Description
ZooCube is the first and only 3-D puzzle game created
specifically for GameCube. Easy to learn, difficult to master, ZooCube is a
great pickup and play title for kids and adults alike. Its addictive nature
and intense 3-D puzzle action will create an instant favorite.
Review
The premise of this game seems to be that some alien is
trying to steal all the animals from the earth and you have to stop him by
pairing the animals up thus releasing them.
To accomplish this you match shapes that look sort of like
animal heads. The heads stack up on each side of a cube and you rotate the
cube around to make the shape fall on the side you want it to. You can
shuffle the heads that are already on the cube to shift a matching head to
the outside which makes the matching heads disappear. At first there are
about 6 different heads but later in the game there are at least 15,
probably more. There are bonus pieces you can capture by floating a head
over it but the effort doesn't seem worth it.
This game is very difficult. It isn't too bad at first as
the heads start falling from 3 directions in a pattern that you can kind of
get used to. But about half way through the levels you start getting shapes
coming from the bottom of the screen and it is very difficult to identify
them, plus you are no longer sure which direction the next head is coming
from.. I finally worked my way through that level then shapes start coming
from the other directions at well. At this point I stopped caring about the
game enough to try to learn the new pieces and pattern.
The difficulty is again compounded when the heads stacked up
on the cube get to be different lengths. Then you can't just move the cube
to the side that matches the head because you will unintentionally pick up
heads coming from another direction.
Finally, it is just too difficult to see. In order to play
this game I have to get really close to my 32" TV in order to try to make
out both the pieces on my cube that are turned to the back as well as to
make out the pieces that are coming.
OK, if it stinks so bad why did I give it 3 stars then?
Simple - it is fairly addicting. My GameCube is new and Zoocube has been the
game that has stayed in it the most. If you enjoy games of this nature
(Columns, Tetris, etc.) you will probably get some good play out of this
game and I would recommend picking it up off the bargain shelf if you have
the chance. But be prepared to be frustrated - I don't think I'll be
returning to this game much now that I've really about had it.
Also I would recommend the GameBoy Advance version of this
game over the GameCube version. The heads are made into shapes that are much
easier to identify. It seems to control better also and it allows you to
adjust the brightness of the background and pieces so it is easier to see
what's going on.
