I'll add my grain of sand to this thread. I also think PZ2 if happening will not happen any time soon, but I definitely thing there are some big improvements in the core aspects of the game that could definitely be improved. The biggest problem Planet Zoo has had is that it just drags too many things from Planet Coaster that just don't fit that well for a zoo game.
- Progression
This is definitely the biggest and most important key aspect of a zoo game that Planet Zoo lacks, where is the progression? There isn't really any when you can access every single animal from the beginning, like yes you will not do good if you start with elephants and tigers, but it makes no sense that you can have these species when you just started a zoo, you have to earn these animals through your actions. All animals being available from the start renders the star rating system very much meaningless, I do not even know why the game has one when literally it serves no purpose other than increasing the number of guests.
The way to solve this is simply using the good ol star rating system to unlock animals as your zoo gets better. For franchise mode, unlocks should be shared, so if you reach 4 stars in a zoo, all the zoos in the franchise get all 4 star animals unlocked as well, no need to do it individually for each zoo. I think following the trend of the first game giving a big focus on conservation for this mechanic is important, having a separate rating system for the conservation level of the zoo (number of endangered species, number of wild releases, number of births) would be quite interesting imo, so if you want an orangutan lets say you need 4 stars popularity and 4 stars in conservation, while a popular animal that is not so important for conservation let's say a jaguar can be 4 stars popularity and 1 stars conservation, this means depending on how you build your zoo (focusing solely on putting more animals or focusing more on conservation) you will unlock animals differently. I think it could work, or if too complicated just make the general star rating be also dependant on conservation aspects, that can work too.
- Research
Researching animals to unlock items you already have because surprise most species share the same items, it really makes no sense to have the system be like this. There should be some sort of research tree that unlocks general items for groups of animals. Lets say you start with small primate enrichment then after you research you unlock enrichment for large primates, and so on. Not unlock grazing ball every time you reach level 1 for every single ungulate.
What I would suggest is that researching specific species should unlock the education, fertility, and food upgrades, overall aspects that affect said species and not others. Some VERY specific species (giraffe, elephant, pandas, beavers) can have their very specific enrichment objects be present in the species research, but the more general feeders and enrichment items should definitely be only unlocked through a general research tree to avoid the incessant and needless clutter on the current research system this game has.
- First person mode and photo challenges
This. This is in my opinion the biggest flaw in the game. We can build zoos alright, but we cannot really enjoy them with the really lame first person camera we have, it doesn't even feel like you are walking through the zoo, you are just a floating camera on eye level, and it gives no options to interact with your surroundings (sit on benches, open gates, I would even say an option to call the animals so they turn their head at you when you do so or even respond with a call or a cute animation, making you feel you are there, I would die for that), also the possibility to take pictures. PICTURES. This is definitely what I miss the most, not being able to take pictures ingame? Like okay we can share screenshots through steam, but it's not the same in the slightest. Being able to take pictures in the game, apply filters, make albums, maybe even have mechanics such as uploading those pictures to social media to make publicity. Not to mention campaign or reward challenges that consist on taking a pic of an animal doing a specific action, or a picture of a baby of a certain animal. All those things that are simple, but would add SO MUCH to the game. Are just NOT THERE.
If we ever get a sequel, I 100% believe taking pictures is a thing that should definitely be in it. Like I won't bother to buy the sequel if it doesn't have photo challenges.
Regarding other aspects of first person mode I really don't care that much about taking care of the animals yourself because it makes staff mechanics a bit more redundant, but I agree that it would be nice to at least brush or clean poop. Also being able to tranquilize the animals yourself would add tons of fun to the game as well (haha, shooters!) and it's really simple really.
- Vehicles
I gotta say. Zoo Tycoon 3 was limited for a zoo game. But the buggies where fun so I feel planet zoo should definitely have something similar. Driving a little car through the zoo would be tons of fun.
Another thing is the rides. As they are, the ride system is reaaaally bad. Like it's uncomfortable to use, I really think boat and jeep rides shouldn't need those super awkward railing systems, why cannot we just mark the route with makers of some sort and call it a day?
- Guests
The game suffers a lot from guests. They are annoying, they are too many. Like have you ever been in a zoo with so much people to the level the paths are a can of sardines? Because I haven't, this is not Disneyland. If we ever get a sequel please adjust the economy system and the number of guests please, it would greatly improve the gameplay loop and greatly improve optimization.
Also another thing, I know this is because the guest system is just a copypaste from planet coaster, but change the clothes and the accessories. Guests look ugly not because of the model but the clothes and the hair colors are just awkward to look at and don't feel natural. Why are so many pink haired guests in the zoo, why are they in shorts in Siberia? Definitely change the system so they have 3 types of clothing: cold climate, temperate climate and hot climate. That's enough, it doesn't need more. The same applies to the staff.
- Animals
Birds. I still hope birds will come for Planet Zoo. I don't care about free flying birds, I don't think they are needed, you don't see birds in zoos flying around, they stay perched or fly from one place to another. Making modular aviaries where you can put items that birds will spawn onto would be quite an interesting way to do this. Imagine you set a main point for the aviary, then connect enrichment modules onto it where birds can have their loops around, kind of like how the guests spawn on the tables of the restaurant. I think a system like this would work well enough to give the creative freedom we need for these animals.
Marine species (not fully-fledged aquariums but marine mania like content is definitely needed). While this community remains pretty obnoxious on cetaceans, I still fully support the inclusion of dolphins, belugas and so on into the franchise. People want them, missing this is so dumb it's like Frontier is actively saying "yeah we don't want to make mad money" because marine content is definitely the biggest selling thing they could ever add.
They do have that already? Is that why my favorite Bull only got out 2 or 3 Times and immediately returned into the Enclosure after a few Seconds when they've escaped?
