Zuma

Enter an Ancient Temple to Solve the Puzzle

Zuma is said to be one of the most addictive and popular puzzle games of all times. Despite the rather cute graphics, this game is popular with players of all ages. But is Zuma the real deal, or is it all hype? Read on to find out if this game is really all that it’s cracked up to be.

Players of Zuma control a frog idol set in an ancient temple as it shoots brightly coloured balls from its mouth. Aim to use the controls and try to make strings of three matching coloured balls or more to break the chain before it reaches the golden skull. Use your aiming skills to rack up special bonuses and huge combos that will help you on your way.

If the concept of the game seems very simple, that’s because it is. Understanding how to play the game and the different bonuses that are available takes just a couple of minutes. The rest of the fun is developing your skills and strategies to solve the puzzles as quickly as possible and advance in the game to take on new challenges.

Although there is a certain sense of achievement when you complete a level, players may be a bit disappointed to discover that the next level is almost identical. There are also only two modes to choose from. Players will be able to unlock new levels and progress through the game in Adventure Mode, or put their skills to the test and race to beat the clock in Gauntlet Mode.

Once you have honed your Zuma skills and got to grips with the game, it is pretty much just more of the same. For some players this might be time to quit and turn to new adventures in a different game. However, the Zuma experience is so addictive that most players will keep coming back for more.

Special power-ups also add an extra element of fun to the mix. Certain power-ups allow you to fire marbles faster, while others allow you to detonate whole sections of the marble string and even slow down the string so that you have more time to complete the level or completely reverse the progress of the string.

Players are notified of the next coloured marble available at their disposal so that they can plan their move in advance. You can also swap this marble for another to help you complete the combo that you have set your sights on if you prefer.

Gamers are given three lives at the start of the game, and once you lose these lives your game will be over. However, you are given the option to restart the game at the last level you completed so that you do not have to start the game all over again. An additional life will also be awarded every time to clock up fifty thousand points. The whole point is to keep you playing and engaged in the game, so it really isn’t that hard to keep going, although some of the upper levels can be rather challenging.

The mouse control makes aiming the frog and firing balls very accurate and the game runs very smoothly. This is another of the big benefits that the simplicity of the game delivers. Players can simply keep their hand on the mouse at all times and push the mouse button the fire the next ball when they are ready. There are no special keys to master or other skills that need to be learned before the actual game can begin.

Fans of puzzle games are sure to enjoy playing Zuma. The colourful graphics and ease of play make this a great game to turn to when you need to unwind for a few minutes. The game is so addictive that the hours can easily melt away and the action just keeps on coming.

Zuma is a video game that asks you to create matches between different colors within a set period of time. Though it may not sound exciting, it's one of the most popular color-matching arcade games. It now comes in versions you can play online, on different consoles and on your computer.

The game shows you a structure with a long and winding path running around the sides. When you begin playing, you'll see balls coming out one side and slowly moving towards the open hole in the center of the structure. You must aim and shoot balls of your own to create color matches. Each match will remove those balls from the screen. The game ends when balls reach the hole in the structure. There are also special balls you can hit that will eliminate a larger number from the game.

Zuma comes with two ways to play. Adventure mode is the most common and most popular. It gives you three lives and eliminates one life each time your balls hit the hole. Though the first few levels give you just four ball colors, you'll unlock new colors in the upper levels. This will make the game harder. Every time you score 50,000 points, the game rewards you with a free life.

Gauntlet mode is also available on the computer version of the game. You can pick any level that you already beat in the traditional adventure mode and try to improve your previous score. The game also lets you practice a level that you haven't yet beat. This lets you see what you need to do to finally advance within the game.

When you finally win the game, any remaining lives you have left will add to your total score. Zuma awards you 50,000 points for each extra life. You can then share your score on the world leader board to see where you rank among other players in the United States and around the globe. If you have an XBOX Live account or a Microsoft account, you can even unlock achievements that will add points to your XBOX gamer score.

Though the lower levels are suitable for kids and adults, some find that these levels are too easy to beat because the balls move so slowly. The later levels can become so frustrating that you might want to quit, and many levels tend to feel repetitive to frequent players. If you stick with it, you'll find that Zuma is an addicting game that you won't want to put down.