Wildlife Tycoon: Venture Africa Reviews

the long distance jumps in the air speak well of the humble spring hare this african bunny make look rather funny but I think he's quite debonair

[b] Note: Wildlife Tycoon: Venture Africa was released in 2005, and its graphics, gameplay mechanics, and design reflect the standards of that time. Nearly two decades later, some issues may feel outdated or more forgivable given the era's limitations. Despite this, the game may still provide a nostalgic or uniquely charming experience for fans of older tycoon sims. [/b] [hr] [h1][b]Beyond Food and Survival – The Safari of Sus in a Silly Savannah[/b][/h1] [hr] [i][Scene: The resistance HQ from Beyond Good and Evil. Jade is setting up the TV with Wildlife Tycoon: Venture Africa. Pey’j is tinkering with a gadget nearby, and the kids—Yoa, Zaza, Oumi, Fehn, Pablo, and Kip—are gathered in a semi-chaotic cluster. Mei stands off to the side, arms crossed but intrigued.][/i] [b]Jade:[/b] [Holding up the game box] Okay, everyone, today we’re trying something new. It’s called [i]Wildlife Tycoon: Venture Africa[/i]. The goal is to manage an African savannah by creating ecosystems and balancing the food chain. [b]Pey’j:[/b] [Squints at the box] Balance the food chain? Does that mean we’re, what, planning snacks for lions? Sounds risky. [b]Zaza:[/b] [Bouncing in excitement] I bet I can build the best savannah! I’ll fill it with elephants and... wait, do elephants eat people? [b]Jade:[/b] [Laughing] No, Zaza, they eat grass. And yes, you can manage elephants, but the challenge is keeping everything balanced. Too many herbivores, and they eat all the plants. Too many predators, and... well, let’s just say the herbivores don’t have a great time. [b]Mei:[/b] [Curious but skeptical] Sounds like The Sims for animals. But can we actually interact with them, or is it all about watching tiny dots move around? [b]Jade:[/b] Tiny dots is about right. Everything’s pretty small, and you can’t zoom in. It’s like trying to manage the world from a hot air balloon. [b]Pey’j:[/b] [Snorts] So, it’s basically a “Where’s Waldo?” safari. Great. [b]Kip:[/b] [Excitedly pointing at the screen as the game starts] Whoa! Look at all the animals! Can I name the lions? One of them should be “Kip the King.” [b]Pablo:[/b] [Laughing] And the zebras should be called “Pablo’s Prey.” This is going to be fun! [b]Jade:[/b] [Shaking her head but smiling] Naming isn’t really the focus. The key is to keep them all alive by maintaining the ecosystem. [b]Fehn:[/b] So... no battles? Just feeding animals? [b]Jade:[/b] [Smiling] No battles. It’s about survival and harmony. You make watering holes, grow plants, and let the animals do their thing. [b]Yoa:[/b] [Pointing at the screen] Why is everything so tiny, though? I can barely see the difference between a gazelle and... a rock. [b]Oumi:[/b] [Giggling] Maybe that’s the challenge—figure out if your savannah is full of wildlife or just rocks pretending to be animals! [b]Pey’j:[/b] [Sarcastically] Great. A stealth lion. Just what every ecosystem needs. [b]Mei:[/b] [Observing thoughtfully] I like that it’s about balance. Kind of like the work we do here—keeping things steady against the DomZ. But the pacing seems slow. It’s more like watching grass grow than managing an adventure. [b]Kip:[/b] [Eyes sparkling] I want to see a giraffe fight a lion! Can I make that happen? [b]Jade:[/b] [Firmly] No, Kip. The point is to keep things peaceful. Though, the lions will hunt if you don’t feed them. [b]Zaza:[/b] [Leaning in eagerly] So, it’s like a puzzle? You figure out what each animal needs and make sure they don’t starve? [b]Jade:[/b] Exactly. And you have to be strategic—grow plants, create water sources, and keep predators in check. [b]Pey’j:[/b] [Grinning] Sounds like you’re just babysitting a bunch of picky eaters. [b]Pablo:[/b] [Snickering] “Oh no, the lions are on a hunger strike again. Quick, serve them some zebra stew!” [b]Fehn:[/b] [Trying to follow along] Wait, if I make too many watering holes, does the savannah just turn into a swamp? [b]Jade:[/b] [Laughing] Pretty much. You have to balance resources carefully. It’s like juggling... but with antelopes and grass. [b]Mei:[/b] [Nods approvingly] I can see how this could be interesting. It’s like being in charge of nature itself. But it’s definitely not for someone who wants action. [b]Yoa:[/b] [Shrugs] I like it. I’ll make the savannah full of cool animals and call it the “Yoa Safari!” [b]Pey’j:[/b] [Muttering] More like “Pey’j’s Jafar Safari,” where nothing works because I can’t see the dang animals. [b]Kip:[/b] [Smirking] Or “Kip’s Chaos Corner,” where lions and elephants team up to rule the savannah! [b]Jade:[/b] [Shaking her head with a smile] All right, all right. Let’s see how long you all can last before your savannah turns into chaos. Just remember: it’s about balance, not destruction. [i][As the game progresses, the group laughs and jokes, each trying to create their perfect ecosystem—or, in Kip’s case, as much mischief as possible.][/i] [hr] [h1][b]Dishonest Trailer[/b][/h1] [hr] [b][i]Honest Trailer Guy:[/i][/b] "From the depths of 2005 gaming history comes [i]Wildlife Tycoon: Venture Africa[/i]—a game that dares you to manage an ecosystem on a scale so small, you’ll wonder if you’re playing as a wildlife god or a particularly bored ant." [b][i][Gameplay footage: Lions pace awkwardly near a watering hole.][/i][/b] "Experience the majesty of the savannah in a game where predators hunt prey with the urgency of a sloth on vacation. Build watering holes, grow grass, and ensure your animals don’t starve—or forget they’re supposed to eat each other entirely. This isn’t the [i]Circle of Life[/i]; it’s more like the [i]Triangle of Mild Confusion.[/i]" [b][i][Simba appears, looking unimpressed.][/i][/b] [b]Simba:[/b] "This is what they think balance looks like? My dad is roaring in his grave." [b]Honest Trailer Guy:[/b] "Good point, Simba. These animals are more lost than Scar at a Pride Rock improv show." [b][i][Timon and Pumbaa enter, clearly alarmed.][/i][/b] [b]Timon:[/b] "Pumbaa, I know we’re into hakuna matata, but this ecosystem looks like it needs a whole lotta matata!" [b]Pumbaa:[/b] "Where are the grubs? What’s a warthog supposed to eat—grass?" [b][i][Gameplay footage: An impala walks right into a lion.][/i][/b] "Guide your animals through a savannah so small it might as well be a nature documentary filmed on a Post-it Note. Struggle with a zoom level that feels like you’re watching from a weather satellite. Squint to differentiate between lions and oddly shaped rocks." [b][i][Nala steps forward, skeptical.][/i][/b] [b]Nala:[/b] "You can’t call it a savannah if I need binoculars to find my dinner." [b]Timon:[/b] "More like a [i]Jafar Safari![/i]" [b]Honest Trailer Guy:[/b] "Or maybe a [i]Hannah Savannah[/i], if we’re getting sassy." [b][i][Mufasa’s ghost appears, majestic as ever.][/i][/b] [b]Mufasa:[/b] "Remember who you are… but good luck remembering where your lions are." [b][i][Footage of poetic loading screens appears.][/i][/b] "While you’re waiting for the animals to figure out their roles in the food chain, enjoy the game’s saving grace: the poetry on the loading screens. Who knew these nuggets of wisdom would be more engaging than the gameplay itself? It’s like a philosophy lecture snuck into your tycoon sim." [b][i][Zazu swoops in, flustered.][/i][/b] [b]Zazu:[/b] "Surely there’s some structure here. Someone’s in charge?" [b]Simba:[/b] "Relax, Zazu. No one even has names. It’s just ‘zebra,’ ‘gazelle,’ or ‘bush-shaped lion.’" [b]Honest Trailer Guy:[/b] "If you’ve got the patience of Rafiki and an appreciation for tycoon games, [i]Wildlife Tycoon: Venture Africa[/i] might still charm you with its quirky mechanics. But if you’re looking for an African adventure that makes sense, you might want to visit literally anywhere else." [b][i][Final shot of the Lion King cast watching gameplay.][/i][/b] [b]Timon:[/b] "So, uh… does this savannah have a return policy?" [b]Pumbaa:[/b] "At least Scar’s not in charge of it!" [hr]