Zoo Tycoon 2 DS
© 2008 THQ, Inc.
Testers gave a thumbs up to this second Zoo Tycoon for the DS, which does a nice job bringing the fun of the big game down to two small DS screens. It is a good way for children to apply higher-order thinking skills, as they use a variety of information to manage their zoos. There are three modes of play; as a Zoo Designer (plan your zoo) Zoo Director (make money and attract visitors) or Zoo Keeper (interact and care for animals). Success requires paying attention to key statistics, such as the number of visitors, the amount of money in the bank and the health of the animals. More money gives you the ability to advertise more, get more exotic animals, hire more staff, and attract more visitors. There are three game-save slots, so you can have up to three zoos on a single card. Players can all exchange zoo data and compete with friends wirelessly using DS multi-card play. Buy it or borrow it.
$30, Nintendo DS
Teaches: Economics, balancing a budget, managing resources, Science, maintaining life, ecosystems, reading
CTR Rating: 94%