Zoo Vet: Endangered Animals

Differentiating between all of the pet-care simulation games on the market these days can be pretty tricky. Pet Vet, Paws and Claws Pet Vet, Pet Pals, Zoo Vet, you see what I mean. All of them are based on veterinary care for animals, although there are differences between the series.

Of these games, there are three product lines: Pet Vet 3D (Viva Media), Paws and Claws Pet Vet (ValueSoft), and Pet Pals and Zoo Vet (Legacy Interactive). So, how did Zoo Vet: Endangered Animals compare? Well, in some areas it compared well, but in others it didn’t.

The main idea behind these games is that you, the player, are a veterinarian whose job it is to diagnose and treat sick animals. The locations and animals may change from game to game, but the basic premise is still the same. In Zoo Vet: Endangered Animals, the task is to treat wild animals, mainly of African origin. Despite the title, these animals aren’t endangered themselves; they are lions, tigers and chimps. A certain percentage of the sale proceeds go to an animal wildlife fund, so maybe that is why it is named thus.

The game begins with an introductory greeting by the hospital staff. They are friendly and informative. Once the pleasantries are over, it’s immediately to the office where players can jump right in by choosing animal cases to treat. The menu is somewhat confusing, and it may take a bit of roaming around the office to figure out where all the menus are and what they do. The map is the main treatment center where cases are displayed. The computer monitor is where all the other main information is found, and also the mini-games.

One of the cases is a tutorial, although it doesn’t state that it is until it is begun. It is the lion case highlighted by a “T” icon for tutorial. Here, players will learn the basic care options and procedures. On easy level, players are walked through all the procedures and it is easy enough to diagnose and treat the case successfully. There is a side information screen where the animal statistics are displayed, along with real-time notes that automatically update during the exam. Kids will need to choose the correct diagnostic instruments, and the right medicines. After treatment, they can answer questions about the case. Once the case is completed successfully, the icon on the map will be green. If the treatment is wrong, they can try again – the animal won’t die and the veterinarians are encouraging.

The animals are either walking around the outside enclosures or are on the examining table. Either way, they’re not very attractive. The graphics in this game leave much to be desired, and many of these animals look like stuffed animals from Toys-R-Us on the table. The human characters don’t look much better, either, and the backgrounds are minimally drawn.

Besides the 30 cases to treat, there are lots of educational games and activities. Jigsaw puzzles, word searches, trivia questions, and memory are fun mini-games with an animal focus, of course. There are also short movie clips, and also photos that are scattered around to find, to unlock more movies. The mini-games are simple but still fun, and there is a good variety of randomization. The clips and photos all look much better than the other graphics.

Educationally speaking, there are facts and statistics on all the animals. The cases are also realistic and don’t shy away from the “ooky” factor of animal care.

So, how does this game rank besides the other series? Well, in terms of all-around quality and fun, the Pet Vet 3D series is the best, with a good combination of animal care, educational facts and fun additions like buying things for the animals and playing with them. Paws and Claws Pet Vet also has a good mix of cases and care simulation, but the cases aren’t randomized well and the simulation play aspect isn’t as interactive as Pet Vet 3D. Zoo Vet has more realistic cases and also mini-games, which is a fun addition, but the overall gameplay isn’t as much fun.

Each of these series has something unique to offer, and in a perfect world, they would be combined in one game for the best gaming experience. However, that’s not the case. Zoo Vet is designed well from the veterinarian treatment aspect, and the cases are informative and realistic. The mini-games are also a fun diversion. However, the animals aren’t very attractive, and not offering more interactive options for the animals in the game besides just treating them is boring.

Zoo Vet is best for the child who is interested in veterinary science, more than just playing with cutesy animals.

Gameplay: 6.0
The game is more educational than “fun” really, even with the mini-games and activities. Best for the more serious children.

Graphics: 6.0
The graphics are not very good and the animals and people look unnatural. Nothing has improved since the first Zoo Vet three years ago.

Sound: 7.0
The music is innocuous enough and isn’t annoying.

Difficulty: Medium
It’s easy on the easy levels, but the harder levels are more difficult because of a lack of direction.

Concept: 6.0
The concept is the same as in other vet simulations, and the implementation is adequate but not inspired.

Overall: 6.0
This is a decent enough pet-care simulation, but there are others on the market that are better designed and more fun to play. We like the mini-games and additional activities, though. Hopefully the next iteration will bring improved gameplay and graphics.