Gaming Target - Game Boy Advance: ZooCube

Written by Matt Swider on June 24, 2002

Review: You won't find any animals in ZooCube. Exactly like I remember the real Zoo.

Many consider Tetris Worlds and Super Bust-A-Move to be the most recognizable puzzle games currently on Game Boy Advance. However, the system's first year has debuted a handful of new and bizarre brainteaser titles as well. Along with games such as Hot Potato and Rampage Puzzle Attack, Acclaim has decided to release its own unique puzzle brand for both the GameCube and Game Boy Advance. With a name like ZooCube, one would imagine a bunch of animals present throughout. What's funny about this is that besides the introductory scene that explains the story, there aren't any animals to speak of. While the same can't be said about the GameCube title, both versions of ZooCube do include the same light storyline that's only heavy aspect is set within its odd nature.

The story is told using a theme similar to Noah's Ark. Apparently the strange Dr. Buc Ooze decided to experiment on animals of the world, trapping them in unnatural shapes. It's your job to neutralize the effects by pairing up the shapes with the ZooCube as quickly as possible before it overloads. While the story is pleasant enough, most will skip over the introduction scene without even knowing it is there. Getting down to the gameplay of ZooCube, I was immediately reminded of the old N64 game, Tetrisphere. Sure, it doesn't play the same way, but the simple aspect of rotating a three dimensional object while puzzle pieces are drawn towards it takes me back.

The basic objective here is to match the shapes that fall by planting them on the same side of the cube. Shapes will appear randomly at one of three spots and slowly gravitate towards that side of the cube. Players must think fast as they'll only be able to view the three facing sides of the cube at once. By using the D-Pad, and at points the L button, players will have the ability to rotate the cube any which way. The game comes to a close if there are five types of animal shapes stacked on one side of the cube that do not match. In total, there are 30 different types of shapes, so making them match takes one clever mind, sharp eye and some serious reflexes. Unlike most other puzzle games out there, ZooCube's speed doesn't pick up as time goes on. Instead, players will be able to set the speed at the menu and it will remain constant throughout the entire game. Nevertheless, the learning curve isn't easy. It may seem pretty simple at the beginning, but as more shapes are introduced, the difficulty increases on its own.

Once the control scheme is down, it's all about motivating the mind to match the right shapes. As I explained before, using the D-Pad rotates the cube on its two axis. Using it in conjunction with the Left shoulder button will allow players to move it on its third axis. If you have already decided where you want a shape to land, you can use the A button to assign animals to a specific side that they will stay in sync with, even when the cube rotates. A helpful little tool comes into play by shuffling the order of the animal shapes. This will allow players to match shapes when several are stacked on one side of a cube. Lastly, another equipped convenience that I found in the game was the ability to use smartbombs. When pressing both the Left and Right shoulder buttons, players can clear the shapes that are closest to the cube. While all this may sound complex, you should catch on after playing a few short games and start feeling the presence of its addiction growing. Bonuses come along the lines of a knockout. Once you clear the cube of all creatures, a layer of new shapes covers the cube and it's your duty to do it all over again. If each is matched with its pair, and the entire cube is cleared once again, players are rewarded with the deserving bonus.

Most puzzle games these days strive to implant the best visual power and include as many special effects as possible while being confined to a simple 2D environment. On the other hand is ZooCube, which delivers bare bones imagery. Compared to its GameCube counterpart, ZooCube for Game Boy Advance presents a dulled down look without sharp graphics or FMV scenes. Though this may seem unappealing to some, it works for the game by keeping everything straightforward and clear-cut. The audio department gets the same treatment. The sound effects consist of a couple explosions and other sound bits to accompany what happens on the screen. Strangely, the music in ZooCube is turned off by default. While the music doesn't quite fit with what you'd expect for ZooCube, it does fill the silent periods of playing with something worth listening to.

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.