It's also definitely worth mentioning that this is the weaker of the two Zenses titles by a mile. Rainforest has better puzzles and a stronger style. But both strike a definite atmosphere – whether that atmosphere is right for you or not is another question. This is an experience so subdued, it's almost a lullaby. But if you're into that vibe and want something legitimately fresh, see how your senses react to Zenses: Rainforest. And if you like that, take a dip in the Ocean.
Gaming Nexus writes: "The graphics and music in Ocean follow a soothing coral reef theme. Crashing waves, bubbles and rushing sand make up most of the sound effects. The visuals make it look like every game is played near or under a placid shoreline, and Shinen's expert skill at harnessing the DS's graphical horsepower is evident even in this casual puzzle game.
Ocean has six puzzles to choose from, all available from the start. The first is Zen-stones, a simple stone matching game. Find two stones adjacent to each other, and tap them both to eliminate them. When no matching adjacent stones are left the game is over."
IGN: "Right off the bat we need to be specific in stating that Zenses (both Ocean and Rainforest) aren't hardcore games, so this review is geared more towards the casual user. If you've got a mom, sister, or younger family member or friend that's into DS, but might even consider games like Super Princess Peach or even Brain Age as a bit too complex, Zenses is the way to go, as it's very straightforward, score takes a backseat to just relaxing and playing a few rounds of one of the games, and the achievements that can be unlocked are purely optional, as everything in the package is unlocked from the get-go."
Lynxara writes:
"So, obviously, I can't recommend Zenses: Rainforest. That leaves Zenses: Ocean... and to be honest, it's not bad at all. I've found myself firing it up to play more zen-stones and shell whirl as I typed up this review. I'm not sure I can recommend it, since the game's official MSRP is $29.95. That strikes me as about ten dollars too much. If you could get it for $19.99 or less, it strikes me as a decent buy for a devoted puzzle gamer. It particularly strikes me as a pretty good gift for the Touch Generations crowd, who'd probably never give this a shot on their own but would probably enjoy the simple, stylus-focused gameplay."
