Over the past two years, Planet Zoo's DLCs keep ignoring the game's biggest problems, and this is to the detriment of both the game and its fans. These DLCs prioritize new content over fixing the game's most annoying features or adjusting the game's balance, two things that continue to need addressing. While new content is always welcome and keeps loyal Planet Zoo players engaged, focusing on a complete evolution of Planet Zoo's simulation gameplay would at this point be a more valuable endeavor.
Releasing in 2020, Planet Zoo is a spiritual successor to previous simulators like Zoo Tycoon and Zoo Empire and offers players the opportunity to build and manage their very own zoos. Like many simulation games that teach real-life science or skills, Planet Zoo educates its players about conservation, climate change, and other real-world issues. The game offers players expansive customization options, with dozens of plant species, hundreds of items, and 77 animal species included in the base game. Frontier has focused on expanding customization options through DLC content, adding 59 animal species and 1,000+ new items through numerous themed DLC packs. This additional content is welcomed by many players, but these DLC packs fail to address Planet Zoo's biggest problems, which makes them harder to enjoy than they should be.
Aside from figuring out how to make money fast in Planet Zoo, players' greatest woes are the game's pathing tools. Simply put, they do not work well. Paths often snap to the wrong things, are unable to contour the terrain, and sometimes can completely deform and reshape the area they are placed in. The current pathing tools also make it difficult to create seating areas or patios. Expansive creative building options are essential to Sandbox games, and the constraints of Planet Zoo's pathing system hinder players' creative freedom. Frontier could fix this issue by adding a freeform pathing tool to the game, which would allow players to determine where people can walk, simplifying the process and enabling players to create more organic pathways. Such a fundamental change, however, could be difficult to implement.
Planet Zoo DLC Doesn't Address Unreasonable Guest Complaints
Additionally, Planet Zoo would benefit greatly from adjusting certain gameplay mechanics. Adding infrastructure like transformers and water filtration systems to one's zoo is difficult because these items negatively impact guests within a certain radius. Frustratingly, this effect takes place regardless of the infrastructure's visibility. Although placing "scenery" objects around infrastructure does decrease the radius of its negative impact, many players feel this unforgiving feature should be removed entirely - it may be harder to avoid than keeping Planet Zoo animals from inbreeding. Planet Zoo guests complain about other things that many players feel are unreasonable, like the park's temperature, the weather, and staff facilities. Some of these complaints could be adjusted, for example, instead of guests saying the zoo is too hot, they could say there isn't enough shade or places to cool down. "Nerfing" the negative impact these features have on guests could eliminate a source of frustration for many players.
The DLC content Frontier has added to Planet Zoo over the past two years is a welcome addition, providing players with limitless possibilities for customization options. If Frontier shifts its focus towards improving Planet Zoo's pathing tools and readjusting certain gameplay mechanics, players' experiences could drastically improve. Although it doesn't have thrilling rides like Planet Coaster or dinosaurs like Jurassic World Evolution 2, Planet Zoo is a fun, immersive game with a dedicated development team behind it. A few tweaks to its mechanics will go a long way towards keeping players engaged for years to come.