Over the years, the simulation (or ‘sim’) game genre has become very popular.

This is hardly surprising, given that game-players love to take control of situations that would otherwise be impossible in real life.

In Zoo Vet, the player is given the chance to become the medic of a menagerie comprising 25 animals, from antelopes to zebras.

Though sim-style games can often be quite intricate in their control mechanisms, the gameplay in Zoo Vet is rather straightforward. First, explore the map of the zoo and look out for alerts from keepers as to which animals may need attention.

Then, simply click to hotfoot it over to the relevant enclosure to begin the diagnosis. Who to help first? Jenny the penguin with her enlarged abdomen? Or Lisette the giraffe and her, er, loose stools. We went to the aid of the penguin.

In this endeavour, a second medic assists the player. Though the diagnosis stage appears to give the player some freedom, it’s actually a bit linear: attempt to use a scalpel to chop off a chimp’s nose when all he really needs is a cuddle and a banana and the assistant steps in to prevent the action, suggesting instead what should be done. Bah!

Such limitations aside, it’s all reasonably entertaining stuff. Moreover, given that the target audience age is 8+ we think the game is well-pitched, both in terms of tone and difficulty. But in terms of longevity, Zoo Vet is lacking: once each of the 25 animals has been treated, there’s not a whole lot else to be done.