Hey there, fellow gamers! Today, we're diving into the world of Jurassic World Evolution 2: Complete Edition, a game that brings the thrill of managing your own dinosaur-filled park to the Nintendo Switch 2. Now, I know what you're thinking - dinosaurs in a video game? It's a wild idea, but hear me out. This game is a real-time strategy simulator that lets you create and maintain dinosaur habitats, operational facilities, and guest amenities. It's like being the ultimate park manager, but with dinosaurs! And let me tell you, it's a wild ride.
Now, if you've played the original Jurassic World Evolution, you'll find that the sequel feels very familiar. The core gameplay is largely the same, with a greater emphasis on more - more biomes, more customization, more buildings, and yes, more dinosaurs. And let me tell you, the aquatic dinosaurs are the game's biggest new species variety, which does help spice up enclosure planning and dinosaur care. It's like a wild ride, but with dinosaurs!
The game is split into four main modes: campaign, challenge, sandbox, and Chaos Theory. Now, I know what you're thinking - campaign mode? It's a bit dull, right? Well, not exactly. The original campaign takes place following the events of Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom, with several of the series' cast members reprising their roles for the game. Working with Owen Grady and Claire Dearing, you are tasked with rescuing and caring for wild dinosaurs to protect the public from them (and them from the public).
But here's the thing - despite being advertised as the game's main campaign, it's little more than a glorified tutorial with a weak and forgettable story. Even new players are likely to feel uninvested, as after an hour or two in each area, they are whisked away to a new location to start from scratch and learn new mechanics. It's like a never-ending loop of learning, but without the fun.
Now, where the game really shines is with Chaos Theory mode. This mode puts you in control of situations from across the first six films of the franchise. In the Jurassic World option, for example, you help plan the titular resort's opening before everything goes wrong in the film. In The Lost World, on the other hand, you are preparing the San Diego facility for the arrival of dinosaurs from Isla Sorna. It's like being the ultimate dinosaur park manager, but with a twist.
As someone who has watched every Jurassic Park and World film countless times, this mode is truly the highlight, and it easily blows the game's campaigns out of the water. Not only is it a blast to be at the reins during iconic moments across the series, but it's also a much more welcome challenge compared to the ease of the main campaign. It's like a wild ride, but with dinosaurs!
Now, let's talk about the Switch 2 port. The game has largely made the jump intact, and it's a smooth experience. The dinosaurs and environments generally look great up close, but the further you zoom out, the more pop-in and diminished textures you will notice. Similarly, while the frame rate is largely smooth, in busier areas, it can get a bit choppy. But these are far from deal-breaking issues, and even with them, the port is without a doubt an improvement compared to the somewhat lacking Switch 1 version of the original game.
Now, one of the biggest missed opportunities of the Switch 2 version is the lack of Joy-Con 2 mouse mode. PC has been the undisputed king of construction and management games thanks in large part to mouse and keyboard input. For some diehard fans of the genre, lacking mouse controls is an instant dealbreaker. But with the Switch 2, the combination of mouse controls and portability seemed like a match made in heaven for the genre.
Despite that, Frontier has taken the easy way out by not including mouse controls here, which is a tremendous shame. While the Switch 2 release does include all previously released DLC content (of which there is a lot), it's hard to call this port definitive with such a glaring missed opportunity.
In conclusion, Jurassic World Evolution 2: Complete Edition is a game of incredible quality. The sheer amount of content here, from the base game to its included DLC, means this is a package with hundreds of hours worth of gameplay. Even though the core campaign mode is lacking, Chaos Theory stands out as the true centerpiece, and a highlight for longtime fans of the series.
Although the lack of Joy-Con 2 mouse controls does stand out as a major missed opportunity, this is an otherwise well-done port and a very easy recommendation for all Jurassic Park and city management fans. So, if you're a fan of dinosaurs, park management, or just a wild ride, give Jurassic World Evolution 2: Complete Edition a try. It's a wild ride, but with dinosaurs!
