If you haven't heard of the Jurassic Park movie and book franchise, you live under a (fossilized?) rock. If you are familiar with the history, and are a fan such as myself, you need to check out Jurassic Park: Operation Genesis. What we loved about the movie is right here-- under your control, or lack of.

This is a Simulation game a la Zoo Tycoon and Theme Park (anyone remember that one for the PC?). I loved Theme Park, though grew tired of whining tourists and building attractions that did not interest me. In this game, however, the stakes are higher, and the level of caution is as well. 

You are given a (small) island in which you must create a successful, tourist-enticing Dinosaur wonderland. In addition to the exciting parts, there is also the mundane task of creating bathrooms, refreshments and the usual Sim-friendly distractions. But, no pun intended.... the meat of the game is in the prehistoric Creation, and thumbing your nose at the "Chaos Theory". 

INGEN and John Hammond need your help building a successful park that will excite, attract and fascinate visitors on efforts to get their dollars. Keep them happy, and the money will flow. Money that must be used to expand, research and of course-- build the perfect beast! You have help from movie characters such as Dr Grant, Dr Sattler and (wasn't he killed?) Robert Muldon-- the warden of the park. There are other various scientists, managers and specialists to help you as well. They can be annoying at times. Everyone has an opinion!

As mentioned, the fun is in creating the dinosaurs. You are given the ability to send out archeologists to find fossils for Dino-creation, and must also manage the ones you have on hand. The visitors want to see plenty of action and scary creatures, which is easy enough to do. Put a T-Rex in a enclosure that is viewable-- yet near "convenience" areas, and you're going to do OK. There are a lot of Dinos to play with: Velociraptors, Spinosaurus, etc.. along with the "nicer" plant-eating Triceritops, Brachiosaurus and other salad loving beasties. If you want to exercise cruelty, put a herbivore in a pen with some Raptors. Ouch. When the Dinos are hungry, icons will tell you. You can feed them (live!) treats at that time. The tourists may or may not enjoy seeing this act of nature. A T-Rex can make short, nasty work of a goat.

If a animal becomes ill, or needs to be moved, you must intervene with the use of the Island's resources. There's a nifty helicopter to get close to the Dino, at which time they can be tranquilized with a dart. Then, lift them away to a new location. The island is small, so make intelligent use of your space. That is a REAL challenge. Unlike a lot of Sim games, you aren't given much real estate to play with. You can create lakes, flatten hills and otherwise design your terrains as you see fit.

The graphics are quite nice. I especially like the environmental aspects. Dinos actually make things move-- such as trees and etc. Yes, that's a small thrill, but it is very well done and worth noting. The water effects are stunning, and the storms were kind of neat as well (more on that in a minute). The Dinosaurs look great, and the Jeeps and etc are detailed quite nicely. 

The music and sound compliment the game well, though I did grow tired of the John Williams score. Hopefully, you have your Xbox running through a decent sound system to get a great feel for a angry dinosaur. Chilling. 

There are a LOT of little distractions and diversions to keep you on your toes. Storms kick up. Dinos get sick and need vaccines. Research and development (creation) must be ongoing. Money must be constantly generated. Attention to tourists and creatures 'round the clock. Making bathrooms available isn't as exciting as keeping an eye out for rampages, but both are essential. 

Despite the action and beauty, there are limitations and annoyances that keep this from being great. There are missions to undertake if you need a different challenge. They are a good distraction, but not too rewarding. I enjoyed playing God more than keeping visitors happy, which is a Sim-flaw I have. I get busy on one thing, and have angry, bored whining tourists to contend with. But, that's the challenge of the game, so not really a flaw. There is a lot to juggle, but once you learn what makes people happy (the previously mentioned easy-viewing areas), it runs itself pretty well. That leaves more time for Creation and experimenting. 

I'd like to see a Sim like this go on Xbox Live. Imagine the huge world that could be created with "help". Having actual teams doing various tasks-- just like the "real" park. With the ability to focus on your specialties, this could be a great game. As it is, it is a lot of fun, and worth taking a look at. There is room for improvement, but it's a great Sim with more than goofy rollercoasters and cotton candy to keep you busy. You'll never see a Tilt-a-whirl attack a hapless tourist!

Gameplay: 8
There is a lot to play with here. Once you get the feel for how to balance your chores, you can relax into a enjoyable experience. Some games like this never allow a moment of satisfaction, but I found several opportunities to enjoy what I created in this one. The thrill of killer beasts and adequate bathroom facilities and trash cans make it quite unique.

Graphics: 7.5 
Very lush environments and textures. The Dinosaurs looked great for the most part, though some were better than others (why?). The camera movements enable you to get in close without losing quality. You are able to swing 360 degrees easily, which was smooth and efficient.

Sound: 7
When there is no roaring Dinos or lulls in the score, the sounds were quite subdued. I did find the otherwise amazing score annoying after a while. The staff talks to you often, and though trying to help, it was a bother at times. Generally, the music matched up well and made the experience "theatrical" and set a good mood. 

Difficulty: Medium
This wasn't hard to learn, but if you are not a multi-tasker, it will be difficult to succeed. Of course, if you aren't good at juggling, you shouldn't be playing Sims anyway! The missions were simple, but a decent break from the grind of the chaos that can ensue at times. 

Concept: 6 
This isn't the first JP theme park type game (Jurassic Park III: Park Builder!), nor is it the first animal type park game-- period. It's just a more interesting one than the rest. Lions are scary, but I'd bet on the T-Rex in a Battle Royal. 

Multiplayer: N/A
You're on your own. Hear that Microsoft? Xbox Live is calling! Give us something other than first person shooters!

Overall: 7.5
This was a very good game. Bordering on great, but not quite reaching that pinnacle. Very much worth a try-- especially if you're a JP fan. You can get lost in the creation of dinosaurs, and experimenting with various ways to have them interact with other species. It's really a Island of Dr Moreau, here. The geographical limitations are a real hindrance, but there is enough to do within the space you're given. It just leaves you wanting more, and that's a shame. Treat your beasties nice, and they'll reward you with a successful, lush park full of fun and carnage.