Zoom!

Sega console exclusive

Zoom! is a puzzle game developed/released by Discovery Software in 1988. It features a 3D-like board the player moves around on. Up to two players may play simultaneously. Not to be confused with Zzoom.

Released: 13 January 1990
Platforms: Commodore 64 Commodore C64/128/MAX MS-DOS Sega Genesis
Genres: Puzzle
Developers: —
Publishers: —
Perspective: Auditory
Themes: Action
Country: Germany
Languages: English

About

Zoom! is a puzzle video game by developed and published by Discovery Software. Amiga, Commodore 64, and MS-DOS versions were released in 1988, followed-by a port by Sega for the Genesis in 1990. The game has a 3D-like board the player moves around on. Up to two players may play simultaneously.

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

In this game, the player controls the character, Mr. Smart. The player navigates around a total of 36 faux 3D style game boards, skating through the gridlines of each tile on the board. Doing so causing the gridlines to change colors.

Once a grid tile is completely surrounded by colored lines, it flashes. The game board is completed when the player has successfully skated on every line of the grid.

Story

Earth has been captured by Space Phantoms using magical forcefields. The only hope for Earth's survival is Mr. Smart, a big-eared creature. Mr. Smart must travel from shield to shield while out-running the Space Phantoms in order to save the world.

Reception

The Sega Genesis port of Zoom! received a mostly negative response from gamers and critics upon its release. Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the game an average of 3/10 with reviewers stating that the game looked 16-Bit, but delivered gameplay style similar to an Atari 2600 title. Commonly stated among reviewers were bad controls, repetitive sounds, and poor visual appeal. One reviewer stated that the game is "Easily the worst game to yet appear (on the Sega Genesis) and not worthy of the system."