Frontier has just released the huge free 1.3 update for Planet Zoo, as well as a brand new Australia themed DLC pack. As has been the pattern with previous DLC content, the pack contains five brand new animals as well as foliage native to the country and over 230 decor items inspired by its culture. It also brings a brand new timed challenge zoo that gives you a range of goals to meet within a specific time.
With the Australia pack, you’ll be able to bring iconic animals, including the Red Kangaroo and Koala, to your brand new eye-catching zoo, influenced by the Land Down Under.
Planet Zoo’s Australian animals
Australia has some memorable and iconic animals, namely the Red Kangaroo and the Koala. Both are in this pack along with Dingos, Southern Cassowarys, and Eastern Blue-Tongued Lizards. All have diverse requirements, allowing you to create a varied looking Australian themed zone or zoo.
All five animals have an appeal of over 1100 and will draw visitors if placed well. The Eastern Blue-Tongued Lizards are a great exhibit animal that can help draw guests to other Australian exhibits with their appeal of over 2200. Just keep an eye on their numbers as they suffer quickly in larger groups.
In terms of true crowd-pullers, the Koalas are the standouts in the lineup and have an appeal of around 4000, putting them on a par with Black Bears and Red Pandas. They require a range of foliage to climb and explore, allowing you to create an eye-catching enclosure. Adding raised platforms nearby will also allow your guests to see them up in the trees, adding to their draw and your donation profit. A little Planet Zoo tip: just make sure you add high fences that are climb proof and don’t put the trees too close to raised platforms or they will escape.
Speaking of escapes, the Dingos enjoy a run around the zoo, but only on their terms. When I accidentally broke a fence while adding raised platforms, I didn’t notice at first and they seemed happy to remain in their habitat. However, once they realized there was a way out, utter chaos ensued. They chased my visitors, bombed my zoo rating, and were a pain to catch, so make sure your fences are in order and kept maintained.
The look of the Land Down Under
The scenery items are very much themed to a stereotypical look at Australian culture, but they do create a welcoming and vibrant atmosphere. The decor is mostly desert colored with lots of wood and red stone. Items are covered with iconic and vibrant images of kangaroos, boomerangs, and surfboard style patterns. There are also many patterns that are heavily influenced by aboriginal designs. It’s an exaggeration of genuine Australian culture.
If I had to sum up the decor theme it would be: Outback Tourist Trap. Warning signs, images of lizards, dusky rocks, sparse foliage, and the whole feel of the pre-built buildings in particular, conjure up images of tourist traps adorned with beautiful artwork visitors associate with Australia. The way the pre-made buildings are put together screams Mad Max scavaging from the Outback.
However, if you want to go more low-key, there are items that will allow you to do this. While the Australia pack itself may not offer as many as you’d like, the plainer items match well with the base game and the South America pack.
Take on time challenges
The last piece of the puzzle is the new timed challenge mode. In the 1.3 update, everyone has been given access to a single timed challenge, along with the much-requested vending machines, a new sandbox map, and animal color variation. The Australia pack introduces a second timed challenge mode with a brand new map.
Timed challenges require you to build a zoo that conforms to a range of goals. They give you a basis to start from, similar to regular challenges. However, the goal list is long and the time is short. As you tick each item off you’ll get closer to the end and be able to stop the clock. Once you’ve completed the challenge you’ll be awarded a rank of bronze, silver, or gold, depending on your time.
These timed challenges are a great way to add a new dimension to meeting goals, but don’t expect to hit that gold star first time. While no doubt some of you will take to this mode quickly, many more, myself included, will have to adjust the way we play. Since pausing the game doesn’t stop time, as the clock tracks real-time rather than in-game days, you’ll constantly have to move quickly. This creates a very different experience for those of us who usually build at a very leisurely pace.
We’re Stoked
The Australia Pack adds a dash of color and a range of beautiful and instantly recognizable animals to any zoo. It matches well with the base game and South America Pack in particular and allows you to create vibrant and unique areas in your zoo.
If you really want a Koala and a Kangaroo then this is the pack for you.
A PC copy of Planet Zoo: Australia was provided to TheGamer for this review. Planet Zoo is required to play this DLC. Planet Zoo: Australia is available now for PC on Steam.
If you want more help with your zoo planning make sure to check out our other Planet Zoo articles.
