Posted 2/3/2010 at 11:50 AM By Judgeman
The Good:Addictive game play, easy to learn, and can be played in small bites.
The Bad:May not be challenging enough for some players, and needs an in game clock.
Summary: Reflexive Entertainment brings us a unique game that combines the game play styles of puzzle games with the construction aspects of simulation games. Simplz: Zoo puts you in charge of your very own zoo, allowing you to design and construct the zoo, as you want to, based on the resources you gather in the puzzle games. But does this combination make for a fun game? Find out, After the Break!
Full Review:
Let me start this review by saying that simulation games and I have a rough past. While I generally find them enjoyable, I also have a hard time keeping up with everything; from natural disasters to making sure my citizens have enough to eat. By the time I have made sure one part of my world is fine and dandy, the rest of the world has been completely decimated. So, when I heard that I was to review Simplz: Zoo, a zoo simulation, I thought that my animals would be dead within the week from starvation just because I wouldn’t be able to handle the multi-tasking. I was in for a surprise.
Simplz: Zoo is, at heart, a simulation game. You have inherited a zoo from a deceased relative and have been given the task to make the zoo the best in the world. You start the game with a single lion and a zoo guide. The zoo guide will act as your tutorial; she will give you advice and hints that will help you in your task. At any time during the game, you can click on her in her information booth to bring up past tutorials. You can create your zoo by using the materials that you have in the beginning, and can move these materials around at any time. You zoo is never set in stone. However, you do have a limited number of items that you can use in the beginning and a very limited pool of resources. That brings us to the second part of the game play of Simplz: Zoo, the puzzle game.
Resource gathering in Simplz: Zoo is completely done via puzzle games. The puzzle games are basically a type of 'match-three' game, similar to Bejeweled. You move one item one space in order to make a match of three, when you have made this match, those items disappear and you are given those resources. Each game has a minimum number of resources that you must reach in order to maintain your zoo. This minimum number will grow as your zoo grows. You are also given the chance to collect money and building materials during these puzzle games. Money and building materials allow you to expand your zoo during the simulation part of the game. The variety of these puzzle games really impressed me. While the basic idea is always the match-three game, Reflexive Entertainment threw in various other tasks that must be completed, like clearing a patch so that the bear can make it home, or by collecting all of the path tiles in the puzzle. I feel that the variety of puzzle games in Simplz: Zoo helped keep them from becoming a tedious chore.
Once the puzzle has been completed by fulfilling the requirements, you are then sent back to your zoo to spend your money and building materials. You can buy a variety of different animals and zoo maintenance buildings to add to your zoo. These animals and maintenance buildings will give power ups that can be used in the puzzle games. For example, buying an aviary in the simulation game will give you the air attack move that allows you to remove one token in the puzzle game. You also have to buy certain animals or buildings before you are allowed to buy or upgrade other buildings. You can also spend your money and materials on path tiles or plants to make your zoo look good.
The graphics are simplistic but enjoyable to look at. The animals are done in a cartoon like 2D graphic, and the people look like 2D versions of Nintendo Miis. The sound design also works quite well for the type of game Simplz: Zoo is. The roar of the lion can be heard amongst the chuckle of kids while your building your zoo. I am a big fan of art design that matches the goal of the game. It’s no secret that I absolutely love the art design of Team Fortress 2, because it fits the spirit of the game. Simplz: Zoo is another great example of this, the art and graphics fits perfectly with the spirit of the game.
Simplz: Zoo is a casual game; there is no doubt about that. The puzzles can be completed in a matter of minutes in the earlier stages, and you can complete as many as you like before you exit the game. Simplz: Zoo is easy to pick up and learn, and is very forgiving. Your animals will not die, since you must reach the minimum requirements in order to complete a level. The patrons of the zoo will tell you what they would like to see, but I never saw any negative repercussions for ignoring their advice. That leads me to my number one criticism about Simplz: Zoo is that it may be too easy for some people. If you are an accomplished Sim City game player, you will find Simplz: Zoo just not your style. The difficulty curve is just not there for certain players.
Simplz: Zoo is a fun and addictive casual game that successfully combines the game play aspects of simulation and puzzle games together. If you are looking for a way to play a simulation game without worrying over hundreds of details and a catastrophic end to your civilization, then this is the game for you. For you more accomplished simulation gamers out there, you may want to pass this one buy unless you are looking for a fun and simple, easy to play simulation game. Just make sure you keep a clock near your PC while you play Simplz: Zoo, time may just get away from you!
*Disclosure: Reflexive Entertainment provided an evaluation copy of Simplz: Zoo to GamingShogun.com for review.
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