Most of the threads here talk about what animals we want to see, which there's definitely a need for an encouraged, and is part and parcel with this type of game (simulators with a variety of offerings...we always want more!). I wanted to shift focus and see what animals people were most surprised with and happy that they included. I'll hope the discussions skews towards a positive curve of being pleasantly surprised, but that doesn't mean you have to like every single animal in the game, either. This can also be just the base game, or what we've gotten in the past nearly 15 months since launch.
Also trying not to focus on the standard favorites and standard inclusions in the games (Lions, Pandas, Elephants and such) but less obvious picks instead.
I think the biggest surprise for me was the base game inclusion of Aardvarks. While they've shown up in the zoo sim genre before, they're certainly not a staple by any means. I really like they included them as they are so unique from any other animal on earth (as opposed to yet another bear or ungulate). It was totally unexpected and very welcomed.
The Hyenas as well. I think they've shown up in most zoo games eventually but it's always seemed to not be in the base game. I remember one game, it took several years for them to put out a pack with Hyenas in it, very much a "finally!" moment for me. So I was really thrilled they showed up to play on day 1.
The Baird's Tapir - again I think not a very common animal for zoo games, at least, not right from the very beginning. So very welcomed addition, kind of odd too that it was the only hababit animal in mainland South America that was included in the base game, but I'm glad that they made the choice.
I don't think this is surprising animal they included, but I was extremely happy with the inclusion of the koala. I think, up to the Australia's pack, there was a question of whether they'd be able to give them accurate animations, more directly, if they would spend the time to do that for one animal, even such an iconic one. I think I made the point prior to that pack reveal that while Australia was much needed, if they did not include either a Koala or Kangaroo they may as well not bother - there were concerns about the kangaroos unique hoping animation as well. So very happy both of them made it in, more so the koala though. They are just great.
Giant Anteater - Not a staple of a lot of zoo games, and very unique and interesting animal. I admit they were not on my first choices of South America, but I think I was focusing on even more iconic SA animals. But the Giant Anteater really fills a visual niche in the game.
Just curious to other's contributions here, and something a little different than the wishlist threads that are here.
Also trying not to focus on the standard favorites and standard inclusions in the games (Lions, Pandas, Elephants and such) but less obvious picks instead.
I think the biggest surprise for me was the base game inclusion of Aardvarks. While they've shown up in the zoo sim genre before, they're certainly not a staple by any means. I really like they included them as they are so unique from any other animal on earth (as opposed to yet another bear or ungulate). It was totally unexpected and very welcomed.
The Hyenas as well. I think they've shown up in most zoo games eventually but it's always seemed to not be in the base game. I remember one game, it took several years for them to put out a pack with Hyenas in it, very much a "finally!" moment for me. So I was really thrilled they showed up to play on day 1.
The Baird's Tapir - again I think not a very common animal for zoo games, at least, not right from the very beginning. So very welcomed addition, kind of odd too that it was the only hababit animal in mainland South America that was included in the base game, but I'm glad that they made the choice.
I don't think this is surprising animal they included, but I was extremely happy with the inclusion of the koala. I think, up to the Australia's pack, there was a question of whether they'd be able to give them accurate animations, more directly, if they would spend the time to do that for one animal, even such an iconic one. I think I made the point prior to that pack reveal that while Australia was much needed, if they did not include either a Koala or Kangaroo they may as well not bother - there were concerns about the kangaroos unique hoping animation as well. So very happy both of them made it in, more so the koala though. They are just great.
Giant Anteater - Not a staple of a lot of zoo games, and very unique and interesting animal. I admit they were not on my first choices of South America, but I think I was focusing on even more iconic SA animals. But the Giant Anteater really fills a visual niche in the game.
Just curious to other's contributions here, and something a little different than the wishlist threads that are here.