Zuma's Revenge
Platform: Download (Mac, Windows)
There's a fine line to walk when trying to create a sequel to a game as classic and well known as Zuma. You need to retain all the elements of the first game that made it such a classic, while adding enough newness to make people want to buy the sequel. Keep the game accessible enough that first time players can enjoy it, while ratcheting up the difficulty for veteran players looking for new challenges. Fortunately, Popcap has definitely walked that line well while creating Zuma's Revenge and produced yet another winner.
At its heart, Zuma's Revenge is a marble popper (or pebble shooter, whatever you want to call it) game. Fire similar colored marbles at long chains to eliminate them before they reach your skull base and kill you. Simple. Popcap, who has already created several classics in the realm of casual gameplay (and seriously, when is the sequel to Plants vs. Zombies coming out?), did not rest on their laurels when creating Zuma's Revenge. Rather than creating a complete retread of Zuma they have ramped up everything, graphics, music, gameplay, without losing the essence of what made the original game such an addictive joy.
To start, there is actually a hint of a story, mostly given in small snippets during the load screen and in conversations before and during the boss fights. (Yes, boss fights. More on that later.) Once again you are a mighty frog, frantically attempting to survive the hostile attention of several natives (shaman? tikis? what are these guys?) after landing on an island that is anything but welcoming to the average frog. The main Adventure mode progresses to different parts of the island, each with its own unique layout and challenges. In addition to the classic "sit in the middle of the screen and spin around" dynamic of Zuma, Popcap has added the occasional level where the gameplay switches to a bottom slider, or a screen where you, the heroic frog, can hop to different lily pads for a better shot. The game retains the drums, shouts, and other sound effects of classic Zuma while adding new effects and music. All the old power-ups are still there along with a host of new ones to round out gameplay.
Graphically, Zuma's Revenge is a treat. All of the locations are lusher, greener, more realistic, with paths that curve and meander without the sharp edges of Zuma. Beautiful whether played in regular or high-def, the artwork — which retains its Pacific island flair — would be worth lingering on, if you weren't so busy trying to get rid of those darned marbles. Each area of the island has its own distinctive look, from the lonely village to the volcano. There's even a whole section that takes place underwater, with attendant waves and bubbles to enhance the experience.
The meat of the game is the Adventure mode, broken down in the sections of the island, each with its own scenery, gameplay, and boss taunting you as you move towards the end of the section. Halfway through each section you will hit a milestone, denoted by a cheesy tourist postcard, which will allow you to start from there (rather than the beginning) if you lose all of your little froggie lives.
At the end, of course, is the boss fight, a simultaneous marble popping, trash talking, shoot 'em up experience as you fight to clear the marbles and take down the boss (and later, the boss' henchmen as well). Each boss has his own personality and powers, clearly stating his annoyance with you whilst attempting to commit frogicide. You will encounter bosses who control insects, bosses who throw lava, bosses who quote Simon and Garfunkel, and bosses who will let you know that they are extremely irritable. The final boss fight is one of such epic proportions your mouse hand might be numb before it is all over. Once you make it through adventure mode alive you will unlock other, more challenging areas, such as the timed challenge mode (encompassing 70 levels, from easy to insane), Heroic Frog mode (replaying a dventure mode with more difficulty), and eventually Iron Frog mode (a gauntlet type of mode that...well, perhaps you'd better find that one out on your own).
Analysis: From the additional humor, the ramped up graphics, the improved gameplay, there is literally nothing to complain about in Zuma's Revenge. The "spinning" of the little froggie hero is smoother and less "jerky" than the original, making gameplay easier. A convenient "aiming cursor" has been added, allowing for easier shots. The aiming cursor can also be turned off in the options menu for experts who disdain the help. You can also adjust the screen size in the options menu, the music, the sound effects, everything. Popcap has even gone so far as to add a "color blind" mode which will allow those with red/green color blindness to enjoy the marble popping madness. The slight amount of story given is the perfect balance, enough to enhance the humor of the game without bogging it down in details.
With Zuma's Revenge Popcap has hit a homerun. As with the original, you could waste hours and hours playing this game with no end in sight. Humorous, beautiful, addicting, Zuma's revenge includes everything the casual gamer could desire, with 50% more boss fights!
Windows:
Download the demo
Order the full version
Mac OS X:
Download the demo
Order the full version
oh man, why does windows get all the games, while mac remains good only for a work computer?
There IS a Mac version!!
Sorry for the oversight. Links updated. :)
Zuma is near and dear to me as it is the game that really got me into casual gaming. Here was something so simple, yet so incredibly addictive and challenging. So when I heard of Zuma 2 I had high expectations.
In playing it I am quite impressed. The regular stages are faster, smoother, and more exciting. You can directly control how long the balls come out. And the boss battles are so much fun. I love the humor! Overall all I expected and more. Great atmosphere and sound too.
YES! I have been waiting for Popcap to make a sequel to Zuma for too long.
I really like what they have done with this new game. The graphics are much better and the things that have changed do not take away from the neverending silly fun the original game provided.
I must say my favorite change are the new faces on the marbles, they make me laugh!
The froggy is nice and smooth just like the PS3 version of the original Zuma game.
While I never really buy into a "story" for these casual games, I guess it kind of works.
I love the demo! My fave part is the new humor. Right from the loading screen. "Whose underpants are these?" indeed! The audio, the graphics: they're all so rich and interesting and complex. The developers obviously took a lot of care with this sequel, and it shows!
Pretty sure the original was created just so that the sequel could be called "Zuma's Revenge." Hah.
I really enjoy the mix puzzle game with action/shooter elements that Zuma's Revenge has. The addition of certain puzzles where the frog slides across the bottom or hops between two different shooting positions adds a fresh twist to keep me on my toes. The difficulty ramps up nicely while the new boss battles add an excellent change of pace every so often which keeps the game from getting too repetitive. The graphics are colorful and interesting without being overwhelming, motion is super smooth, and the character dialog is outrageously funny.
I sped through 26 levels in the hour I had to play, and I was worried that the full version would end up being a really short game--then I read the ReadMe... Ten levels in each of six stages for three different play modes (that's 180 levels!) plus ten more in Iron Frog Mode. Now my only worry is that, if I have the full game, I won't leave my chair until I beat it.
(I'll need a few gallons of soda, a stack of pizza, and maybe a chamber pot--unless I can move the computer to the bathroom...)
The graphics are just beautiful. I'm surprised to even care, but they seem really stylish and well-done.
I'm a fan of just about every game from PopCap, and this new Zuma is no exception. Favorite part = Boss taunts.
The only thing that was a bummer for me was the PC memory useage. My computer is pretty all-right, not WoW-worthy or anything, but it took three tries to load the game because it kept freezing. When I finally got to a menu option, and changed the quality, I was able to play through section 2. But it wasn't as pretty...
This game is astonishing in the level of polish it has. Furthermore, I'm really impressed that this game could run on my machine without any extra fan noise or other whining noises from my computer. :P
[By the way, don't enter me in the contest thingy; I caved and bought this already. It's so Zuma-tastic!]
I really like some of the new power ups, including lightening and the tri-shot. It took me awhile to figure out the laser power-up and it feels kind of clunky. Also, I am definitely a fan of the lily pad jump and side scrolling. They make for some interesting gameplay.
I've got to chip in with what most people are saying. It's an amazingly beautiful game. And it's Zuma! I played a lot of classic in the day, and I'm sure I'll end up picking up (...or winning!) a copy of New!Zuma too.
I think the jumping from one lily pad to another was my favourite feature so far. I did enjoy using the slider, too. Keeps things fresh. Someone above me commented that they got through 26 levels in the hour they were allotted. I didn't seem to get the time restriction; after two bosses it took me to a "Buy Now" sort of screen instead. However, I seem to be able to play as many of the Challenge levels as I wish and by signing in with a different player name I can do the first two sections over again. I know for sure I have been playing longer than an hour. Anyone else finding this?
Cool game and about time! I played the original Zuma until my fingers just about fell off. :)
I have to admit, my favorite part of the demo was the art. I lost a couple of good combos because I was watching the balls revolve to get a full view of the intricate little faces. And the frog has so much personality!
PopCap's special effects just keep getting better. And they're more than just decoration; they enhance the player interface so you always know what you're doing and what's going on.
I think everyone's mentioned this already, but PopCap's graphics are always wonderful, really vibrant and clean here. You can notice the little game details as soon as it opens, from the adorable lines on loading bar to each individual ball rolling in during game play. And I love the addition of the Boss fights at end of each location (made it the second one!) and their sayings once you defeat them. :)
Congratulations to: bballman613, SuzySunshine525, LessThanAwesome, and Wandering Penguin!
HERE IS WHAT YOU NEED TO DO TO CLAIM YOUR FREE GAME:
Please send an email to our contact address (link at the bottom of the page) including your full name, your email address and your OS platform of choice (Windows or Mac). Please state that you are at least 13 years of age or older. If younger than 13, please get your parents to send in their information instead.
The information will be used only for sending to PopCap for your free full version of Zuma's Revenge.
I was happy beyond belief when I started the game up and the game was in wide screen mode. Finally a casual game that takes advantage of my giant monitor! love the game, lots of fun
Still waiting to hear from seldumonde. I'll give you until end of day today (Monday 9/21). If I don't receive an email from you by then, I'll name someone else to receive it.
Sorry seldumonde. :(
Wandering Penguin: Please check the 'congratulations' comment above.
Damn it! I thought I'd get some sort of email. Figures I finally win something and I don't bother to check the message board cause I'm sure I'll get an email. Next time Jay runs something I'm gonna check it like a hawk. Or did you email me and it went into spam for some reason?
I feel really bad about that seldumonde. I will buy you a copy of the game anyways. Send me an email please so I know where to send the unlock code to.
I downloaded Zume's Revenge and installed, then opted to play. My screen went black. As I have two monitors, I switched my mouse to the other, and the game then appeared on the first monitor. However, whenever I moved my mouse back to the game monitor, the screen again went black. I had to try to estimate where the proper places were to click (on the black screen) in order to get to the right place to exit, which I finally did.
Anyone else have this problem, and/or have a suggestion on how to remedy it?
Thanks - Joanne
[Edit: Mac or Windows, and what version OS? -Jay]
Sorry - am using Windows XP, with regular updates. - Joanne
I can't offer any help myself, since I'm a Mac user and I don't have any idea how Windows treats a dual monitor situation.
That being said, have you tried running the game in windowed mode to see if that helps at all?
I think this game is also out for the 360, I'm going to have to go on a hunt for it. I'm addicted to the mobile version of it :D
I love Zuma's Revenge. I'm stuck at Boss level 6. I've tried to analyze where the fire bombs will be, but I still can't get through it. Any tips?
Any hints at Boss Level 3 for heroic frog? I've played over 3 hours on that level and can't get past it. I'm facing carpel tunnel winning this one!
I am stuck on 59th level of Heroic Frog and it is just impossible to complete it. I loose all my lives and have start from 56th level. I have played again from 56th level and reached 59th level many times but not able to complete that level. I just dont undertand why they have made it so difficult it is not at all fun playing the Heroic level. Pop Cap has gone mad.
I love Zuma's Revenge but I need to know what file I can open so I can up how many men I can add. Help?
I love the new zuma game but I am having trouble with level 60. I have been playing level 60 for 45 min straight and it will not allow me to finish the game. IT SUCKS!!!!!!
We just beat the Level 6 Boss, but how do you open the 3 different play modes and also the Iron Frog mode? All I saw were the credits.
Boodles: It depends on what version of the game you have. If you downloaded and purchased it from PopCap using the links on this page, then the extra modes should already be there.
If, however, you downloaded and purchased it from a different site, then chances are you have Zuma's Revenge Adventure, which is a stripped down (and cheaper) version of the game that includes only the Adventure mode.
Does anyone know if there's a reference guide to what needs to be accomplished in order for the differences to appear on the front page? For instance, after I beat the Iron Frog, something cool appears on one eye! (I don't want to give away what appears). My question is are there different things that I can uncover, and how can I know what to shoot for?
Thanks!
Matt
I finished the whole game last night! It was very tough but I loved it! When you get to level sixty with the torches, you win, when you shoot out all four torches! I figured it out after over an hour! Wow!! Great game!
I finished it and the credits popped up and then I went wild with celebrations and even got out of my chair to gloat to my wife when all of a sudden balls began popping at me. It was a bluff. I then had to fight toothe and nail to beat a few more bosses but I never ever really knew when I'd won. Then the other game modes opened up when I finally won. I guess the person who got to the credits was fooled and logged off. HA HA Ha!! That was the bluff of all bluffs that even had me fooled. What a fantastic game. Bring on MORE POPCAP!! This i9s LEGENDARY STUFF AND A CLASSIC GAME TWICE!!!
Matt - I like the added specials at the Main Screen too. As far as I can tell so far, you get one for beating Iron Frog and you get another for getting all the cups and another for making it through the Challenge level without dying. Right now I'm trying to make it through Heroic Frog. Not sure how long that will take me but I figure it deserves some reward.
Man I love this game. Iron Frog is giving me fits though! Clearing those 10 stages with 1 life is near impossible. Gotten to 7 once but not close since then. Ugh!!
I can't get to level 60.I have many times, I can't seem to get through it ...got any tips
Stage 6 of Iron Gauntlet is IMPOSSIBLE. More powerups should've been added to this stage, namely reverse, blast and maybe a lightning ball here or there. Without them I just can't clear it and I've played for days! Arghhhh!
I am on Boss Battle 5. I have shot all of the balls of the screen before he had a chance to fire back. Now I am just sitting here with nothing happening. All I can do is fire at his force field with, of course, no results. Any suggestions?
Heroic Frog's final boss is doing me in!! I am starting to think this level is impossible and, well, "Zuma's Revenge."
Matt above and anybody else who conquered Iron Frog -- congratulations! I finally gave up after reaching level 7 a few times, so now I'm working on Heroic Frog (up to 50). This game rules!
Is it really possible to beat Heroic Frog's final boss? I've played about 20 times and I cant even hit him more than three times.
I've got to the end...you have a hamburger waiting for you. Shoot fast, very fast, several times though the same opening, and you are done. I found this level easier than the preceding one.
I am stuck at level 31. It keeps saying try again. You don't lose any lives there.
Any ideas?
Is there more then 1 version of Zuma's revenge?
I noticed I have the Adventure version. Is there a way to upgrade?
PopCap released a smaller, adventure-only version of the game to all the major portals, and continues to sell the full version exclusively.
Since you purchased the game from a site other than PopCap, there is no way to upgrade from the adventure-only version.
The links in the review above are for the full version.
Thanks Jay
I wished I had known that before. Then I could have bought the full version.
I think I still will!!
I'm frazzled, but it was worth every minute, that pretty little blue froget was a good prize. Tiki island was tough. gonna go be a hero now
Love the Tux and the afro......so funny what can happen next....ha ha
Recieved Revenge as a gift and can't get it to start properly...screen flashes rapidly and does not start...any suggestions?
Can anyone leave tips or all the ways you can get extra life in Zuma? I know one of them is getting a certain amount of points and another is clearing the curve.
How annoying! I wizzed through the 60 levels and looked for the extra gameplay modes and they weren't there. This site has explained why - I have got Zuma's Revenge Adventure. I wish Yahoo had explained that this wasn't the full game. Maybe they did and I didn't see it. Anyway, I am now buying it again from PopCap so that I get the full game.
I bought this game and downloaded it to my MacBookPro. It works ok though the point it offers the window for my name & to click Enter. The music continues but the screen freezes and doesn't change.
It's supposedly a Mac version. Does anyone know how I can tell the difference if I can't get the game to run?
I've contacted the vendor who told me to delete the game, restart my computer, and reload. Didn't work.
Anyone have a suggestion to try?
I am at the last boss battle - Is it just a endurance battle or am I doing something wrong? Is there any tricks so i can move on to Heroic and Iron Frog?
I'm going crazy here :) I can't get any further than level 7 in Iron Frog... I've got all the Ace cups in gauntlet mode for all the previous ranks, so the only thing left is doing this for the Iron Frog levels too, but the i first have to unlock them.... Grrrr.... Damn you Zuma !!!
Well I beat the 2nd level 60 boss (Zhaka Mu?)and got my hamburger but all it did is make Iron Gauntlet a little tougher. Frog wears a hat now, lol....
I got through Adventure Mode in one sitting. I've been stuck on Heroic Frog Boss 3 for months now. Any help there? And, for all you Iron Froggers, I've gotten to level 9, but not past it, yet.
cmthmpsn: Stand underneath him and take his hits.. they only paralyze you for a moment. He mirrors you at first, then opposites your movements (gotta shoot him in the center while managing balls) and the toughest last part when he shoots diagonally at you. Manage balls during 1st two phases as best you can while hitting him and then finish him off last phase.
Does anyone know what triggers the "door-slamming" sound, and what does it mean? It only seems to happen in the higher levels, and I can't seem to figure out why it's there.
Update