The big problem with simulation style games is not that they suck but rather there's too much of the same thing. Developers don't stray from the norm and travel down new avenues but instead craft these cookie cutter roller coaster and theme park titles that, while they're all polished and enjoyable on some basic level, fail to drift off on their own and spark much interest. But the good news is that regardless of which game you pick you're almost guaranteed a good time and Enlight's Marine Park Empire is no exception. Bottom line, if you love animals and micromanagement, it's a solid pickup and a good holiday gift for the kiddies.

Marine Park Empire's cool because it combines the best of both worlds, so not only are you getting 28 different species of ocean critters, but all of the animals from Zoo Empire as well, bringing the total to about 60 creatures. But then there are 450 plus buildings, facilities, and items to mess around with, and what you've got is one pretty expansive theme park simulator. It's technical too. There's at times so much to micromanage that the game can become quite overwhelming and a bit stressful, though Enlight has made things easier by including a pretty expansive tutorial and menus that are easy to navigate. But even with a much needed assist the game still packs a tough challenge because all of the animals need attention, and unless you actually have people tending to their every beck and call you'll be hopping across the park like a hyperactive frog. Now factor in keeping your customers happy and at times Marine Park Empire is a bit too overwhelming for its own good. It's certainly manageable if you have experience playing such games, but if you intend on giving this as a gift to children then you may want to sit with them for a while until they get the hang of things, especially since the game doesn't come with a tangible instruction booklet.

Like some of its competitors, Marine Park Empire was built using a 3D engine that's capable of some nifty effects. There's not anything crazy going on, but the fully adjustable camera lets you pan around and zoom in pretty close, and the character models are detailed enough that my eyes don't hurt upon seeing them.

If we were to really analyze this genre there's probably a couple games that are better than this one (and really, it didn't necessarily WOW me), but for $19.99 Marine Park Empire is an entertaining wildlife simulation that bursting with opportunity, so put on your scuba gear and don't forget to feed polar bears, or the cats, or the dolphins, or the birds, or the manatee, or the manta ray, or the giant squid, or the gorillas, or especially yourself!