Zen Bound Tugs At Our Heart Strings

Released: Feb 24, 2009
Developer/Publisher: Secret Exit / Chillingo
Verdict: Buy It – $4.99
Pros: Gorgeous visuals, soothing soundtrack
Cons: A bit repetitive

It’s looking more and more like iPhone gaming is coming into its own lately. Do we find ourselves teetering on the edge of greatness and fulfilled potential? If so, Zen Bound could be the tipping point.

I don’t typically pass  final judgment at the beginning of a review, but who knows how far you will read? If you only make it seventy seven words into this article, I need you to know that Zen Bound is fantastic.

I think journalists call that an inverted pyramid. Or something.

It’s difficult to describe how the game plays without having seen it. Zen Bound will leave you tongue-tied, but in a good way. To put us all on the same page, I present to you this video:

See what I mean? I could have told you that the point of Zen Bound is to paint animal-based block effigies – with a rope of all things – in order to make flowers bloom so you can climb a tree.  And I suppose I sort of did, but the context is much more appropriate now.

Each “puzzle” must be wrapped as thoroughly as possible by manipulating the robe and figurine. The controls are so intuitive, that I don’t feel the need to even explain them. Everything works as you imagine it should. The beauty of Zen Bound, apart from its silky visuals and fluidic controls, is that the player can get as much game out of it as they so desire. There are three degrees to which a level can be completed, from bare minimum to autistic perfectionist.

The more of the object that you can paint with the allotted rope, the more flowers that will bloom. The more flowers you virtually pollinate, the higher the tree you can climb, unlocking new puzzles along the way.

Zen Bound lends itself to a casual approach as opposed to channeling your buddhist concentration, but either way is perfectly acceptible. In that way, the game has a broad appeal. Casual gamers will embrace the relaxing music and fall into Zen Bound to unwind. Puzzle fiends will find much to enjoy here as well. No matter your background, the game has something to offer.

Zen Bound is as awesome as Chris Brown isn’t.