Software:Zen Bound

From HandWiki
Zen Bound art.png
Developer(s)Secret Exit
Publisher(s)Chillingo Ltd
Platform(s)iOS, Maemo, Mac OS X, Linux, Microsoft Windows, Android, Nintendo Switch
ReleaseZen Bound
March 9, 2009
Zen Bound 2
  • iOS
  • April 1, 2010
  • Windows, Mac OS X
  • November 16, 2010
  • Android
  • March 19, 2012
  • Linux
  • February 14, 2013
  • Nintendo Switch
  • May 24, 2018
Genre(s)Puzzle
Mode(s)Single-player

Zen Bound is a puzzle game for the iOS, Android, and Maemo platforms (Nokia N900), developed by Secret Exit. It was announced on September 5, 2008 via the company's discussion board, and officially released via the App Store on February 24, 2009, and via Ovi Store on June 16, 2010. A port to Android was announced as part of the Humble Bundle for Android 2 on March 19, 2012. The game has received press attention for its unique gameplay.[1] A lite version of the game was also released for free which featured 2 levels of the game. A sequel, Zen Bound 2, was released for iOS on April 1, 2010, for Steam on November 16, 2010,[2] and for the Nintendo Switch in Europe and North America on May 24, 2018.[3]

Gameplay

The goal of the game is to paint various objects. In each level the player is given an object with an attached rope which varies in length depending on the level. Using a mouse or touch screen and tilt controls, the player attempts to wrap the object with the rope. Each time the rope is laid down on the object, the area near the rope gets covered by paint. The challenge is getting the required percentage of an object painted with only a finite length of rope. There are three targets in each level - minimum, medium and maximum coverage.

Some levels require nails protruding from the objects to be entwined in rope rather than having to cover the object's surface.

Reception

Zen Bound

Zen Bound
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
GameRankings98%[4]
Review scores
PublicationScore
GameSpot9/10[5]
Gamezebo4/5 stars[6]
IGN9.5/10[7]
Pocket Gamer5/5 stars[8]
VideoGamer.com9/10[9]

Zen Bound received universal acclaim according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[4]

Awards

5th IMGAwards (International Mobile Gaming Awards) (2008): Excellence in 3D

Zen Bound 2

Zen Bound 2
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic(iOS) 80/100[10]
(PC, NS) 78/100[11][12]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Eurogamer(PC) 8/10[13]
IGN(iOS) 8.5/10[14]
(PC) 7.5/10[15]
Jeuxvideo.com16/20[16]
Nintendo World Report(NS) 8.5/10[18]
Pocket Gamer(iOS) 4.5/5 stars[19]
(NS) 3.5/5 stars[20]

Zen Bound 2 received "favorable" reviews on all platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[10][11][12]

Abandonment

Neither Zen Bound nor its sequel are available for purchase in the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store; however, Zen Bound 2 remains available via Steam and the Nintendo eStore as of April 2022.

References

  1. Benedetti, Winda (January 30, 2009). "iPhone lifts profile of on-the-go games". https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna28922265. 
  2. "News - New Release - Zen Bound 2". Valve Corporation. November 16, 2010. https://store.steampowered.com/oldnews/4655. 
  3. "Zen Bound 2 (Switch eShop)". Gamer Network. 16 May 2018. https://www.nintendolife.com/games/switch-eshop/zen_bound_2. 
  4. 4.0 4.1 "Zen Bound for iOS (iPhone/iPad)". CBS Interactive. https://www.gamerankings.com/iphone/959467-zen-bound/index.html. 
  5. Palley, Steve (October 6, 2009). "Zen Bound Review". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/zen-bound-review/1900-6231992/. 
  6. Squires, Jim (December 31, 2009). "Zen Bound Review". https://www.gamezebo.com/reviews/zen-bound-review/. 
  7. Buchanan, Levi (February 27, 2009). "Zen Bound iPhone Review". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/02/27/zen-bound-iphone-review. 
  8. Spencer, Spanner (February 20, 2009). "Zen Bound". Steel Media Ltd. https://www.pocketgamer.com/zen-bound/zen-bound/. 
  9. Muldoon, Rory (March 16, 2009). "Zen Bound Review". Reseto Network. https://www.videogamer.com/reviews/zen-bound-review/. 
  10. 10.0 10.1 "Zen Bound 2 Universal for iPhone/iPad Reviews". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/zen-bound-2/critic-reviews/?platform=ios-iphoneipad. 
  11. 11.0 11.1 "Zen Bound 2 for PC Reviews". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/zen-bound-2/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. 
  12. 12.0 12.1 "Zen Bound 2 for Switch Reviews". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/zen-bound-2/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch. 
  13. Reed, Kristan (November 19, 2010). "Download Games Roundup (Page 3)". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/download-games-roundup-review-38?page=3. 
  14. Buchanan, Levi (May 3, 2010). "Zen Bound 2 iPad Review". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/05/03/zen-bound-2-ipad-review. 
  15. Buchanan, Levi (November 30, 2010). "Zen Bound 2 Review (PC)". Ziff Davis. https://www.ign.com/articles/2010/11/30/zen-bound-2-review. 
  16. Llenlleawg893 (December 5, 2012). "Test: Zen Bound (PC, Mac)" (in fr). Webedia. https://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0001/00018102-zen-bound-2-test.htm. 
  17. The MacLife staff (January 14, 2011). "Zen Bound 2 Universal Review". Future US. http://www.maclife.com/article/reviews/zen_bound_2_universal_review. 
  18. Parton, Mitchell (June 6, 2018). "Zen Bound 2 (Switch) Review". NINWR, LLC. https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/47375/zen-bound-2-switch-review. 
  19. Erickson, Tracy (April 28, 2010). "Zen Bound 2 (iOS)". Steel Media Ltd. https://www.pocketgamer.com/zen-bound-2/zen-bound-2/. 
  20. Aubrey, Dave (June 18, 2018). "Zen Bound 2 Switch review - Strong structures but ropey value". Steel Media Ltd. https://www.pocketgamer.com/zen-bound-2-switch/zen-bound-2-switch-review-strong-structures-but-ropey-value/. 

External links