BRB @ EGX Rezzed: Super Exploding Zoo

Super Exploding Zoo, a game developed by Honeyslug, is about. I had some hands-on time with the game during EGX Rezzed and now I desperately want more of it in my life. [box type="info"] • Developer: Honeyslug • Publisher: Sony Computer Entertainment • Reviewed on: PlayStation 4 • Also Available On: PlayStation Vita • Release Date: 2015 [/box] The premise of the game is incredibly simple. Hungry greedy aliens have arrived to eat the delicious eggs. The hunger has clearly clouded the aliens’ judgment because they have landed in Super Exploding Zoo, where 30 different species of animals are really good at exploding and destroying things. The sad part of this story is that the animals also die in the explosion, but at least they do it for a noble cause of saving the eggs! The build that was available to play at EGX Rezzed took players through the main game mechanics, introducing them to different animals and their abilities, to aliens and their minions, and also various level layouts. At the beginning of each level, the player always starts with one animal and then wonders around the map waking up and collecting other animals to form a herd. With enough animals in the herd, destroying aliens is a piece of cake. All animals can attack aliens, but they also have their individual special abilities. So the more variety there is in a herd, the more things can be done around the map. For example, penguins can also explode walls, which is handy when there are sleeping animals locked behind them. Crocodiles can form bridges in the water, allowing the herd to pass over them. Pandas, who are probably my favourites, eat lots of bamboo, get really fat and then roll around, levelling aliens to the ground. This particular move is performed by motioning the controller from side to side, which I think is a nice touch. The other mechanic, which raises the ‘adorable bar’ up to the skies, is a way to increase the number of animals in the herd. This first involves directing the herd to the grass area, and as the grass disappears small baby animals appear. However, as babies, they are unable to fight and are vulnerable, so the player needs to quickly steer the herd to another type of grass where the baby lions, monkey, crocs and others will grow up to be a formidable force. The demo only included several levels and a small number of animals, so I am eager to see what the full game of 80 levels and 30 animal types will be like. My only slight concern is that the game levels seemed too easy. However, this is probably due to the game being shown in the expo environment, where people have to be introduced to the core game mechanics faster to allow as many people as possible to experience the game. Super Exploding Zoo is also a very simple game that I can easily see becoming one of the ‘addictive on commute’ type of games. The levels are relatively short which would allow playing the game for 5-10 minutes at the time. I am also looking forward to endless random mode that is promised with the final game. I adore the artwork and style of the game. Every animal has its own character, complemented by their own voices. The panda always looks a bit lazy, while the monkey is happy and mischievous. I love the expression of determination that all animals have when the aliens are near. While I might not be a fan of insect-looking things, the little alien minions look quite adorable too. I am always attracted to a combination of cute and extremely dangerous, which is probably why this game appealed to me as much as it did. There is a strange sense of empowerment when a group of cuddly looking penguins completely obviates a nasty blobby alien. While some might find this game to be over-simplistic, there are just enough puzzle elements for me.  I have had a lot fun playing Super Exploding Zoo at EGX Rezzed and will be looking forward to the actual release. [youtube id=”Ny6OdIM2QBE”] [ilink url="http://www.superexplodingzoo.com/"]Official Game Site[/ilink]]]>