Zoombinis

Today I get to talk about a pretty neat game from the 90s, Zoombinis. This was one of those “educational” games that the PC loved back in the 90s, but do not let that put you off. Zoombinis has a ton of charm and that is why so many people have fond memories of it. It is also the reason that the game was given a nice bit of polish and re-released into the version we are looking at today.

So…. Zoombinis? What Is That?

Well, Zoombinis is the name of a little race of creatures that want to live their life in a happy and safe way. In order to do that though they need your help. That is the basic idea of the story and it is more than enough to get most kids (and even big kids reliving their childhood) into what is going on.

There Challenges, Not Mini Games

The game of Zoombinis is split up into smaller mini-games (didn’t I just say not mini-games?) this manages to keep things fresh. You have to remember that this is a game that was aimed at kids so the developers wanted a lot of variety in the game. There are plenty of fun challenges for you to do such as Pizza Pass and Lions Lair. The challenges that the game throws you way start off pretty easy.

That is just the start, you see Zoombinis has a pretty smart progression where the game gets gradually harder and harder. I like the difficulty level in the game and I have a hard time imagining kids getting so frustrated that they want to just quit.

Silky Smooth

This is what the kids these days refer to as an HD remake of the original Zoombinis. I think that calling the game that is a bit unfair. Yes, the premise and idea of the game are the same. However, the work done on the art is pretty outstanding. The backgrounds have been completely redrawn and they really do pop. I think that the game has a rather cell shaded, but in a washed-out kind of way look and I love it.

The whole game is just very charming and that even goes for the sound design. The voice acting is very cheesy, but it fits the style of the game very well. I would imagine kids who played this would find the Zoombinis, the trolls and other characters in the game very amusing.

It is easy to look at a game like Zoombinis and shout PASS! However, I do feel that as far as educational games go, Zoombinis has a ton of heart and it is rather fun to play as well. If you have kids and want them to play a game that is going to teach them as well as let them have fun. You can do a lot worse than Zoombinis. Also, if you played this game when you were a kid, give it a try as I am sure you will love what they have done with this newer version.

Zoombinis is actually a game that was first released back in the 90s. It was a fairly popular educational PC game and it has been brought back for this generation of kids. They have given the game a lick of HD paint and if you want your kids to play something that is more “educational” you can do a lot worse than Zoombinis.

What The Heck Are Zoombinis?

That is the question you are most likely asking right now. Well, Zoombinis are these cute little blue creatures that live in a strange land and they need your help. The Zoombinis are smart, happy and they want to live in peace, but they need a little helping hand to complete all the different missions that they have to do.

Lots Of Different Challenges

There is quite a bit of variety to the challenges in Zoombinis. There are 12 different challenges that your child can do and they start quite simple and then get progressively harder. The difficulty progression is done just right for kids as it offers a fair challenge, but at the same time they will not get frustrated and want to shut the game off. You need to take the Zoombinis on a journey that will see you need to navigate such challenges as Allergic Cliffs, Pizza Pass, Stone Rise, Lions Lair, and the Mirror Machine. Each level has a different kind of challenge and it is a challenge that is not just fun, but it is also going to make any kid playing this think.

For example, Pizza Pass requires you to make these pizzas for a bunch of greedy trolls. You do not just have to move quickly, you also have to make sure that you are using the right parts as the trolls are very picky when it comes to their pizza. Then Lions Lair will require you to try and think one or two moves ahead as there is a lot of strategy involved in getting all of the Zoombinis across the path safely.

Like A Story Book

While Zoombinis is a game that was first released the better part of two decades ago. It has been treated very well in this new version. They have redrawn all of the background art and it looks like a million bucks. I would probably compare the art style to Rayman, although in a more toned down style. There is a ton of personality here not just from the Zoombinis, but the Trolls, Stone Guards and other creatures that you meet along on your journey. The voice acting is also really well done and from what I can tell they have actually gone to the trouble of using the original voice acting. This means if you played this game when you were a kid and are now getting your own child to play it. It is really going to tug on those nostalgia strings.

Zoombinis is clearly not a game that is aimed at a 30-year-old who does nothing but play first person shooters. However, it is one of the more charming kid's games out there and as well as being fun it does have some educational value as well. It was a huge hit when it was released in the 90s and I am sure it will be very popular now too. If you want your kids to play a more kid friendly and wholesome kind of game you cannot go wrong with Zoombinis.

7.5/10

Pros:

• The redrawn backgrounds look great
• Plenty of different challenges to do
• One of the more fun kids games out there
• A very well done remake
• The Zoombinis have a ton of personality

Cons:

• The actual game is the same as it always has been
• Maybe hard to get kids to stop playing Fortnite to play this!