Zuma Deluxe

"One of the top 5 Live Arcade titles"

I originally downloaded the demo of Zuma so I could have yet another game on my 360's game played list. However, I became addicted to the demo and felt withdraw when it ended. I finally broke down after weeks of thinking about it and bought it. Is it worth buying or is it just another weak LIVE Arcade title?

Zuma is a puzzle game so graphics shouldn't matter. The levels are very clean looking and each stage has a unique design. I found it very pleasing to the eyes and it's easy to tell the difference from the different colored balls. Only one I had trouble with was the stone color but after a few seconds I got use to it.

Sound wise I must admit the game is forgettable. Music is something I don't remember except it had an Aztec like feel to it which is obviously fitting with the theme of the game. Sound effects are decent. Some explosions and chimes.

The control in the game is a bit touchy and is maybe my only complaint. With a game that requires perfect aiming sometimes it feels a bit loose and floaty when moving the left analog stick. One of the face buttons also changes balls but I don't remember which. Very easy to get the hang of but again, the stick is a bit touchy.

Zuma is a puzzle game like none I have played before. There are a few play modes. Adventure which has you going through different temples, aka stages and clearing their levels, usually five and each temple has 3 areas... You get three lives per area. There is also your normal modes of just keep cleaning the lines as they come.

The basic idea behind Zuma is that you are a statue in the center and a gem of sorts is in your mouth. Now a maze snakes around with a stream of colored balls. You need to shoot yours into the line and match colors up. 3 in a row clears it. Some balls have special markings that will slow the line movement down, stop it, go in reverse or even blow a chunk of it away.

It sounds simple and at its core it is. It does get hectic because the line can't reach the end and it just keeps chugging until the last ball is shown (in Adventure mode that is). You quickly learn that you need good focus and aim to toss the balls into the mix without causing you more work. There are also bonus coins that appear and you get points for going through gaps and making a connection.

The game is fairly long by itself and it provides a good challenge. Sadly the game does not feature a LIVE interface but it does offer leader boards and such. I guess it's better than nothing.

Zuma is perhaps my favorite puzzle game on the 360. I keep finding myself drawn to it and playing for an hour or so at a time. It's like puzzle crack, very addictive. The lack of multiplayer is a bit disappointing but I don't see how it would work. Check out the demo if you're interested as it does give you a good idea on how it plays. Puzzle fans will enjoy the title though.

Story - N/A
Graphics - 8/10
Sound - 7/10
Game Play - 10/10
Replay value - 5/10

Final Score - 8/10

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 03/21/07