Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis

"Welcome....to Jurassic Park!"

Wow! That was my response after getting acquainted with this incredibly addictive title. Jurassic Park is my favorite movie period, and the second and third films I thoroughly enjoyed as well.

Logic would tell you that a game in this genre would be a perfect fit for the JP license, and indeed when Jurassic Park: Park Builder came out for the GBA, I was overjoyed and snatched it up.

I enjoyed it, but as with any game on a Game Boy system it does have its limitations. Nonetheless it was a good game overall, and I probably thought about what it would be like to see a game like this on a big console.

Well, I happened to see this game earlier this year (2003), and I picked it up and looked at it though I didn't know much about it.

Later on I read many reviews, and a few weeks ago I finally decided to pick it up. I found it for a very respectable 35.00 in a new condition so I wasn't complaining about the price.

What I opened up was one of the most addictive gaming experiences I've ever had.

Graphics 9/10 - The graphics in this game are very good, and that's saying a lot because a game like this often has a lot of details to cover. Everything from the signs on the bathroom doors (men & women) to the pattens on the back of a Camarasaurus is here. The game is incredibly detailed and looks superb until you get in as close as you can in which case certain things (like people) get a bit blocky looking. This isn't bad though because most of the time you aren't right in someone's face. The dinosaur's themselves look superb. They all move very fluidly and actin the manner that you see in the movies or would read about in science or paleontology books.

Sound 10/10 - With the original John Williams score for Jurassic Park how can you go wrong. Easily some of my favorite movie tunes ever. The sound effects in this game are also superb whether it's the blades of a helicopter the horn of a Land Cruiser or the lethal venom spit of a Dilophosaurus it's all hear. Each dinosaur sounds differently and combined with the great animation the dinosaurs really come to life.

Controls 10/10 - The menus are very easy to navigate once you get used to them and you won't really have much trouble getting used to finding things. The controls (especially the use of the two analog sticks) were very well designed and they really help gameplay a lot by being easy to learn.

Overall 10/10 - Simply put this game is addictive. It has a ton of different modes ranging from simply building your own park (getting a five star rating is your goal here), to exercise missions that help you learn how to play the game and learn good strategies, to ''safari'' type missions where you are in the Land Cruiser or Ranger helicopter performing different tasks. The ability to get into the Ranger helicopter, Land Cruiser vehicle or look into some of the attractions to get a visitor's eye view of your park gives this game a whole new level of interaction that I've never seen in a game of this genre. There's even a Site B mode you can unlock where all you do is create dinosaurs on an island with no fences and just watch how they interact with one another. The selection of dinosaurs is absolutely awesome as well. From movie stars such as Tyrannosaurus, Dilophosaurus, Brachiosaurus, and Velociraptor to some not quite as well known gems like Styracosaurus, Camarasaurus, Kentrosaurus, and Homalocephale, the dinosaur selection will blow your mind. There's even a ''Dinopedia'' that allows you to learn a lot about your attractions as well.

Simply put this game is one of the best I've played in any genre in a long time.

I highly recommend it for fans of this genre, fans or Jurassic Park, and especially dinosaur fans (I happen to fill all three categories so natrually I love it).

I highly recommend buying this title if you are so inclined.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 12/05/03