Planet Zoo 2...

If we drop the cetaceans and the pelagic species, it leaves us with a still reasonably respectable roster.

  • Green Moray Eel
  • Green Sea Turtle
  • Scalloped Hammerhead Shark (my personal pick of the two)
  • Manta Ray (or at the very least a similar species)
  • Giant Pacific Octopus
  • West Indian Manatee
  • Great Barracuda
  • Common Sawfish
  • Blacktip Reef Shark
If the Whale Shark is deemed too big, maybe a Zebra Shark instead? Or maybe a large grouper species if you don't want too many sharks.

Either way, I'm of the personal opinion that, if aquatic animals are added in PZ2, it'll be similar to with JWE2 - They'll be there, but just not a focus immediately. Same goes for flying species if they're added. I wouldn't be surprised if the main focus was still on the "main" animals.
 
CrashMegaraptor said:
Either way, I'm of the personal opinion that, if aquatic animals are added in PZ2, it'll be similar to with JWE2 - They'll be there, but just not a focus immediately. Same goes for flying species if they're added. I wouldn't be surprised if the main focus was still on the "main" animals.
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I'm thinking the same thing. Aquatic features and animals might be available in base game, but won't be fully explored until the DLC. I figure that most aquatic animals that would be included in the base game would be species that are strongly associated with specific land regions, so that they can easily be incorporated into a regular zoo.

If Frontier decides to include cetaceans in a future game, (and that's a big if) my prediction is that it will largely be endangered and vulnerable species. Kind of a compromise to go with a conservation message. And the space requirements will be very high.
 
Probably the biggest thing to overwork (beside the visitor AI) is everything about the plants. In real life, i never had the feeling that an animal is unhappy because the trees at their exhibit doesn't match up with their native range. Furthermore all plants are working at every climate zone and without any water.
 
For Animation Rigs for the Animals most are Copy-Paste.

Masai Giraffe: Reticulated Giraffe.

Secretary Bird: Red-crowned Crane and Greater Flamingo with unique animations.

Honey Badger: European Badger and Wolverine.

Gerenuk: Dama Gazelle

Olive Baboon: Hamadryas Baboon.

Blackbuck: Thomson’s Gazelle and Nile Lechwe.

Nile Crocodile: Saltwater Crocodile.

Onager: Somali Wild Ass.

Bighorn Sheep: Dall’s Sheep.

Gelada: Hamadryas Baboon.

Ethiopian Wolf: Maned Wolf

American Black Bear: Sun Bear, Sloth Bear, and Spectacled Bear.

Mexican Grey Wolf: Timber or Grey Wolf.

Japanese Serow: A new unique model.

Barbary Macaque: Japanese Macaque.

Iberian Lynx: Eurasian Lynx.

Indian or Indochinese Leopard: African Leopard.

Javan Rhinoceros: Indian Rhinoceros.

Crested Gibbon: White-handed Gibbon.

Mountain Gorilla: Western Lowland Gorilla.

Sea Otter: Giant Otter and Asian Small-clawed Otter with unique animations.

Walrus: California Sea Lion.

Southern Rockhopper Penguin: Little Penguin and African Penguin.

Emperor Penguin: King Penguin.

Muskoxen: Takin and Cape Buffalo.

Northern Elephant Seal: Grey Seal.
 
For Marine Animals:

X-ray Tetra or Fish: a Freshwater South American Fish known for its translucent body see-through skeleton body.
 
I've played extremely little of the former game (it frustratingly came out around the time in my life that I lost out on having long blocks of free time) but it sounds to me like it could a simplified path system and maybe more optional building shortcuts to be more friendly to new and inexperienced players who aren't ready to dive into the big builds.
 
the exhibits system needs the biggest overhaul imo, as someone who gets most excited for reptiles, inverts, and amphibians, Planet Zoo was really disappointing with the looped animations and limited customization and is one of the reasons I often found myself going back to modded ZT2 instead of playing on PZ.(the extreme customization with very little prebuilt pieces for people like me who suck at modular building was another thing).

expanding on exhibits is still my main thing for PZ2 which can also include aquatics, aviaries, and more smooth animations, and a small one but giving eggs and incubation options for egg laying species.
 
My Wish-list Add-ons:

Ocelot: a Spotted South American cat that is highly requested.

Coati (Any Species): another South American animal to add since we got Raccoons.

Goodfellow's Tree Kangaroo: a highly requested marsupial for a New Guinea or Oceania Region.

Wild Yak: a mountain Bovid known for its shaggy coat and domestication for meat, fur, and milk.

Macaws: (First Walkthrough Birds and Parrots: Scarlet Macaw, Blue-and-Yellow or Blue-and-Gold Macaw, Hyacinth Macaw, Military Macaw, and Red-and-Green or Green-winged Macaw) Colorful Parrots that can fill any aviary and South American Region.

Brown Hyena: a southern African Desert Hyena that can live in coastal biomes.

Aardwolf: an Insect-eating Hyena.

African Wolf: Their Taxonomic History is a subspecies of the Golden Jackal and is associated with Egyptian Culture.

Golden Jackal: a Eurasian Canine that is very adaptable and has a commensal relationship with Bengal Tigers.

Black-backed Jackal: a classic African canid for a Savannah Region.

Side-striped Jackal: a Jackal that eats mostly insects and fruits.

Hirola: a Critically Endangered Antelope with none in Captivity.

Eastern Gray Kangaroo: a second Kangaroo to add to contrast the Larger Red Kangaroo.

Sumatran Tiger: Most Zoos in the US and Europe have them and they’re the smallest and darkest fur of the Tigers.

Gaur: a Large Bovid that would fit South Asian Ungulates and contrast with the Wild Water Buffalo and mix with the Blackbuck and Indian Rhinoceros.

Chacma Baboon: a Southern African Baboon known to adapt to urban areas.

Perentie: The largest Australian land lizard, which is becoming more visible in zoos in the US.

Frilled Lizard: a unique Australian Lizard due to its frilled neck.

White-tailed Deer: The inclusion of a North American Deer Species would fit a North American Forest Region.

African Wildcat: the Wild Ancestor of the Domestic Cat.

Thoroughbred Horse: a Horse that can be used for a petting area and rides.

Domestic Shorthaired Cat: a perfect use for ambassadors in petting zoos.

Northern Plains Grey Langur: an Asian Primate for an India Region.

Arabian Wolf: an Endangered Middle East Desert Wolf.

Indian Wolf: a Canid for any India Region known for its role in The Jungle Book.

African Forest Elephant: The Third Elephant to complete all the Elephants in the Game and inclusion for an African Rainforest.

Sumatran Rhinoceros: Asian only two-horned Rhino and Critically Endangered.

Nubian Giraffe: The Type Species of Giraffe and the famous one Zarafa was one of the first Giraffes in Europe.

Topi: a Fast African Savannah Antelope.

Japanese Tiger Keelback: a Snake that is both Venomous and Poisonous.
 
The main things I want to see implemented:

- Flying birds and the inclusion of fully aquatic animals like fish.

- A tool that allows you to easily stretch a mesh roof over top of a habitat.

- A path tool that doesn't make the user want to commit war crimes.

- All construction and scenery items can be resized and rotated to any angle.

- Multiple gates per habitat.

Those are pretty much what would need to happen to get me to buy the game. Anything else would be gravy.
 
If a Planet Zoo 2 is coming soon (2027-28 I think is a likely release time), I'd like all the animals (DLCs too) in the base game, plus Aviaries and Aquariums, and more attractions (those typically found in Zoos and Aquariums), like Carousels, Gondola lifts, Drive-Through Safaris, Touch Tanks, Giraffe Feeding, Bird Shows, etc.
 
TBH, I think having all the original game's roster is unreasonable just due to how large it actually is. I wouldn't be surprised if a quarter of the original roster is cut at minimum.
 
CrashMegaraptor said:
TBH, I think having all the original game's roster is unreasonable just due to how large it actually is. I wouldn't be surprised if a quarter of the original roster is cut at minimum.
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If they cut things from the roster it'll be because Frontier is scummy, not because of roster size. They're not going to be completely rebuilding the engine or something, and even with JWE3, the rough majority of JWE2 is still coming to basegame. Even JWE1 to JWE2, with I think the exception of some hybrids & crichtonsaurus(?), basically the entire roster carried over to JWE2's basegame.

Given JWE2 and PC2, it's safe to say that Frontier's current formula for park-builder sequels is "Just Add Water," which is...less than I would want from this kind of thing, truly. I'm not asking for a Zoo Tycoon -> Zoo Tycoon 2 type of transition but I'd like a little more than what seems to have happened between JWE -> JWE2 and PC -> PC2.

Of course, PZ2 in its entirety is purely theoretical at this time- Frontier's financial records seem to show that none of their sequels have been, uh, doing well. At all. If that wasn't evident by Planet Coaster 2 regularly being ~40% off on Steam under a year after release, and Planet Zoo suddenly receiving a bunch of DLCs again. I think we really just have to wait and see how JWE3 does to truly judge the future of the Planet franchise. With their scummy DLC practices and buggy, unfinished game releases, it's entirely possible, if not outright likely, that Frontier has burned through most of the goodwill they built up with Planet Coaster, particularly!

Regardless, in a sequel, I would still very much like aquatics & shows. I've already been somewhat burned with the Zoo Tycoon board game including aquatics in the most minimal & annoying way possible- this is a zoo builder (with a mediocre-at-best campaign mode, mind you), not a conservation program or something, a mistake of the Zoo Tycoon board game devs that I hope Frontier does not repeat. Let me have an orca show, for Pete's sake! It's a staple of the genre!

I'd also really love more oddball picks. As much as I love Marine Mania, the roster was pretty cetacean-and-shark heavy. Give me a giant squid or something. And also some freshwater aquatics would be very nice- I'd love to do a boto exhibit, if PZ2 does happen.
 
Rijin said:
Regardless, in a sequel, I would still very much like aquatics & shows. I've already been somewhat burned with the Zoo Tycoon board game including aquatics in the most minimal & annoying way possible- this is a zoo builder (with a mediocre-at-best campaign mode, mind you), not a conservation program or something, a mistake of the Zoo Tycoon board game devs that I hope Frontier does not repeat. Let me have an orca show, for Pete's sake! It's a staple of the genre!
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Honestly while we're still getting DLC, more semi-aquatic species would be nice. After the Aquatic Pack we've gotten very little in that department. I wish true aquatics had made it, but that's gonna be sequel material if it happens like you say. In the meantime can we at least get Walrus and Sea Otter? Both are well known and popular species that made both ZT1 and 2 and you've already got the base rigs with the sea lion and the Giant Otter. I don't feel like that's a big ask. If more was an option, another subantarctic penguin, Harbor Seal, and some sort of large aquatic turtle would be nice. Green Sea Turtle even would work, they're capable of coming out on land.
 
Great Argus said:
Honestly while we're still getting DLC, more semi-aquatic species would be nice. After the Aquatic Pack we've gotten very little in that department. I wish true aquatics had made it, but that's gonna be sequel material if it happens like you say. In the meantime can we at least get Walrus and Sea Otter? Both are well known and popular species that made both ZT1 and 2 and you've already got the base rigs with the sea lion and the Giant Otter. I don't feel like that's a big ask. If more was an option, another subantarctic penguin, Harbor Seal, and some sort of large aquatic turtle would be nice. Green Sea Turtle even would work, they're capable of coming out on land.
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The fact that we don't have a walrus at the very least feels patently absurd! Sure, I guess, save your big, charismatic species for the sequel, whatever, but...I dunno, you have two pinnipeds and neither is a walrus? Feels strange! And getting a gray seal over a harbor seal, too- i mean, there's worse choices, sure, but it's a weird priority.

And, you know, the three penguins we have are good options, but really- when's the last time you've seen JUST king penguins? Feels like every Antarctic pentuin exhibit has two or three species minimum.

Doesn't really feel like they're trying to make up for the "aquatic pack" having the most terrestrial extant crocodilian, lmao.
 
Rijin said:
Let me have an orca show, for Pete's sake! It's a staple of the genre!
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I doubt it will continue being a staple of the genre in the future considering that for most people it is difficult to justify keeping killer whales in a modern zoo setting, let alone having them in shows, which is what the game expects players to build.
 
I think if there is to be a sequel to Planet Zoo ... as much as I would like new animals, many of which have been suggested ad nauseum... I think more thought given to the mechanics of the game's animals would be good.

With Zoo Tycoon 2 the animals exhibited a wide manner of behaviours - markhors were coded to climb trees, dinosaurs were coded to build nests, mother animals were coded to feed their young . . . even something as simple as birds laying eggs which hatch.... yet in Planet Zoo the animals do none of this!
 
PossumRoach said:
I doubt it will continue being a staple of the genre in the future considering that for most people it is difficult to justify keeping killer whales in a modern zoo setting, let alone having them in shows, which is what the game expects players to build.
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That's the problem! It's a game. sure, talk about conservation and whatnot, I would never say the Zoopedia in ZT2 was bad. At the same time, nobody would say that Blue Fang was advocating for a Jurassic Park scenario by giving you the opportunity to let your dinosaurs eat your guests. Let people do some things you might think is immoral! You'll get a better game out of it! Sure, games can be educational, but if you want to make more of an educational tool instead of a game, don't market it as a game!

dillotest0 said:
I think if there is to be a sequel to Planet Zoo ... as much as I would like new animals, many of which have been suggested ad nauseum... I think more thought given to the mechanics of the game's animals would be good.

With Zoo Tycoon 2 the animals exhibited a wide manner of behaviours - markhors were coded to climb trees, dinosaurs were coded to build nests, mother animals were coded to feed their young . . . even something as simple as birds laying eggs which hatch.... yet in Planet Zoo the animals do none of this!
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Incredibly correct! It feels like the most involved behavior you'll see in PZ as it stands is maybe gibbon brachiation, & that's just a basic form of locomotion! With the way animals are coded now, exhibits just feel incredibly bare, because the animals just wander off on their own and stand still 3/4ths of the time. There's no meat to it! Desperately needs, at the very least, improved herding behaviors.
 
One thing that I hope they change (but doubt they will) is the very strange interspecies bonuses.

Koala x red kangaroo x emu mix would realistically not be the best for the Koalas. Dorcas gazelle x Spurred tortoise is just very strange and Chimpanzee x Red river hog would be a straight-up disaster in real life.

And why do meerkat and Cape porcupine not have interspecies bonus when it's such an extremely common mix. Why do Capybara and Galapagos giant tortoise have it? That makes zero sense!

Obviously the water and pathing systems are the biggest disasters at the moment, and so is the scaling and some of the habitat sizes (why do 2 dwarf caimans need almost just as much space as 2 Gharials? Why do Green iguanas and Leaf insects have the same exhibit size?), but some small realism changes would also be very much appreciated.

For new species I don't have any super specific requests, but there are some pretty big gaps in the roster. African mainland monkeys (Colobus monkeys, DeBrazza's and L'Hoest's monkeys, Cherry-crowned mangabey, etc), African crocodilians (Nile, Slender-snouted), Asian deer (Axis, Sika). Asian hoofstock was luckily filled with the last DLC (includes Blackbuck and Nilgai) but I'm still really missing the Banteng and Anoa. I get why free-flying birds are difficult to add, but why are there still no Guineafowl or pheasants (ignoring the Peafowl)
 
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