Simple Concept/Highly Addictive

User Rating: 7.8 | Zoo Keeper DS
Puzzle games are a long standing tradition for portable systems dating back to the original GameBoy. I was one of the Tetris junkies; I am not afraid to admit it. With each no portable I own at least one puzzle title; it is kind of a tradition. Well, the first puzzle title that I have picked up for my DS is Zoo Keeper. From what I have read, this is a DS port of a PC title that you can play online.

The concept to the game is very simple, move one tile with an animal face either up/down or left/right. The animal will only stay in this new position if it completes a set of three or more animals. If it does not, the animal will move back to the starting location. What adds to the complication is that the screen is filled with the different animal heads and you have to locate the matching animal line ups and you have a limited amount of time to locate these animals. You complete a chain and you get a little time back. If you can complete several rows continuously, you obtain a 'chain' and get more time and more points. As you progress in levels, you advance but getting three or more of each animal type, the timer moves faster. This is why I marked the game as hard, because it gets very difficult as the game progresses.

The game is very addictive. I have shown the title to three people now. All three's first reaction was: This is stupid. Five hours later, they were all hooked. This is an older title, so it should only cost you about $20 for a copy.