Note: There is a patch that you should download before playing this game.

I have played a lot of various simulation games since first getting my hands on Sim City many years ago. Some have been novel ideas and quite good, while others felt like hurried attempts to cash in on a popular genre of game-playing. We love to build our own worlds and see how well we can succeed like the Trumps of the world. They enable us to immerse ourselves in environments that would otherwise be unreachable for our hum-drum lives. From hunting experiences to managing a flourishing ant farm (still one of my favorites), you can find a simulation game for about anything you can imagine. So, on the heels of similar titles such as Zoo Tycoon, we now have Enlight's Marine Park Empire. This newest offering is a delightful, welcomed addition to the ranch of park-styled themes from over the years.

I am truly glad that this one scores a hit. I was skeptical about hearing that they dared to stray away from being a straight Marine (only) Park and meddle with more "zoo" type attractions such as kangaroos, but they all work in this case. The mix of animals ranges from chilly penguins to African rhinos. While the scope of animals is nothing compared to Noah's collection (hey - someone can build Sim Ark, now!), the offerings they do have are a good sampling of various environments - without making it too unrealistic. Sims are fun when they push the envelope of realism - without making it silly. Marine Park Empire (MPE) does a great job mixing up the batch without crossing the fence of absurdity. Whimsy good, stupidity bad.

Like most all sims, you must build/create a world (or theme park, in this case), then populate it with staff, attractions then get the people to come-- and stay. It all seems so simple until things are up and running; then, realism creeps in and you have to juggle and think. Fortunately, MPE has half a dozen tutorials, which is generous for a sim game. Despite being a veteran player, I still went through them - though I admit I skipped forward during some of the more obvious sections. The how-to is narrated calmly by a "Mr. Rogers" type character that lulls you into thinking this game might be easy. You can do a few mini-scenario games in this process. This better prepares you for the scenario portions of the game itself. You can play free-form in which the clock just runs and you manage the park as best you can. Or, load up a mission and try to complete it as described. I usually do both, and this was no exception. I used to loathe scenario play, but now I like the challenge of it. This game pulls of the challenge aspect quite well. Not making it too hard for the novice, nor boring to the seasoned experts.

Doing the scenarios is refreshing here, as building your own park from scratch is no simple feat. There are more than two dozen water-loving animals, alone. The only drawback is a lack of real estate from which you can expand upon. The array of possible buildings is immense, though funding will keep things simple from the start. As all park sims do, this one makes you build and place restrooms, attractions, food spots and shops within convenient intervals for your paying guests. Keep everyone happy, and the animals healthy, and you “win!” Once you’ve mastered the self-creation (Free) mode and want a new challenge, the Scenarios are more fun than usual in this type of game. From snapping pictures of rare animals to creating people-gathering attractions, you’ll find a lot of challenge within reasonable reach.

The game has some pleasant music. Although you can (almost) always change the volume or other audio options on these games, the default music is often horrible and a lax afterthought. This music is nice to hear in the background, but doesn’t demand your intention in an otherwise “obnoxious” manner. It sounds good, though some of the other environment sounds are slightly lacking in realism. But I don’t claim to have a lot of jungle animals in my house to compare them to.

The graphics stand out quite nicely for a game of this size and value. Often, these games are rushed out without much to look at, but they actually made this nice to look at. The people are “cartoonish” (big heads and funny bodies), which lends nicely to the Family-orientation of the game. By making it look like a cartoon, it will help peak the interest of a younger player, which might lead to some nice opportunities to get an education on various animals. They did not take cute liberties with the animals, though they are simplified in their detail. But there is not a “Disney-looking” seal or other such nonsense. The park scenes are nice to look at without wasting valuable processing power on tiny details that made a otherwise fun game get bogged down with unnecessary graphics. Again, the overall look is appealing to a young audience, which should help make them want to spend more time on it … thus, educating them along the way!

This is a very good, low-cost title that has a lot to offer for various audiences. I have played several Theme park sim games like Zoo Tycoon and the ole faithful Roller Coaster Tycoon as well as Theme Park — my first “Park” title in the 90s. This is one of the most enjoyable ones I have tried. Intentional or not, the look and feel of it will lend itself to attracting young players, which many sim games seem to shun due to their complex nature. Once they try it, the friendly tutorials and inviting situations will keep them there for a long time. There’s a lot of replay value to this title, which is a great asset to any stand-alone sim game!     

Gameplay: 7.5
The tutorials are very simple and thorough. The narration is friendly and non-intimidating. Once you settle into playing the game, the array of button items is large, but easy to navigate. There is a nice combination of challenges and Free play to keep you wanting to return for a while. I was more drawn to playing this in repetition than most other games in this genre. Despite its low-end price tag, it plays like a bigger release.   

Graphics: 8.0
They did not, thankfully, attempt to make this a National Geographic game with a lot of demands on my system. Though it could handle it, it was nice to have good speed in lieu of being dazzled by photo-realism. They seemed to accurately balance the importance of good gaming against the need for realistic environments and objects. That was nice to see. I like the cartoonish employees and visitors very much. It reminded me of an old Sierra game. 

Sound: 7.0
The tunes are mellow but not annoying. You can turn them down/off, but I never touched the settings on this one at all. I played in Default mode the entire time. That’s nice — for a change. The narration is nicely done by a low-key fellow that you’d expect to see in a old, well-worn sweater (hence, the Mr. Rogers reference).  

Difficulty: Easy
It’s not very hard to pick up and play. Seasoned sim players can skip the lessons and jump right in, but I still went through them — and did learn a few things that I appreciated. If you’re new or unsure about this type of game, the tutorials will make it much easier to handle. Though easier than many, it has it’s challenges — but they are fair and can be met with focus and by paying attention. 

Concept: 6.5 
There isn’t much new about this. It’s like a lot of sim games out there already. What feels new is the mix of aquatic animals in the same park that has more exotic species like kangaroos and rhinos. Going with the low-tech cartoon people helps make it look fresh as well.   

Overall: 7.5
Without apology, this is a good game that most any sim player should enjoy very much. Enlight deserves praise for not wasting time making the game look a certain way — and neglecting good game play. They managed to make it look appealing, yet keep the action engaging and a challenge. Proof that it can be done (attention: GBA developers). There are a lot of things to keep you busy building your park when funds allow. If you keep your staff paid well, you will ensure they keep the animals/attractions in great condition, which will keep the people coming back. If things are running well, you will have the funds to expand and see how crazy you can get with the park. That’s a lot of fun. Over and over, Free Mode and Scenarios, I was playing with the animals and watching kids eat ice cream. Not a bad way to spend a cold-season night!