SimPark (PC)

Reviewed by

Rebecca Anderson

on 12/23/1996

Add to my list
Print
E-mail
Share

Screenshots

See all screenshots

Email me when this product is available

See all Maxis, Inc. products

See full specifications

Add to my list Product summary

In the Maxis tradition of creating totally immersive sim games, being a park ranger is more than greeting park visitors - it's work, but it's also fun.

Read full review

GameSpot editors' review

CNET editors' rating: 3.0 stars Good
Detailed editors' rating

Reviewed by:
Rebecca Anderson
Reviewed on: 12/23/1996
Updated on: 05/01/2000
Released on: 10/31/1996
Originally published on GameSpot: SimPark (PC) Review

Managing the lives of hundreds of thousands of Sims in SimCity 2000 seems a lot less stressful now that I've been a park ranger in Maxis' SimPark. How tough could it be, you ask? Plant a few trees, feed some animals, and put in a few hiking trails...no big deal, right? Hardly. In the Maxis tradition of creating totally immersive sim games, being a park ranger is more than greeting park visitors and collecting fees - it's work, but it's also fun.

As the ranger, your objective is to create and maintain a park in the continental United States while working your way up the ranger ranks. Determining which species are compatible to the climate you've selected is simple. Each species has a color border around its graphic, indicating the species' compatibility to the climate. That's the easy part; maintaining a happy balance of plants, animals and people is the real challenge.

SimPark offers several helpful tools. First, there's Rizzo, your trusted froggy friend. He'll offer many tips on proper park management techniques, although with a limited repertoire of phrases, he quickly grows more annoying than helpful. Fortunately, Rizzo can be deactivated. The interface also includes an e-mail system (used only to receive and respond to messages), a budget screen (planting trees costs money), and a park information screen containing a current log of the plant and animal life in your park and updates on each species' condition. If the mice are being overeaten by predators, or the beavers are starving, this section will keep you informed. Monitoring this feature is the best way to keep on top of your park's health. Although just because you know the status, it doesn't mean you can rectify hazardous situations easily. How do you get rid of 400 porcupines? Very carefully!