ZeGame is a puzzle title in which you have to move a green block into a blue block. To do this, you have to bump up against solid blocks, which let you then float into other solid blocks, before going towards the endpoint. The game lets you rotate in 360 degrees, whilst zooming in and out, and this is where most of the challenge comes in, as you have to be able to think in all directions. As you can only move in straight lines, there is only ever a limited number of choices, and the boxes that you are able to touch handily flash white, so with enough patience and planning you can make it through most of the game. The early levels are fairly linear with only one or two choices that you can really make wrong, otherwise being led in a fairly simple path. As it goes on you get many more options when you touch each block, meaning that forward thinking is more important.
The game gets considerably more interesting and difficult when you enter World 2. This introduces the concept of moving multiple blocks at the same time, having to ensure each of them reaches an end block. Each blue block can only take one green block, and none of them can die, so each move has to be far more deliberate and thought out, as there is no room for going wrong. It is possible to wear out all the potential options in each level through trial and error, however later in the game this becomes incredibly time consuming, as the stages become far longer and more complex. Each World introduces a new technique and concept, with such blocks as portals, splitters, doors, buttons and killers. To the games credit there is never an annoying tutorial or patronising piece of text explaining what each new mechanic does, instead letting you find out yourself through a slow introduction. This allows the game never to get stale, a problem with many modern puzzle titles is the high number of levels where very little changes besides the layout, and ZeGame avoids that by constantly introducing twists that keep the gameplay fresh.
The aesthetics and sound are pleasing and simple, and nobody should have any problems running this on their computer. Further in the game you get weather effects in the background such as heavy rain and storm effects, which add a nice touch and create an enjoyable atmosphere to play a puzzle game, you don’t want any distracting chip tunes when you are trying to think. There are one or two niggling downsides to an otherwise great experience. One of the most problematic is the portal blocks. When you pivot around the game area you get a white line that details the directions it is possible to move in, but when you point it at a portal block it does not say where you will end up. You carry on in the same direction you are facing, but on levels with multiple portals it is not clear which portal you will exit from, creating some frustrating moments that could have been avoided by having the portals that will be in use flash white too, I hope this can be patched in. Additionally, it is clear the game was designed to run on both Steam and mobile devices, as the menus have that obvious touchpad graphics, which have no place on a big monitor or TV.
To complete the package there is a level editor in which quite obviously you can make your own levels using all of the blocks from the game, and share them online. It is easy and intuitive to use, and there is already a burgeoning community creating and sharing levels between each other. ZeGame may have an awkward name to say out loud, but it is a well polished and well thought out puzzle title that is genuinely enjoyable and addicting to play, and the fact that it includes features such as a level editor really give your bang for your buck. I recommend picking this up if you find the gameplay interesting, as it is not expensive and a very fun game.
