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Are you into puzzle-games? How about action-puzzle games that involve a plot, sport bright and eye-pleasing appearances, complicated scenarios, multiple objectives, three modes of play, and eighteen levels?
If that’s your bag, then I suggest you purchase your copy of Zapper now. Zapper is a brilliant example of what an action-puzzle game should be, so forget Frogger. It’s not for anyone with a weak ability to think logically and strategically. Those being my strong mental points, I really enjoyed this game.
Zapper is a game all about puzzles, levels, and objectives. It takes a lot of strategy, logic, and raw intelligence to beat this game. You are Zapper; a cricket that has the ability to, you guessed it, ZAP things for some odd reason. Maggie the Magpie has kidnapped your little brother, Zipper. Your goal is to rescue your poor little brother from the evil clutches of Maggie the Magpie. As Zapper, you must traverse your way across each three-dimensional grid level from square to square while avoiding hazards, jumping gaps, finding bonuses, zapping things, and such. Your goal on each level is to destroy all six magpie eggs, placed by; you guessed it, Maggie the Magpie. Though it doesn’t really offer anything new as you progress through the game, at eighteen levels it is longer than it’s closest action-puzzle relative Frogger. Fortunately in addition to its primary mode: story mode, Zapper offers arcade and multiplayer modes. Arcade mode just basically pits you against the clock on levels you’ve already played and usually beaten. Multiplayer is a bit different though. In multiplayer mode you are pitted against the other players to catch Zipper first. Multiplayer mode is even more interesting because you have the option of customizing the rules and settings to your heart’s content.
Controlling Zapper is muscle-memory if you’re a Frogger veteran. It is almost the exact same as Frogger with very few changes. One example of a change is how you can rotate Zapper to face different squares without jumping spaces, which is an improvement. But don’t fret if you’re new to puzzle-action games, or just have never played these more popular titles. Learning is easy, and getting the hang of the game and the levels only takes you about forty minutes. I’ve had no problems with it, the only challenges you face are the puzzles, not the skill you have with your controller.
Zapper is one of the most vibrant, bright, and colorful puzzle-action games I’ve ever seen. Just like how listening to an upbeat song puts you in a good mood, so does the appearance of the game. There are many two- and three-dimensional graphical representations portrayed in the game, which blend together to form a beautiful, detailed environment, and symphony for the eyes. Although intricate, bright, and detailed, the background and surroundings don’t really distract you from the more important things, like actually playing the game instead of just staring at it, as you may want to when you see it for the first time.
What else does a great game need if it already has exceptional graphics, gameplay, and story? Sound. This game does not hesitate to tickle all your senses. The soundtrack is excellent, like something you would go out and pay twenty dollars for on CD. You may find yourself playing the game just to listen to the music. A combination you’d have to hear to respect, it sounds a lot better than it, uh, sounds.
With the already small variety of puzzle-action games out there, finding a quality Frogger-type adventure is difficult. Finding a quality puzzle-action game that not only is good, but also great is even rarer. Zapper flaunts its plot, action, design, gameplay, graphics, soundtrack, and replayability all at above average levels at the least. If you’re into action-puzzle games, Zapper is definitely the game for you. If you aren’t or don’t know, you should at least give it a try, you may be surprised. -- Anonym. Contributor, PGNx Media
---- Jan 20, 2003
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