Danube Crested Newt: 3/5 I'm glad we got another semiaquatic exhibit animal, that's really all I have to say. I mean, They're basically objects so I struggle to care too much about them, but I can't be upset about this choice.
Spectacled Caiman: 3/5 We definitely needed another crocodilian tbh, all the other ones are either very large species or... the dwarf caiman. Some people have complained we don't need two caiman, but the dwarf caiman is such a weird crocodilian, being primarily terrestrial and just absolutely tiny, that I cannot be upset we got a caiman. ...That said, the reason it only gets a 3/5 from me is because the Spectacled caiman is just kinda... a lame choice? I'm also really sick of us getting only Northern South American species. We have a total of three South American animals that are not also found in North America right now (Galapagos tortoise, Giant Otter, and Dwarf Caiman, you could include the King Penguin but I don't think anyone is seriously counting it as South American) so including quite literally the one caiman species that could continue to fit into Central America was kinda an annoying choice. tl;dr, a caiman was a good choice for this pack. The Spectacled caiman was just about the worst caiman choice for this pack. Then again, I suppose that fits considering the aquatic pack included the most terrestrial crocodilian...
Nile Lechwe: 1/5 I don't have a problem with us getting more hoofstock, or even more African animals, but as much as I love Nile Lechwe in real life, their inclusion is... so unnecessary. We already have so many throwaway African hoofstock in the basegame, unfortunately this is just another one for the book. If there is any silver lining... At least the Fennec fox isn't the only North African animal now?
Asian Water Buffalo: 3/5 I think this animal is kind of an obvious inclusion the pack and we are lacking in large Asian fauna, especially ungulates. It'll be nice to have something to combine with the Indian Rhinos besides elephants. That said, an obvious inclusion doesn't necessarily make it an amazing inclusion, and I'd much rather we'd let this slot be taken by something more unique in the long-run.
Asian Small-Clawed Otter: 3/5 I am probably in the minority when I say I personally never cared that the giant otter was a bad choice for otter rep originally, but I can't complain about us getting an otter that is just about the exact opposite from the Giant Otter. These mixed feelings are why it gets its score.
Platypus: 3/5 Here's the thing... I am very conflicted about the Platypus. I very much appreciate us getting another Australian animal, and I very much appreciate us getting another small animal... But at the same time, this animal is basically useless unless you have the Australia pack. This isn't a failing of the platypus so much as it is that the base game has a total of one Australian animal. I just struggle to find where I'm going to use the Platypus without other Australian animals to put alongside it.
Red Crowned Crane: 2/5 We have been in desperate need of some more wading birds for a while, and cranes are definitely common zoo animals, but... idk, the red crowned crane specifically just feels sorta hard to place in a park to me. We don't really have any other North Asian animals to combine it with, and it's not really an animal that you'd keep by itself. Now, if we had some wild horses, or saiga...
Capybara: 5/5 I think we all knew it was coming, but I'm glad it's here. We desperately needed some more South American animals that didn't feel like filler, the only other one is the Jaguar. I suspect it'll be much easier to make nice looking South America sections with this fella, especially comboing with the anteater.
Spectacled Caiman: 3/5 We definitely needed another crocodilian tbh, all the other ones are either very large species or... the dwarf caiman. Some people have complained we don't need two caiman, but the dwarf caiman is such a weird crocodilian, being primarily terrestrial and just absolutely tiny, that I cannot be upset we got a caiman. ...That said, the reason it only gets a 3/5 from me is because the Spectacled caiman is just kinda... a lame choice? I'm also really sick of us getting only Northern South American species. We have a total of three South American animals that are not also found in North America right now (Galapagos tortoise, Giant Otter, and Dwarf Caiman, you could include the King Penguin but I don't think anyone is seriously counting it as South American) so including quite literally the one caiman species that could continue to fit into Central America was kinda an annoying choice. tl;dr, a caiman was a good choice for this pack. The Spectacled caiman was just about the worst caiman choice for this pack. Then again, I suppose that fits considering the aquatic pack included the most terrestrial crocodilian...
Nile Lechwe: 1/5 I don't have a problem with us getting more hoofstock, or even more African animals, but as much as I love Nile Lechwe in real life, their inclusion is... so unnecessary. We already have so many throwaway African hoofstock in the basegame, unfortunately this is just another one for the book. If there is any silver lining... At least the Fennec fox isn't the only North African animal now?
Asian Water Buffalo: 3/5 I think this animal is kind of an obvious inclusion the pack and we are lacking in large Asian fauna, especially ungulates. It'll be nice to have something to combine with the Indian Rhinos besides elephants. That said, an obvious inclusion doesn't necessarily make it an amazing inclusion, and I'd much rather we'd let this slot be taken by something more unique in the long-run.
Asian Small-Clawed Otter: 3/5 I am probably in the minority when I say I personally never cared that the giant otter was a bad choice for otter rep originally, but I can't complain about us getting an otter that is just about the exact opposite from the Giant Otter. These mixed feelings are why it gets its score.
Platypus: 3/5 Here's the thing... I am very conflicted about the Platypus. I very much appreciate us getting another Australian animal, and I very much appreciate us getting another small animal... But at the same time, this animal is basically useless unless you have the Australia pack. This isn't a failing of the platypus so much as it is that the base game has a total of one Australian animal. I just struggle to find where I'm going to use the Platypus without other Australian animals to put alongside it.
Red Crowned Crane: 2/5 We have been in desperate need of some more wading birds for a while, and cranes are definitely common zoo animals, but... idk, the red crowned crane specifically just feels sorta hard to place in a park to me. We don't really have any other North Asian animals to combine it with, and it's not really an animal that you'd keep by itself. Now, if we had some wild horses, or saiga...
Capybara: 5/5 I think we all knew it was coming, but I'm glad it's here. We desperately needed some more South American animals that didn't feel like filler, the only other one is the Jaguar. I suspect it'll be much easier to make nice looking South America sections with this fella, especially comboing with the anteater.