Ice Age mammal candidate options
Now, I very strongly doubt any Cenozoic animals would ever be implemented in Jurassic World Evolution, mainly because even though they are “prehistoric creatures”, they aren’t really “Jurassic Park” in that general sense. Sure, Ludia Inc.’s three JP game’s have done this, but different companies have a different approaches goal and style for their respective games. In Frontier Developments case for Jurassic World Evolution, they strive to provide the best Jurassic World authentic experience to the rest of the main part of the series: the films. When I think “Jurassic Park Authencity”, I think dinosaurs and other primarily associated and misidentified creatures (Dimetrodon, pterosaurs, sea reptiles, etc.).
But what if they do end up deciding for any sort of Cenozoic beasts for JWE? I think there should be at least five species maximum as an ideal decision. Type wise, I think they all should be mammals, and mammals from the most recent past prehistoric time zone (The Ice Ages and one or two million years beyond). The mammals I think should be the more “prehistoric” looking kind, meaning nothing like lions, deer, bears, horses, or stuff like that, because their appearance and designs would be too cheep-looking, because there are already existing animals today with such primary designs. In theory, based on my own personal observations, to make their introduction special to the game, they would have to be well-themed to the targeted environments. So, the species would have to represent a more ancient, bizarre and very unique look and feel to make them feel like they would belong in there for the most basic general audience. And there are at least six “ice age animals" I can think of that could potentially accomplish this concept if such are to be decided for the game, even if a couple of them aren't technically from an ice age. (And while I do have six listed, I think there should be at least three minimum or five maximum
All the listed mammal candidate options below are species that can be or fairly possibly be resurrected through the modern but still growing knowledge of the de-extinction of mammals, as well as the game’s style of finding and extracting extinct animal DNA. I have also listed and described how the Cosmetic Gene system could work for them for each species, as every extinct animal in-game has a set of cosmetic customization options, and the idea that having alternate colors and patterns on a mammalian species can be difficult to implement correctly. I even listed what they can or can’t fight back. If paleobotany is to be planned and decided for all of the herbivores, to make the paleobotany feel not so “cluttered”, maybe making them share one single type called "Mammalia"? Whether or not they can be implemented via 3+ packs or through big DLCs is something else though.
(Alt) beside a cosmetic gene = Alternate Pattern
1. Woolly Mammoth (Europe, Asia and North America)
Type: Medium or Armored Herbivore
Alternate pattern: No
Cosmetic Genes: Alpine, Arid, Jungle, Steppe, Tundra
Defensive to: (small) Large Carnivores and Small Carnivores (except Compsognathus)
Vulnerable to: (big) Large Carnivores and the Indoraptor
Description: No Ice Age animal implementations would feel complete without the most famous of all the beasts of that time: the
Woolly Mammoth. While not the largest, it is the number one most famous of all the known mammoths in the world. For something this “hairy”, maybe make them look less “hairy” this n the right way, since all the maps you build on are tropical island paradise type environments.
2.
Smilodon (North America and South America)
Type: Small Carnivore
Alternate pattern: Yes (A: Plain smooth pattern, B: Spotted pattern)
Cosmetic Genes: Alpine, Coastal
(Alt), Jungle
(Alt), Steppe
(Alt), Tundra
Defensive to: Small Carnivores (Compsognathus is instant prey)
Vulnerable to: All Large Carnivores
Description: No Ice Age animal implementations would be complete without the most famous carnivore from that time: the
Smilodon. A feline predator (saber-tooth cat) famously known for its
huge elongated saber teeth. This idea was partially loosely inspired on the fact I’ve seen saber-tooth sculpture merchandise being sold at Universal Studios at the JW ride store the last time I went there last year for my birthday.
3.
Woolly Rhinoceros (Europe and Asia)
Type: Armored Herbivore
Alternate Pattern: Yes (A: Skin color being dull brown and fur being smooth in color texture, B: Skin color being darker and fur being rougher in color texture)
Cosmetic Genes: Alpine, Coastal, Savannah
(Alt), Steppe
(Alt), Wetland
(Alt)
Defensive to: All Large Carnivores
Vulnerable to: None
Description: It may just be a big hairy rhino, but it's an Ice Age mammal that still fits into the line of being both famous and unique because of its shaggy coating, something no rhino today has. Now because of this, just like the mammoth, I would recommend it being less shaggy that it probably would be due to the environments you build in-game.
4.
Megatherium (South America)
Type: Medium or Giant Herbivore
Alternate pattern: No
Cosmetic Genes: Arid, Coastal, Jungle, Steppe, Wetland
Defensive to: (small) Large Carnivores and Small Carnivores (except Compsognathus)
Vulnerable to: (big) Large Carnivores and the Indoraptor
Description: A giant ground sloth, and probably one of the more famous of all the existing described species of such animals. A ground sloth would be a good touch to add some variety away from the other mammal herbivores.
5.
Doedicurus (South America)
Type: Armored Herbivore
Alternate Pattern: Yes (Difference in the linings and color intensity on armor for both patterns)
Cosmetic Genes: Alpine, Rainforest
(Alt), Taiga
(Alt), Tundra
(Alt), Woodland
Defensive to: (small) Large Carnivores and small carnivores (except Compsognathus)
Vulnerable to: (big) Large Carnivores and the Indoraptor.
Description: A distant relative of the armadillo family, it is and odd mammal of my specific time zone (a glyptodont), and the largest of its type that is probably best known for its spiked clubbed tail trait. Nothing else like it among all other described glyptodont species.
6.
Gigantopithecus (Asia)
Type: Medium Herbivore
Alternate Pattern: Yes (A: Plain texturing, B: Soft splotchy texturing)
Cosmetic Genes: Arid
(Alt), Coastal, Jungle, Savannah
(Alt), Tundra
(Alt)
Defensive to: (small) Large Carnivores (except Ceratosaurus and Allosaurus because of their bulks and sizes) Small Carnivores (except Compsognathus)
Vulnerable to: (big) Large Carnivores, the Indoraptor, and both Ceratosaurus and Allosaurus.
Description: While certainly nothing more than just a giant sized ape, it is one that I think can be an exception because of this: It can be a reference to
King Kong (albeit at a smaller scale), a giant ape who's often associated with dinosaurs since the first Kong movie. And in modern times, one of those Kongs, particularly the 2005 King Kong from re-imagining of the original 1932 film, as not only does he and the film associate themselves with dinosaurs (albeit fictional species) but they are also current Universal Pictures owned property, the same owners of the Jurassic IP. Plus, because this game has an emphasis on film quotes, especially achievements, I can imagine a new achievement being associated with Gigantopithecus titled:
"What do they got in there, King Kong?"
