Well, now we can officially say that Western seasonal themes have no relevance anymore to what Frontier decides to theme PZ DLC around (and I personally see this as a plus, no more holiday decorations!) Not a single animal in this pack is associated with cold climates.
Glad to see this DLC will be an animal pack, as the past two DLC have been catered to builders (Iām a builder and all about new pieces, but everyone should get their turn at what they want!) In a similar vain, Iām not personally all that excited for this DLCās animal roster, but I recognize that for a lot of players in the community it checks a lot of boxes. Thereās a number of highly-requested species in it and majority are from regions that desperately needed more representation (Australia, South America, and the Middle East). Additionally, this is the first time I can say that Iām genuinely excited for a DLCās exhibit species. Walkthrough-exhibits with their removable barriers are perfect for butterflies and I can see a lot of beautiful, customized butterfly houses coming out of this! Honestly, I wish that the Twilight Pack wouldāve received some moth species instead of the fruit bat as a walkthrough-exhibit. In my opinion, animals like the fruit bat (and medium to large birds) look so clunky on the obvious exhibit loops.
Iām grateful for the numerous butterfly species and am glad to see they can be inter-mixed too, but truly hope that this isnāt a sign of whatās to come for medium to large, flying avians. Eagles, macaws, vultures, etc. would all look ridiculous on exhibit loops.
As for the habitat lineup, there are a lot of highly requested species from less-represented regions which is great. Iām just not over-the-moon on how they were all brought together like this. Additionally, this DLC does feel a little Carnivoran heavy, with another cat, dog, and hyena taking up almost half the habitat roster. Also bummed to see birds get shafted again. Thereās so many iconic, primarily terrestrial birds from grasslands. And Iām afraid that this may have been many of thems only shot at squeezing into a DLC theme. Secretary Bird, Grey Crowned Crane, Kori Bustard, Seriema, Ground Hornbills, Burrowing Owl, Guineafowls, etc. would have all been perfect inclusions for a DLC like this. None of the above mentioned species would need new mechanics either, so that canāt be used as an excuse. The Emu is great to now have, but it fills a similar niche to the already in-game Ostrich and Cassowary. Donāt get me wrong, itās great to now have Australiaās Emu. But it doesnāt quite scratch the itch many of us have when we say we are wanting āBIRDSā.
Iām also not surprised at all to see an antelope be present in a Grasslands Pack, as after all they are tightly associated with the biome. I just donāt find the species selected, the Blue Wildebeest, very essential when compared to all the other antelope species not in PZ. We already have itās close relative, the Black Wildebeest. It wouldāve been nice for PZ to get itās first Asian antelope species, or our first small African antelope. A Blackbuck, Nilgai, Dik-Dik, or Klipspringer wouldāve offered more unique uses than the Blue Wildebeest.
Only one habitat species in this pack is from a taxonomic Order not already present in PZ, and that is the Nine-Banded Armadillo. Glad to see an armadillo species finally enter PZ. Additionally, itās a species native to both Central and South America, two pretty vacant regions in PZ.
None of these species were terrible picks, itās just that outside of the Armadillo and Butterflies, everything feels āsame-yā and repetitive. And thereās nothing wrong with some repetition, not all DLC species need to be from unrepresented Orders/Families and have unique animations/interactions. But when almost the entire pack is just an extension of Genus PZ already has and will behave the same as already in-game species, there isnāt much that really drives me to go buy this DLC upon its release.
Glad to see this DLC will be an animal pack, as the past two DLC have been catered to builders (Iām a builder and all about new pieces, but everyone should get their turn at what they want!) In a similar vain, Iām not personally all that excited for this DLCās animal roster, but I recognize that for a lot of players in the community it checks a lot of boxes. Thereās a number of highly-requested species in it and majority are from regions that desperately needed more representation (Australia, South America, and the Middle East). Additionally, this is the first time I can say that Iām genuinely excited for a DLCās exhibit species. Walkthrough-exhibits with their removable barriers are perfect for butterflies and I can see a lot of beautiful, customized butterfly houses coming out of this! Honestly, I wish that the Twilight Pack wouldāve received some moth species instead of the fruit bat as a walkthrough-exhibit. In my opinion, animals like the fruit bat (and medium to large birds) look so clunky on the obvious exhibit loops.
Iām grateful for the numerous butterfly species and am glad to see they can be inter-mixed too, but truly hope that this isnāt a sign of whatās to come for medium to large, flying avians. Eagles, macaws, vultures, etc. would all look ridiculous on exhibit loops.
As for the habitat lineup, there are a lot of highly requested species from less-represented regions which is great. Iām just not over-the-moon on how they were all brought together like this. Additionally, this DLC does feel a little Carnivoran heavy, with another cat, dog, and hyena taking up almost half the habitat roster. Also bummed to see birds get shafted again. Thereās so many iconic, primarily terrestrial birds from grasslands. And Iām afraid that this may have been many of thems only shot at squeezing into a DLC theme. Secretary Bird, Grey Crowned Crane, Kori Bustard, Seriema, Ground Hornbills, Burrowing Owl, Guineafowls, etc. would have all been perfect inclusions for a DLC like this. None of the above mentioned species would need new mechanics either, so that canāt be used as an excuse. The Emu is great to now have, but it fills a similar niche to the already in-game Ostrich and Cassowary. Donāt get me wrong, itās great to now have Australiaās Emu. But it doesnāt quite scratch the itch many of us have when we say we are wanting āBIRDSā.
Iām also not surprised at all to see an antelope be present in a Grasslands Pack, as after all they are tightly associated with the biome. I just donāt find the species selected, the Blue Wildebeest, very essential when compared to all the other antelope species not in PZ. We already have itās close relative, the Black Wildebeest. It wouldāve been nice for PZ to get itās first Asian antelope species, or our first small African antelope. A Blackbuck, Nilgai, Dik-Dik, or Klipspringer wouldāve offered more unique uses than the Blue Wildebeest.
Only one habitat species in this pack is from a taxonomic Order not already present in PZ, and that is the Nine-Banded Armadillo. Glad to see an armadillo species finally enter PZ. Additionally, itās a species native to both Central and South America, two pretty vacant regions in PZ.
None of these species were terrible picks, itās just that outside of the Armadillo and Butterflies, everything feels āsame-yā and repetitive. And thereās nothing wrong with some repetition, not all DLC species need to be from unrepresented Orders/Families and have unique animations/interactions. But when almost the entire pack is just an extension of Genus PZ already has and will behave the same as already in-game species, there isnāt much that really drives me to go buy this DLC upon its release.
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Nice work Frontier!