This is the most relaxing and stressful game I’ve ever played. On the one hand, I can set the camera mode to orbit and sit and watch baby hippos for hours on end. And I can zoom so close to lion paw puds that I can practically reach out and touch them without the danger of being mauled. On the other hand: there’s disease everywhere, I’m not making enough money, and all my animals keep having too much sex. More than this, the degree of freedom is so high it’s almost paralysing. Even with the excellent and detailed tutorial system, there’s a nagging sense that I shouldn’t be left in charge of the welfare of all of these delicate animals. Just ask my chronically depressed bears and bulimic antelopes.■