Zen Bound 2: A Review of the iPad’s Most Relaxing App

May 11, 2010 - By Justin E. Gehrke

After finally managing to get my hands on my very own iPad, shortly a month after its release, I already have a vast amount of information on its performance, usefulness, and, of course, seemingly limitless opportunities for entertainment. Since I can’t possibly throw it all into one article and do it proper justice, I decided to start what will certainly be a long line of iPad-related posts. Also, I thought it fitting to start off by reviewing Zen Bound 2 for iPad.

Those who know me will tell you that me taking the time to play a game is significant. Why? I am a self-confessed, non-gaming geek. It’s not that I have anything against them. Generally speaking, though, they don’t capture my attention. I am admittedly a geek who prefers to read, write, and experiment with gadgets, software, operating systems, etc. Upon purchasing the iPad, a friend mine, Hans the Apple Junkie, insisted that I buy it. While I generally don’t follow his advice, as it usually results in me spending more money, I went ahead based on the unique premise upon which it was based.

The game is refreshingly uncomplicated. As stated by Secret Exit, the developer of the game, it is “a meditative puzzle game of wrapping rope around wooden sculptures.” That’s it. There are no explosions, no hidden tricks, and no body count. Additionally, there is very little chance your adrenaline will rush or your blood pressure will rise. Before you tune out at that last sentence, hear me out. These things are exactly what makes this game so intriguing.

Zen Bound 2 presents the player with multiple levels of challenges visually represented by a tree. Within each level, a certain number of flower’s must be caused to bloom, in order to light up the lanterns for that level. As the lanterns become lit, the player’s tree continues to ascend upward and unlock the next level of play.

Using the iPad’s touch swipe technology, players are able to twist and turn the sculptures. As the rope touches the surface of the object, it becomes painted. Once enough of the surface has been painted, one of the embedded nails begins to glow, indicating that it can be tied off to complete the level. When tied off, a gong sounds, and the sculpture begins to glow, indicating the challenge has been successfully completed.

As the levels increase, the difficulty increases, but the premise remains the same. Paint your objects by wrapping rope around them. Make your tree’s flowers bloom. Light your lanterns. Make your tree grow. Reach a state of Zen. One of the best things about the game is the virtual environment created when playing. By default, it comes with calming music that encourages a meditative-like mood. Alternatively, players can choose to play music from their own iTunes library on the iPad.

When I do play games, I usually turn off the music and sound effects, based on the fact that they quickly become annoying. With Zen Bound 2, the music is part of the game. When combined with the lack of a time limit to complete a challenge, the game truly does become a form of meditation. The sense of relaxation is only increased by the stunning visual richness. Great credit must be given to the developer for creating a graphically rich interface. The brilliance of the colors, smooth movement, and crispness of the objects creates a realness and depth rarely seen not only on the iPad but, for that matter, on any gaming platform. In actuality, the screenshots included here don’t actually do the game justice. Each level of play and associated scene continuously surprise the player.

For those who haven’t yet gotten iPad, I highly recommend doing so. For that matter, this review, to include the image layout, was done in the Apple Pages App. Non-iPad owners aren’t totally out of luck, though. Apple iPhone and iPod Touch owners can get into the game, too. The original version provides most of the same features and is nearly as enjoyable. While the smaller size of the screen won’t elicit the same sense of graphic awe, the overall ambiance of relaxation and meditation is maintained through the levels and sounds.

Whether playing on the iPad, iPhone or iPod Touch, a set of quality headphones is recommended to truly enjoy the rich sounds of the game. Personally, I was able to maintain the acoustical goodness and sense of untethered relaxation by pairing my JayBird Freedom Bluetooth stereo headphones (Pricey at $159.00, but well worth it for exercise enthusiasts, public transit commuters, and frequent travelers.)

At $7.99, Zen Bound 2 for iPad may seem a bit pricey. (Zen Bound for iPhone is $2.99)As someone who puts significant thought into paying even $0.99 for an app, trust me when I say that the game is well worth the money. Addiction is almost certain for anyone who enjoys a mental challenge, relaxing music and a pressure free environment.

For those who prefer to try it out before they buy, a free version, Zen Bound Lite, provides access to the first two levels and is designed for the iPhone. To help solidify the decision to purchase the full version, it can played on the iPhone or iPod Touch, as well as at roughly half the size on the iPad. Once you see the sheer brilliance of it for yourself, I’m confident that you, too, will include Zen Bound for iPhone/iPod Touch and Zen Bound 2 for iPad as one of your must-have apps.

Sources:

Download Zen Bound 2 for iPad here.

The official Zen Bound website here.

Demo video courtesy of Zen Bound