Ignition delivers an underappreciated and overly addictive puzzler to the DS.
Gameplay: 9
Zoo Keeper is a Bejewelled clone, make no doubt about it, but it's a good one. The game involves sliding animal icons in a 8x8 grid, trying to line up 3 or more of the same kind and jump starting combos. At first glance, the game seems totally unoriginal and a cheap port to the system. However, the stylus control turns this game from a cheap port to a completely addicitive game. The stylus allows for extremely fluid manipulation of the animals on the lower screen, far faster than a D-pad and dare I say even better than with a mouse. The game also has many subtle additions. Each round has a special animal which gives double points. These points are needed to add time onto the constantly dwindling timer. The best way to score points is to combo, and thanks to an excellent and rewarding combo system, Zoo Keeper delivers. What makes the system so excellent? Unlike in many puzzle games, the player is given a one second window after a group is removed to remove anothe group. Do it and a multiplier begins to build. Stringing together massive combos and watching you poitns skyrocket is a rush every time. The ultimate goal of each level is to meet a certain quota of animals, moving you to the next level and increasing the point values and game speed. Combine the excellent mechanics with four game modes - Time Trial (6 minutes to get top score), Normal (meet quotas to progress), Tokoton (capture 100 of an animal to progress), and Challenge (perform a number of skill based tests) - as well as single-card multiplayer, and you have yourself one elegantly simple and addictive gameplay package.
Graphics/Sound: 7/6
The word "simple" can also describe the game's graphics. The sprites do have an attractive and stylish look to them, and your special animal is shown animated on the top screen (which is sadly used for only that and score keeping in the game). The graphics work well for this game, and their basic nature does not detract from the experience. The sound in Zoo Keeper is passable. One aspect done particularly well is the escalating pitch of sounds when you begin to string together a combo. The sound matches perfectly wirh your rising points and really adds to the excitement of combos. The music, however, is very simple and irritating, and is best left off for longer sessions of play (or if others are around. They'll kill you.)
Value: 9
For $15, the game has an amazing ammount of longevity, especially if you love to constantly best your own high scores. There is an unlockable "Super Hard" difficulty, earned by placing 1st in each mode, but most of the replay is self motivated. However, the addictive nature of the gameplay makes it perfect to boot up on trips, even if its only for one or two time rial runs. I even found myself getting in a round or two before bed some nights. Single-card multiplayer also adds to the value, though the random nature of the gameplay can make matches fluctuate from long struggles to several second pummelings. For such a low price, however, the game is more than worth it.
Verdict:
Overlooked by many DS gamers, Zoo Keeper is an excellent puzzler that is sure to please anyone looking for an addictive diversion and willing to give the game a try. It's accesible stylus control makes it ideal for so-called "non-gamers," but its addictive qualities make it last for veterans as well. Anyone who can get a copy of this game for $20 or under should jump at the chance. A huge sleeper for the DS.