Sim Aquarium 2 is a solid contender in the aquarium screensaver competition. It offers a nice range of environments and quite a few options including a bunch of hot key shortcuts to use while the screensaver is running.
It features a whopping 41 fish varieties and has ultra realistic looking coral reef environments. Sim Aquarium 2 does not offer any interactivity or desktop options, but it doesn’t need to. It does a great job being what it is: An Aquarium Screensaver!
Although all the screenshots on the Digital Illusions product page shows the surface of the water above the fish, there is an option to not show the surface within the control panel. I personally like not seeing the surface as it feels more like being deep within the ocean environment.
Fish animations are decent, but still lack a little in the smoothness department. The fish motions seem a little jerky at times, and at times the fish just seem to “coast” a little before moving again. These are minor issues and don’t detract too much from the overall experience. It can get a little distracting though.
The pricing of Sim Aquarium 2 is a little convoluted. There are two basic package versions, one with 26 fish (lite) and another with 41 fish (deluxe). On top of that, you must choose which tank(s) you want with your purchase. With all these choices, the price ranges from $18.45 for 26 fish and 1 tank, to $39.95 for 41 fish and all 5 tanks. Still with me? Looking at their purchase page I felt a little like I was shopping for Windows Vista or an Xbox 360: Why go with an limiting option when you really need the whole thing? Conclusion: The full version of Sim Aquarium 2 is a bit pricey at $39.95!
Aside from the minor issues in animation and the strange pricing strategy, this screensaver could work for someone who is looking for a simple and solid aquarium screensaver.
The Good: Simple and enjoyable.
The Bad: Slightly off fish animations.
The Ugly: Strange pricing options, too expensive.
- Download the Sim Aquarium 2 Demo.
- Visit simaquarium.com
- Buy Sim Aquarium 2 at SimAquarium.com $18.45 - $39.95
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