by Jonathan Sacks

Created on: November 03, 2008   Last Updated: September 12, 2011

Zingball is a downloadable arcade game created by Hyperfog. The object of the game is to launch balls and try to connect them in groups of 3 so they are cleared. As this is done, you progress through levels of increasing difficulty. Sound familiar? Well, it should. There are dozens of games out there with a similar premise. The key question is: is Zingball a quality game that is original enough to stand out from the rest?

• Game Play:

Getting started with Zingball is fairly straightforward, though some of the settings at the beginning may be confusing for those who want to just start right in. Once you do get started; however, it's very easy to learn. Just shoot the balls from a cannon and connect them to each other. A rotating center "anchor" will gradually move to the bottom - watch out, once it the balls reach the bottom, you're done. Clear enough balls and you move to the next level. The fun in Zingball lies in these more difficult levels. As speeds increase, the number of colors increases, and the number of anchors increases, you are presented with a unique challenge. Different levels and shots require different strategies, including bouncing balls off walls, which builds up the excitement.

Game Play Rating: 4/5

• Graphics:

While the game itself manages to find a spot of originality in a crowded category, the graphics are a letdown. The simple graphics do make game play easy and would be especially clear for children and those with difficulty seeing. However, for game players expecting amazing graphics, you won't find them here. There are some options for changing graphics, in case you get bored.

Graphics Rating: 2/5

• Sound:

Color matching & ball/block removing games are typically known for one thing: music that will stay in your head for hours after you play. Fortunately, Zingball doesn't have annoying music during game play. Unfortunately, there's no music at all, and the only sound you hear is the sound of the balls attaching and popping. As you can imagine, during the game, you attach and pop a lot of balls, which makes the sound so repetitive that it is annoying. You can turn the sound down, but ultimately, the sound and music in a game should contribute to it and not be turned off unless you're trying to keep your boss from hearing.

Sound Rating: 2/5

• Creativity & Innovation:

As mentioned before, Zingball manages to create something original in a space that has many other games with similar concepts. It's similar to Zuma, though executed in a different way. There's nothing amazing here, but the demo will keep you interested for a while.

Creativity & Innovation Rating: 3/5

• Overall:

While Zingball is original in some ways, ultimately it's just not worth the $14.95 download. However, if the creators can make some upgrades to the graphics and sound, it's not that far off. The game is fun, and the concept will keep you entertained, so the demo is at least worth a look so you can see for yourself. If you do get hooked, the full version has 500 levels, which should keep you busy for a very long time.

Overall Rating: 3/5

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