Game: Zuma’s Revenge
Publisher/Developer: PopCap
Genre: Puzzle
Verdict: More of the same Zuma action, and that’s not a bad thing!
Pros: Looks great, new powers, boss battles
Cons: May not be enough new content for veteran Zuma players
Developer Provided Review Copy
Chances are high that at some point in your gaming life you have gotten the opportunity to play a version of Zuma. Whether it be on your PC, cell phone, iPod, or Xbox360. And, if you are as big a fan of the series as I am, there’s no doubt that a sequel to the popular game is a welcome sight. Enter Zuma’s Revenge by PopCap for the PC.
The game begins with your ball-spitting amphibian floating on a homemade raft after a shipwreck. Where does he find himself floating to? An island covered in jungle of course! He needs to find his way home and off the island, but first he has to fight his way through challenges and other surprises. The first thing you will notice about Zuma’s Revenge is the fantastic upgrade PopCap has given the graphics. Zuma has made its way to the world of hi-res displays, and it’s instantly noticeable.
For those thinking of discovering Zuma for the first time, allow me to explain the basic gameplay. A string of colored balls surround you on a track, making their way around until they reach a hungry skull at the end. Once they reach that skull, the game is over. In order to avoid the balls getting too close to the danger zone, you have to match at least three of the same colored balls to take them off the track. To do that, your froggy pal has to aim and spit the matching ball into the balls on the track. It is simple to pick up, and very addicting.
Zuma’s Revenge gives you four modes of play. Adventure mode, where you and your frog battle your way across the island, a challenge mode where you battle for trophies in a faster version of the levels you played in Adventure mode along with Heroic Frog, where you play adventure mode again, only this time a lot more difficult. Finally there is Iron Frog, where you are able to enter the pulse pounding Iron Frog Gauntlet, only after finishing Adventure mode. Enter at your own risk!
To the un-trained Zuma-neophyte eye, this game may seem like a lot of the same. Same game play, same ball-matching action. However, Zuma’s Revenge offers a few nice new touches to keep even the veteran ball-spitter interested. The adventure mode introduces new mechanics like allowing our frog hero to jump from different locations on the board or slide from left to right instead of spinning in a circle, and new power ups give him laser eyes, lightning spells and more. But the most important new feature in Zuma’s Revenge are the boss battles. You read that correctly, Zuma now has boss battles. Now, not only do you have to clear balls out of your way, but you also have to work your gap bonus skills to knock the angry Zuma-god off of his pedestal. This is far and away the best new feature added to the Zuma series. It adds a level of difficulty that Zuma fans will be grateful to have.
To the player who has worked their way through the original Zuma, this is not a re-invention of the game. It is very similar to the original game. The added features may be enough to entice you to buy this version, but if you wanted to see a big overhaul, you won’t find it here. However, if you are a big fan of the game, then you shouldn’t miss it. The additions create more challenge, and let’s face it, who doesn’t want more Zuma?
To the player who finds themselves playing Zuma for the very first time, Zuma’s Revenge is a fantastic place to start. The graphics are great, the story is funny, and the challenges are as fun as ever. You may intend to spend a few minutes on a single puzzle, but don’t be surprised if you find yourself still playing hours later.
Ribbit.
Popularity: unranked [?]
2 comments