I have found that there are two types of women/moms out there. There are the kinds that would rival any man for a spot as a hardcore gamer and there are those that like games only when they are casual or calm, in nature. I fall somewhere in between the two categories of women. I can rock the casual games . I love games like Turbo Pizza, Plants vs. Zombies, and Farm Frenzy. On the other hand, I like to consider myself (at least in part) knowledgeable in the hardcore gaming scene, as well. In that arena I am likely to be found playing games like Fable II, Fallout 3, and similar titles that have caught my eye. The thing that connects both styles of gaming is the general frenzied pace and build-up from boss to boss or level to level. One thing I haven’t really explored (or even considered for that matter) were relaxation games.
The Zenses (Ocean and Rainforest) are similar in style and they both promote relaxation. Produced by Game Factory, a company known for producing enjoyable children and family titles for the DS and Nintendo consoles, Zenses fits right into the Game Factory theme. The goal is not to win as much as it is to let go and to take a few minutes just for you. Using a selection of games, some calming new age music, cute graphics, and a laid back atmosphere the Zenses games give you the chance to play a calm, thinking game rather than to get pumped up, like some games cause people to do. The result is quite different. It’s one that some people will really enjoy and others would rather leave behind. Like the gaming women I mentioned, again, I fall somewhere in the middle.
I enjoyed playing Zenses Ocean to a certain extent. First, let me point out that of the two Zenses titles Ocean is actually the weaker of the two. Rainforest seems to have better games, but they are both somewhat enjoyable in their own way. I think the laid back atmosphere works well, but for some, the lack of multi-player, and the basic nature of the game will be a deterrent. I didn’t feel it was a deterrent as much, though I did get the feeling that this might be better received on the PC as opposed to the DS.
Now that we have looked at some of the basics, lets consider the games for a minute. In Zenses Ocean there are a selection of games you can choose from. Most games incorporate the Ocean theme nicely and include graphics that are shells, pearls, turtles, and other ocean items. Each round for each of the games begins horribly easy but as the levels progress you will notice that they do get at least a little bit harder each time. I didn’t have a huge problem completing them, though some did require more thought than others.
The games include Zen Stones, Turtle Turn, Shell Twirl, Pearl Diver, Wave Breaker, and Hot Spot. Naturally, some of these games are more entertaining than others. Zen Stones was one of my favorite games and Hot Spot was on of my least favorite. In Zen Stones, the object is to connect the matching stones, two at a time to remove them. You tap two stones that are near each other and they disappear. The goal is to empty the board. It can end up being tricky because as you remove two stones, the others move positions. Wave Breaker is another fun game. Your job is to look at the objects on a beach and find them after a wave covers them up with sand. Shell Twirl allows you to fill sections with shells and other objects. You get extra points by matching the colors of the nearby objects.
The goal of Hot Spot is to take apart a sea creature (it changes with each one completed) and reassemble it while the parts of the creature slowly spin around. Turtle Turn has that whole Othello feel to it, with players touching turtle shells, flipping them, and watching the shells around it turn black or white. The goal (of course) is to match the pattern at the top of the screen. The problem with Pearl Diver is that you get limited turns to connect Pearls to remove them from the screen. You can get extra turns by making triangles, but it doesn’t always work out. Even when it does, it isn’t the most exciting game in the bunch.
This will definitely be a more female oriented game. The question of whether or not it’s worthy to add to your DS collection will depend on you. You can pick this up at Amazon for around $25 (less if you purchase from an individual seller). At $25, I would hesitate to recommend it because you can pick up any number of casual style games for a less expensive price. However, if you want something relaxing to kill a little time and you can buy it at a deal, you should really enjoy the Zenses line of games. Of course, you might want to consider the slightly more expensive Rainforest title instead.
Technorati Tags: Zenses, Nintendo DS, Zenses Ocean, Game, Relaxation, Casual Game, Female Gamers, Game Factory
Written by Ashtyn Evans – Visit Website
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Ashtyn is in her early 30s. She is a mother, writer, college student, and music lover. Ashtyn has had a successful career as a writer since 2003. She turned to blogging in 2005. Ashtyn attends Wright State where she is getting a degree in Psychology. She has extensive knowledge in SEO and Social Media Development.
