1st Impressions

Zamby is a $0.99 game that I really wanted to like, but couldn’t quite get into. I am not sure why. I think the graphics of the splash screen and the depth if the back-story and game rules had me expecting more from the graphics of the game levels themselves.

Zamby reminds me a bit if Sokoban with a hint of a top-view platform game, all set in a fantasy theme. Your goal is to go around and collect as many gems as possible. This requires pushing boxes out of your way, creating bridges, defending yourself from wizards (by putting/keeping stuff between you and them), and collecting and strategically placing bombs.

A free lite version comes with a starter pack if levels that act as tutorials. When you purchase the $0.99 version, you get the first of three aditional packs of 30 levels added to that. These additional level packs are in-app purchases for $0.99 each. What thus allows you to do though is get the free version, read through all the back story and help, and then play through the first ten tutorial levels. If you like what you see, $1 gets you the next pack. It is a nice marketing strategy that I wish others would follow.

If the rules engine is more important to you than retro-style graphiscs, then you will probably like this game. If you are more into eye candy, you may give it a pass. Either way, it isn’t going to cost you anything to take it for a spin.