Zoo Keeper

Zoo Keeper is a tile-matching video game developed for the Web by Robot Communications and later ported to the Nintendo DS by Japanese video game publisher Success. Zoo Keeper was released for arcades in 2004.^[1] The game was then brought to American and European shores by Ignition Entertainment, and has since been released for iOS and Android devices under the title Zookeeper DX Touch Edition by Kiteretsu.^[2]^[3]

In Japan, before the release for Nintendo DS, Success released this game for Game Boy Advance and PlayStation 2 with alternative name Zooo. The PlayStation 2 version of this game was later released in Europe by 505 Game Street as Zoo Puzzle.

Gameplay – Zoo Keeper

The objective of Zoo Keeper is to remove the animal tiles that fill up the screen by aligning three or more in a row or column.^[4] Levels end when a pre-determined number of each animal tile has been removed. These quotas are listed underneath each animal symbol.

Tiles are aligned by swapping ones adjacent to each other. If this causes a line of three or more matching tiles to form, the tiles stay in their new position and the matching tiles are removed. If no line of three or more matching tiles is formed the tiles revert to their original position.

Lines can be horizontal or vertical, and combinations can cause many lines to disappear at the same time. When tiles disappear, any tiles above them on the screen fall down to fill the space. If this results in a further line of three, this line also disappears. This is called a ‘chain’. An example of a chain can be seen in the screenshot: making a line of (green) crocodiles in the centre of the screen will cause the crocodiles to disappear, and the (red) gorillas will meet to make a line of three.

One very important aspect that sets Zoo Keeper apart from Bejeweled and its many clones is the ability to switch tiles while another move is still ‘in progress’. This allows the player to set up chains, or to ‘fake’ chains by creating multiple rows of three in quick succession.

If no moves are available the screen is reset, but the clock keeps ticking. Similarly, while chains are formed after a level is cleared the clock continues, though the player is locked out from playing. A key challenge when playing Zoo Keeper is the inability to find a valid move, which players know must exist (otherwise the screen would be reset). To combat this, players can use the “binoculars” tool to show the position of any unmade moves.^[5]

At any time during the game, a Special Panel may appear. This is a tile which quickly flicks through all animal types giving it a flashing effect. Tapping on this tile will cause it to stop on one of the animals and all tiles of this type will be instantly removed from the screen.^[5]

A very rare phenomenon is where a row of three Special Panels is made. The result is a rainbow-like animation of the tiles and the word ‘Revolution’ appearing on the screen. 1,000,000 bonus points are rewarded when this happens.

On the DS version of the game, as shown in the screenshot, the upper screen shows a favourite animal,^[6] for which captures generate increased points. It utilises touch screen operation and the opportunity to battle another DS owner. Other versions allow two players to play at once on one screen.

Modes – Zoo Keeper

Zoo Keeper

Zoo Keeper mode sets a quota of animal tiles to remove in order to advance a level.^[7] This quota starts at three animals. As play progresses, this quota increases, while the time limit to meet the quota decreases.