Game Boy Advance

ZooCube

The game is called ZooCube, but don't expect to be overwhelmed with furry animals. In fact, don't expect any animals at all…other than the box-art and the single cutscene that explains the goofy storyline. In the game you're supposed to be rescuing these creatures trapped inside bizarre, colored shapes by matching them as pairs (kind of like Noah, get it?). Apparently the critters didn't make the cut for the GBA version, but they're all over the GameCube edition of ZooCube.

Puzzle games … can’t live with them, can’t live without them. They are fun, they annoy, they challenge, and they can probably be the cause of at least 50% of broken controllers and handheld systems out there that have been thrown, stepped on, or smashed. No matter what type of gaming you’re primarily into, be it action, FPS, sports, or RPG’s … everyone has spent many hours of their life glued to a TV or GameBoy playing Tetris, Bust – A – Move, or one of the other hundreds of puzzle game titles out there. Zoocube is developed by Puzzlekings, who apparently are new to the gaming industry. Well, they have hit the hand held market with a solid but simple gaming title and one of the silliest plots I have heard of in a long, long time. Also, I didn’t see a single animal anywhere in the game except the one on the box cover … FYI for you animal lovers out there … so maybe they could have just called it “Shapecube” or something. Anyway …

ZooCube was recently released for both GameCube and Game Boy Advance. The GBA version plays Scrappy to GameCube's Scooby Doo. Where the GC version featured appropriate animal shapes and noises (ZooCube, get it?), the GBA rendition takes a different turn. While the addictive gameplay remains, all things animal are replaced with generic geometric shapes and run-of-the-mill sound effects.

En somme voici un titre qui crée une excellente surprise et qui en dépit de son concept assez simple devrait savoir séduire les amateurs du genre. On notera par ailleurs trois modes de jeux dont deux en link à deux joueurs, ce qui ne manquera pas de relancer l'intérêt de ce Tetris-like pour des parties à un contre un ou en coopératif.

Besides playing through the seven levels within the classic mode type, players have the option to play through ZooCube’s KO or KO Blind modes. Also included in the game is the ability to play along with a partner or compete against him through the support of a link cable. If you have a friend who owns a copy of ZooCube, it should add a lot of flavor to the game and keep your interest for quite some time. Though many who pick the game up won’t be able to play against another live opponent, there’s always room to top a friends score as ZooCube saves the ten highest ranking players.

ZooCube does have a battery-save feature, which is of course welcome in any portable title. It's simply a shame that in the console-to-handheld conversion, ZooCube was deprived of one of the main justifications for its very existence.

This game provided a few hours of emotions for me. At first I was overjoyed to see that another type of puzzle game had been released. The next emotion was dismay at the mediocre color quality and graphics. Finally I felt indifference, as I could care less about finishing this game due to its many many faults. This game is rental quality only in my opinion. If you do happen to buy it be prepared to become frustrated. With such a unique concept, it was unfortunate that this game simply didn't follow through quality wise with the overall presentation.