing the goofy poems and commentary from the two main characters (who have pretty decent voice acting) as you go along the missions is part of the fun, even if they're super cheesy.”
“Plus, the way their story ends is actually surprisingly cute.”
“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.”
“The story feels disjointed and lacks a coherent narrative arc.”
“Character development is shallow, making it hard to connect with anyone in the story.”
“The plot twists are predictable and fail to deliver any real surprises.”
- atmosphere3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % 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 further.
“The atmosphere of this game is really nice, and some of the maps are surprisingly pretty considering how poorly the rest of the graphics have aged.”
“Although it's not the prettiest game by today's standards, I still appreciate a lot of the colors and atmosphere.”
“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.”
