Zuma PSN Review
Imagine the pitch that must have gone on prior to Zuma’s release “well you see you’ve got a frog which shoots coloured balls into a continuous chain until it depletes. It’s a 2d game oh and we’ve got tribal music and sound effects in the background” even the most independent of game tastes would have been under pressure to give the green light. Thankfully the people at Pop Cap games did say yes, and blessed owners of Mac, PC, Ps3 and Xbox 360 a gem of a game, which is Zuma.
The beauty of Zuma is the instant level of accessibility. On the surface it seems a simple game were the gamer fires appropriately coloured balls at matching lines of balls. A line of three or more causes the colour to vanish and reduce the line; simple. But Zuma is an Onion layered game if ever there is one, crucially asking the gamer where the most effective placing of the ball.
This decision making process is key to the games success, as if the chain of balls reaches the end target it’s brutally game over, while get a pattern of coloured balls at the right time, and the line will diminish rapidly. This adds a wonderful risk and reward mechanic to what may initially seem to be a ‘simple’ game.
Coupled with that are the special icon balls or marbles which impact directly on the gaming, slow motion, reverse direction, cause explosions each ball has a significant impact on the gaming, and while not essential in the early stages, utilising these in the later stages becomes a must in order to progress.
Look wise the game is pretty standard puzzling, and while its vibrant colour scheme is pleasing the games look is functional over flashy. The only slight drawback with the console versions of the game is that it plays within a window and it would nice for it to have been optimised for HD so that it could be played across a large flat screen.
One area, which really impresses are Zuma’s soundtrack and sound effects, suitably tribal adding to the feel that you are playing an ancient Aztec puzzle.
In terms of longevity, Zuma is also strong offering adventure mode, and gauntlet mode, which sees a continual stream of marbles for the gamer to dispatch. Both offer the gamer a significant challenge and crucially give Zuma that ‘one more go’ that is so crucial to the puzzle genre. While PopCap games very Peggle may garner more plaudits Zuma remains the dark horse of the company and a quality puzzler that all will enjoy.
Title: Zuma
Developer/Publisher: Popcap Games
Platform: PS3 (Reviewed), X360, PC.
Release Date: 02/19/2009
Number of Players: Single Player
