Zoomaroom Hot

Zoomaroom, the Xbox Indie game is on sale for 80 MS. That's ONE DOLLAR. That's the price of a Big Mac!

The game would best be described as Trials HD meets Super Monkey Ball, literally. You control a monkey with a torso of a marble, and you have to roll through 70 levels of increasingly difficult stages, each with 5 coins you collect, ranging from easy to hard to get. Because you are a marble you don't have direct control over your marble: you can turn the marble and increase your speed, but don't think you'll be able to stop on a dime once your going high speeds. The 2D gameplay is perfect for Xbox Indie, and so are the minimalistic graphics. Adding to the fun are a bunch of cool items for you to pick up including Grappling Hooks, Metal Suit, Bouncy Ball suit and the Jet Pack.

Adding to the value of this already beefy game is a full level editor, much like Trials HD. There's a huge area for you to add platforms, items and enemies. Once you make your masterpiece you can trade levels with friends, but you'll both have to be online for that to happen. It sucks, but is understandable with the super-low budget. The area where you can create levels is huge, and if you're talented enough you'll be able to make levels as good as the developers.

The game isn't without it's problems though. Many people will probably become frustrated with the marble controls, the graphics are REALLY simple and the levels can be unforgiving. But luckily you can skip some levels that are just too hard, and you have infinite lives.

Overall, this game is an amazing value at $1 with the 70 levels, and robust level editor. Though some may be turned off by the "slippery" marble controls, those who stick with it will find a game with great level design, cool enemies and awesome items to use. Download the trial today, and Zoom a room!

Indie Game (IG) under Review: Zoomaroom
Developed by: FourBrosStudio
System: Xbox 360
Version: ?
Genre: Platformer
Cost: 80 Microsoft Points ($1.00)
Download Style: Full Game/Trial Game
Download Size: 17.20 Mb
Learning Curve: 5 Minutes or less
Overall Rating: 7/10 (New Price --> 9/10)
Main Features:
- Players 1
- HDTV 1080p Support
- Custom Soundtracks
Other Features:
- Create custom levels with a lot of depth
- Play other people’s custom levels
- Collect more than 350 coins to unlock 70 well designed, built-in rooms
Puzzling:
- Lack of worldwide Leaderboards
- Levels only download from someone else playing Zoomaroom
- Only five backgrounds for custom levels
- Only allows up to five coins per level
- No upload music option
Rating:
Violence - 1/3
Sex - 0/3
Mature Content - 1/3

INDIE GAMES INTRO:

Please Note: Unless otherwise specified, I have bought and played all aspects of the games I review.

Downloading Indie Games:
1. Turn on Xbox 360 and sign into XBOX Live.
2. Navigate to: Game Marketplace=>Explore Game Content=>Indie Games
3. Look around and download games!

Important Indie Game Reminders:
1. They are NOT rated by Microsoft or the ESRB.
2. They can only be played while connected to Xbox Live.
3. They can only be played for four or eight minutes before the trial ends (depending upon release
date).
4. Some features may be locked in the trial mode.

REVIEW INTRO:

Zoomaroom is a physics based platformer where you use items, the environment, and even enemies to collect coins and beat the level. With over 350 coins to collect to unlock 70 levels of increasing strength, this game will keep you addicted. There is also a feature that allows you to see who has gone through a level the fastest with and without collecting all the coins. You can also create your own levels using a built-in editor and share them over Xbox Live!

PRICE DIFFERENCE: 9/10

200 MSP ($2.50) -> 80 MSP ($1.00)

I loved this game for $2.50 and now that it is $1.00 I don't see any reason not to buy it. It offers so much and it costs less than a King Sized Candy bar!

GRAPHICS: 3/10 (Second Look: 7/10*)

Really nothing special here. An example is how “Fire” is just a red square/rectangle/circle/etc. Surprisingly, the game fits this way. It works and you don’t really end up thinking about it much.

*Looks a lot better than most indie games.

MUSIC: 5/10

The music lacks variance and could actually do with a larger variety when making a level. Once you press start on the title screen you have a choice of two tunes. Opening up the menu is one, while playing/editing a level is another. You might want to play your own music after a while.

STORY: 0/10

There really is no story other than play the levels and collect coins to unlock more!

GAMEPLAY & FEATURES: 8/10

First off I just want to say that playing and creating levels is fun. The 70 built-in levels are all well designed and challenging. You will replay them a lot to figure out how to get the coins. There is also a lot of content available when editing/creating maps.

Unfortunately, Zoomaroom leaves out a lot for a game that relies on level creation. Levels can ONLY be downloaded from someone who is playing Zoomaroom at the same time as you. Usually it is only one other person, if anyone (at least you can chat with them). There also isn’t any substantial leaderboards other than the first person to get through a level the fastest with and without collecting the coins. The background can only be one of five choices, each boring in design (checkers blue, checkers pink, circle, etc.). A level you create also has to have the same music as every other level. On top of all this, there can only be five coins in each level and it is only single player. It would really benefit from allowing friends (or anyone) to build the same level simultaneously.

After all those con’s I bet you are wondering why I gave Zoomaroom an “8/10” for Gameplay. Despite the above setbacks, the game really offers creation depth in 14 varying enemies, 14 varying items, 14 varying costumes, and objects where you can change their properties to wood, metal, fire, etc. The game also offers an ENORMOUS area to create a level. I highly doubt anyone could fill the space up if they wanted to! Help boxes can also serve as “story points” when creating a level because you can type what you what into them, and when the player touches them it shows up!

Even if creating levels isn’t your thing, playing the 70 built-in levels is well worth the money. They will make you angry at times, but when you finally get that frustrating coin, the satisfaction is worth it. And then you repeat the cycle!

The game lacks some things, but makes up for it with its addictive nature. Collecting coins and creating levels is fun and will entertain for hours.

OVERALL: 7/10 (New Price --> 9/10)

While the game is well worth buying, the con’s don’t warrant this game any higher than a “7/10” (I contemplated “6/10” for awhile). But with the new price, it is well worth a 9/10! Nevertheless, I recommend this game to anyone who likes addicting platformers. If you’ve played “Super Mario Bros. (Nintendo, SNES)” than this game may be for you. After all, the trial downloads fast and its free to play, so give it a try!

Other Games by FourBrosStudios (as of 8/26/09):

- Unknown

For more full reviews, visit the ExL Studios Website .

For quick reviews, visit the ExL Studios Blog .

It is a challenging platformer based around physics of your ball with a monkey face on it and the weighted world you play in, you have two slots to hold weapons that are necessary to get through the levels untouched. From being a bouncy ball to firing rockets, it's very fun. The fact that there is a level editor, online leaderboards and sharing just make this an AMAZING value.

I originally passed on this game when I tried the demo, as I didn't quite get the hang of the momentum mechanic and the controls. Seeing how well liked this game is, combined with the price drop made me re-evaluate.

After putting a bit more time in and discovering the items (grappling hook, spider chains, etc.) I really liked the game and I took the 80pt plunge.

I would say the new low price influenced my score just a bit.

This is a lot of content for only a dollar!

Pros: Fun, many levels, incentive to play through more than once, level editor.

Cons: The controls felt awkward for me but I got used to it, simplistic graphics.

This game was one that I just didn't get around to purchasing when it first came out, but now that it is a dollar, there is no reason not to get it....fun fun fun.

Great Game! Its quite a deal at only 200MS points.

It has hours of play in it, I've probably clocked over 6 hours already, and I haven't unlocked the bonus levels yet. If you like games that you can play through and go back to 100% everything, this is a great title!

I highly suggest buying it, or at least trying out the demo!

After the high praise for this game, I decided to buy it, at the start it seems fun but after a while it just get annoying, maybe this is a game not just for me.

But it just left me disappointed, if you like this game a lot in the trial I would say buy it, but its like marmite for me you either love it or hate it!!!!

This game is awesome! I just bought it tonight and started playing for the first time after reading excellent reviews. I agree with Tom on everything! Zoomaroom was well thought out by 4bros and is amazing - this game could have easily gone for way more than 200pts and the time put into making it must be worth much more too! Anyone can learn the controls - even inexperienced gamers like me but also is a great challenge for hardcore gamers like my husband. The intro levels explain everything and give small hints but are not excessive or annoying. The music is enjoyable and catchy and the graphics are simple but fit the game perfectly as it is more of challenge and skill rather than flashy garbage like many games available.
I can't wait to find out what all the unlockable costumes and skills are!

I look forward to any other games produced by 4bros in the future!

Pretty fun mechanics, but the graphics could use some polish. Still there is a lot of game to play here but I found the graphics to annoying to keep playing it.

I can't believe the quality and quantity of level design packed into this one. This includes most of the best elements of N+ and old-school Mario. By halfway through the long list of levels the game becomes quite challenging, but it avoids frustration with infinite lives and restart points. Stick with it and collect all the collectibles, and the game will reward you with a new move, new outfits, and five new levels that just might be "too hard."

I really have no complaints about this game. The graphics are simple but pleasing, I like the voices, and the gameplay is not hampered by glitches. Well, the level editor is probably too complex for me, but will probably add even more to the game as it won't be too much for everybody.

This one will keep me coming back for quite a while. Cheers to level design that puts many $60 games to shame!

By far the best Community Game I've played so far, and it's only $2.50.

The game is really fun, especially if you liked Marble Blast Ultra or N+. It starts off easy but the difficulty really ramps up later in the game. There is tons to do in the game, 70 levels, built-in editor, online lobby for sharing best times and user created levels, great fun for a great price.

I really love this game, it's fun and simple. It's somehow a combined platformer and racing game. Even if most of the levels only are about moving from A to B, it can be almost to hard sometimes.
What I didn't like: This game screams for multiplayer. For being a platform game your jump height is a bit lame. It does use to many buttons at once.

This game is a lot like Marble Blast Ultra, which is a good thing! The built in levels have some interesting challenges and puzzles and I spent hours playing them.

There is a built in editor which really adds value to the game because you can download other peoples levels by joining them in an xbox live lobby and downloading their levels.

Very fun game. The content will keep you busy for weeks, especially if you are a completionist. The challenge ramps up nicely, but is tough enough to hold your interest. This isn't a game you will finish in an afternoon.

This game has a ton of content (70 room) & and editor to make more.

Sweet!