Sim Park is a fun game. Although it says ages 8+ (making it seem like a kids game) older audiences will also find it to be quite enjoyable. It is interesting to see how all the different types of animals interact with each other, as well as the people that eventually visit your park. You start off with a limited amount of money, like always, and all of the materials do cost a substantial amount. However, you will not have a problem starting off a park where people will come in and you will soon make your money back.
The graphics are adequate, but nothing spectacular. You will know exactly what type of animal or plant you are putting into your park and you can't really ask for much more from a simulation game like this. They are somewhat cute however, and do get on the nerves of an older player at least a little bit, but younger players may find the graphics to be perfect.
A cool feature in the game is the disasters. You can choose to have you park be subjected to a number of disasters, ranging from tornadoes to alien invasions to kudzu. Why would one want to be hit with these disasters? Just to see the aliens spell out, with their pods, "Resistance is futile," visible only from the park map. It's things like this that make the game fun.
Another cool detail to the game is the ability to learn about all of the things being put in your park. If you click on the animal or plant when you have the microphone option pressed down, it will tell you a little bit about itself.
Graphics: Cute, somewhat plain
Sound: Adequate.
Enjoyment: It's fun to make a park.
Replay Value: You'll keep comin' back for more.
Made by Maxis, the company famous for its line of "Sim" games, SimPark deals with the simulation and management of a real wildlife park. SimPark allows you to build and manage parks from scratch, completely isolated from civilization. You have the choice of choosing from hundreds of different species of flowers, bushes, plants, mammals, birds, and reptiles to live and thrive in your park. Which plants and animals to put in is completely your choice, but you have to make sure that their biological needs are met so that they won't die. You start out with a bare patch of land, but as you add plants and animals, it will begin to grow. Depending on the climate and food available, certain animals will even begin migrating to your park. SimPark contains a massive database of plants and animals that you need to use in order for your park to flourish. Over hundreds of species are cataloged in SimPark, and each article includes a brief bio, their scientific name, their wants and needs, and even an authentic recording of what each animal sounds like. You need to utilize this information to figure out what plants and animals to put in your park, in order for the creatures to flourish. If a creature or plant does not get enough food, a plant does not like the climate, or trees do not get the amount of water they need, your park will not grow.
When plants and animals are placed incorrectly, the park becomes unstable. Weeds and animals will begin to overpopulate the park. Other trees will die or get overeaten by rampaging species. Because of this, the game tries to teach the concept of a "balanced ecosystem." It is up to you to have an understanding of the animals in your park to preserve a balance. Only through a perfectly balanced biological system can all of the creatures flourish.
Besides the biological aspect, there is also the managerial aspect of it. Above all, it is up to you to manage the budget for the park. Planting trees and adapting animals costs money, and if you can't manage that money, you're fired. Even though you get federal funding each year, it is also important to attract visitors to the park to make a little income. You need to make provisions for humans, like paths and bathrooms. You also have to make sure visitors behave and do not litter or ravage the park. Besides this, you also have the duty to identify species in your park, through a mini-game which has you identify them through their characteristics. As well, you may have to decide on other things like if you want to receive donations, or cater to boyscout parties (which might have negative affects on the ecosystem).
Like any classic Sim game, you can ravage your own park with disasters. You can simulate a garbage dump disaster (a large pile of garbage and lots of rats), a fire, an alien invasion (pink and blue blobs that create garbage) and a kudzu infestation.
SimPark teaches the importance of ecological balance in visual and easy-to-grasp ways. For example, the player soon learns that if no flat-leafed flowers are planted, the park won't attract bees. And if the park doesn't attract bees, pollenation won't occur and the park cannot thrive. SimPark also requires kids to identify the park's plant and animal life in addition to properly managing its animal and plant population. Overall, it's a solid "lite" version of SimIsle that allows kids to have fun while learning just how delicate the balance of nature really is.
How to run this game on modern Windows PC?
People who downloaded SimPark have also downloaded:
SimSafari, SimTower, Sim Farm, SimFarm for Windows, Sim Theme Park (a.k.a. Theme Park World), Sim City 2000, SimHealth, Zoo Tycoon
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