Zen Bound
 | |
| Developer(s) | Secret Exit |
|---|---|
| Publisher(s) | Chillingo Ltd |
| Platform(s) | iOS, Maemo, Mac OS X, Linux, Microsoft Windows, Android, Nintendo Switch |
| Release | Zen Bound March 9, 2009 Zen Bound 2
|
| 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[edit]
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[edit]
Zen Bound[edit]
| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| GameRankings | 98%[4] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| GameSpot | 9/10[5] |
| Gamezebo |   [6] |
| IGN | 9.5/10[7] |
| Pocket Gamer | [8] |
| VideoGamer.com | 9/10[9] |
Zen Bound received universal acclaim according to the review aggregation website GameRankings.[4]
Awards[edit]
5th IMGAwards (International Mobile Gaming Awards) (2008): Excellence in 3D
Zen Bound 2[edit]
| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | (iOS) 80/100[10] (PC, NS) 78/100[11][12] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Eurogamer | (PC) 8/10[13] |
| IGN | (iOS) 8.5/10[14] (PC) 7.5/10[15] |
| Jeuxvideo.com | 16/20[16] |
| MacLife | (iOS)  [17] |
| Nintendo World Report | (NS) 8.5/10[18] |
| Pocket Gamer | (iOS) [19] (NS) [20] |
Zen Bound 2 received "favorable" reviews on all platforms according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[10][11][12]
Abandonment[edit]
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[edit]
- ^ Benedetti, Winda (January 30, 2009). "iPhone lifts profile of on-the-go games". NBC News. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
- ^ "News - New Release - Zen Bound 2". Steam. Valve Corporation. November 16, 2010. Retrieved April 26, 2022.
- ^ "Zen Bound 2 (Switch eShop)". Nintendo Life. Gamer Network. 16 May 2018. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- ^ a b "Zen Bound for iOS (iPhone/iPad)". GameRankings. CBS Interactive. Archived from the original on May 7, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
- ^ Palley, Steve (October 6, 2009). "Zen Bound Review". GameSpot. Fandom. Archived from the original on October 10, 2009. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
- ^ Squires, Jim (December 31, 2009). "Zen Bound Review". Gamezebo. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
- ^ Buchanan, Levi (February 27, 2009). "Zen Bound iPhone Review". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
- ^ Spencer, Spanner (February 20, 2009). "Zen Bound". Pocket Gamer. Steel Media Ltd. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
- ^ Muldoon, Rory (March 16, 2009). "Zen Bound Review". VideoGamer.com. Reseto Network. Archived from the original on March 22, 2016. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
- ^ a b "Zen Bound 2 Universal for iPhone/iPad Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
- ^ a b "Zen Bound 2 for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
- ^ a b "Zen Bound 2 for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
- ^ Reed, Kristan (November 19, 2010). "Download Games Roundup (Page 3)". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
- ^ Buchanan, Levi (May 3, 2010). "Zen Bound 2 iPad Review". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
- ^ Buchanan, Levi (November 30, 2010). "Zen Bound 2 Review (PC)". IGN. Ziff Davis. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
- ^ Llenlleawg893 (December 5, 2012). "Test: Zen Bound (PC, Mac)". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). Webedia. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ The MacLife staff (January 14, 2011). "Zen Bound 2 Universal Review". MacLife. Future US. Archived from the original on April 5, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
- ^ Parton, Mitchell (June 6, 2018). "Zen Bound 2 (Switch) Review". Nintendo World Report. NINWR, LLC. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
- ^ Erickson, Tracy (April 28, 2010). "Zen Bound 2 (iOS)". Pocket Gamer. Steel Media Ltd. Retrieved December 19, 2022.
- ^ Aubrey, Dave (June 18, 2018). "Zen Bound 2 Switch review - Strong structures but ropey value". Pocket Gamer. Steel Media Ltd. Retrieved December 19, 2022.