I must speak with you about Zoombinis

[@axelrose8481]

ngl i kinda had a crush on the zoombini girl with the ponytail and tired eyes as a kid

[@muffinman3052]

Not even Batman could get this information out of me chief

[@2honey2meme95]

this is so fucking funny to read

[@callmefox630]

What.

[@Skank_hunt420_]

Weird.

[@Big-Sexy]

Pin of shame

[@mirandagavrin5644]

The reason there are no Fleens in Zoombiniville is the same as the reason the sign is there before anyone gets there, which is the same as the reason the Zoombinis knew where they were headed: it was the home of the ancient Zoombini civilization. The first six puzzles are all driven by creatures or parts of the landscape, but the third section is based around *technology*--technology that was specifically built by and for Zoombinis. There are Zoombini features on the lion statue, on the crystal filters, on the bubble grid. Fleens, frogs, and squirrels couldn't navigate them. Zoombinis are incapable of violence, so the puzzles are an elaborate security system to keep any potential invaders out. But this just raises further questions: Why did they leave for Zoombini Isle? Did they all leave, or only some? If only some, what happened to the ones who stayed behind? This is why the Royal Society must fund my expedition to the Mountains of Despair to search for archaeological evidence.

[@2degucitas]

I've got 10p in me pocket

[@tutacat]

GOHM missed the mark on "Zoombini Isle"

[@geigertec5921]

The Zoombinis left Zoombiniville thosands of years ago because it was taken over by the Bloats. The Zoombinis boarded ships and fled to Zoombini Isle. Thousands of years later the Bloats arrived in Zoombini Isle and the Zoombinis, having forgotten their history, made the same mistake and became enslaved by the Bloats again. They then escaped back to Zoombiniville, their ancestral homeland. And this process happens back and forth for millions of years.

[@LoremIpsum905]

Oh no, time to get out the dnd folder

[@DanzelGlovington]

I have over 100 zoombinis speedrun world records. I definitely know much more deep lore into the game than you covered here. The cliffs aren't racist, they're allergic. The rocks are racist. The nose colours and eyes had one different option in the original. In the new version after its first update, Zoombinis with springs for feet became faster in movement speed than any other Zoombini feet style, with shoes also being faster than propeller if you can believe that. The feet made sounds in the original, along with many other audio discrepancies. I have some (THEEEEORIIIIES) as to why the audio issues were never resolved in the HD release. The new version has some debilitating glitches especially in the crystal level. I have a lot of deep Zoombini commentary throughout my livestreams and speedruns of the game. I've been going for Android version and the 1996 for world records as well.

[@leok6855]

Jesus christ

[@lupusalbus3795]

I wasnt sure what I expected in the comments of this video, but it wasnt this.

[@mirandagavrin5644]

They fixed the glitch in the crystal level as of this year! It's not fucked anymore! Better late than never, eh? :D

[@DanzelGlovington]

@@mirandagavrin5644 A while back I tried to show it off to a newer speedrunner and noticed that it was fixed. Pretty amazing considering they never added movement sounds.

[@leahg.2672]

I have over 1000 zoombini world records and I have memorized all of the lore

[@sethost2548]

I'm glad you highlighted the frog guy's line at 5:09. I quote that to myself all the time since it was such a distinct voice to me when I played as a kid, along with some of his other lines. I can hear him crystal clear in my head going, "Fiiiiiine, suuuuure" "Welcome to the boat" and his absolutely cruel, hearty laugh when you fuck up and he launches a zoombini

[@mrelephant2283]

As a leading Zoombologist, I can share some information from a recent scientific paper published from the University of York that confirms an archeological connection between ~900 year old medieval England, the long-forgotten French-Japanese Betrayal war and the ancient Zoombinis Civilization. Fascinating stuff

[@GamesOnHardMode]

It's all connected.

[@fernwitchofthedarkcastle]

Nothing delights me more than finding new videos about my fave childhood games

[@SrSacapuntas]

'Can I kiss a Zoombini?' GamesOnHardMode asking the real questions out here.

[@GamesOnHardMode]

No conclusive answer yet.

[@uioongbion2074]

@@GamesOnHardMode Ok I want to same something don't assume it's colonialism it could be literally anything. The aztecs sacrificed children etc it could be them.

[@AKA_Studios]

I remember this stressing me out as a child. Losing a zoombini to a mini game felt like losing a friend

[@geigertec5921]

Especially if the Zoombini was sucked into a vortex in the final stage, I once got so upset witnessing this that I nearly vomited.

[@messybetsy]

@@geigertec5921 i feel so seen

[@karinam4420]

I love how the game is almost exactly the same as when i played it as a kid, the only big difference is the animation. What nostalgia.

[@chronovac]

Acting like Zoombinis isn't the greatest piece of media ever crafted. Pathetic...

[@GamesOnHardMode]

I'm expecting some dislikes on this one.

[@laurenhunkele4267]

"I can't imagine anyone getting all 400 Zoombinis except a literal child" oop. I finally finished the game last night after playing it very on and off since literally second grade and never finishing it. And there literally isn't an end sequence??? It's just the same old fireworks, and there's a banner that says thank you. Like... all that work. For a banner.

[@GamesOnHardMode]

Oof.

[@RennieAsh]

So you were expecting MORE! More. Toppings. MOOAARRR TOPPINGZ!!! Come onnn more stuff!

[@TyinAlaska]

The ultimate ending to teach you about the tough reality which is that nobody cares about your accomplishments, and there's no big prize waiting for you.

[@TyinAlaska]

I wrote my comment when I was in a dark place. God bless you all. Everything can turn around with a snap. Life is amazing and I'm ashamed to have spread my frustrations among you. Spread the love!

[@GamesOnHardMode]

Glad you're doing well Tylor 😊

[@camcam_burger]

On the original version on the crystal level, some of the zoombinis would spawn directly looking at you, instead of off to the side. Therefore I can only conclude that the zoombinis are aware they are in a video game but only some are able to handle being reminded of this knowledge constantly. Also the lion minigame is fun because you can drop the zoombinis into the pit and watch them fly back up

[@reallyidrathernot.134]

fuck I love listening to someone care about something that I don't even care exists.

[@Jacob-Vivimord]

I played a lot of this as a kid... and a lot as an adult. Almost got all of my zoombinis to their final destination on very very hard. This was good stuff, glad to have found your channel!

[@Jacob-Vivimord]

(It's taken me an exceedingly long time to do the last batch, because the crystal mine game sucks on very very hard, as you have to account for a bug.)

[@GamesOnHardMode]

A true scholar of the Zoombinis.

[@Y_tho]

I never played this as a kid and now I know what was wrong with my childhood.

[@SpeakerTerenus]

Hip, hip, ZOOOOMBIIIIINIIIIIII

[@skellybone8]

I was born in the early 2000s and played this game on the computers at my local library as a kid. A couple times throughout my life I had random flashes of memories about playing this game but for some reason tonight I got the strong urge to look it up

[@TheGeekCupboard]

Woah woah woah, at the end there, in Zoombiniville, that windmill... did the Zoombinis locate one of those annoying prejudiced cliffs from the bridge mini-game and actually force it into the structure of the windmill? So it can be there forever in eternal servitude? Wow, they look all sorts of adorable but those Zoombinis sure had a mean streak. Also I am pleased to be a pretty cool dude or dudette or whatever. Is there a badge?

[@GamesOnHardMode]

Casual viewers will not know why you are a dude/dudette. That is your badge.

[@krisses2698]

I am also a pretty cool dude or dudette or whatever :)

[@kevintyrrell7409]

I can't believe this channel doesn't have more viewers. There were so many clever jokes packed in here, great editting. What a channel. Subscribed.

[@GamesOnHardMode]

This comment has made my day!

[@danielsellers4958]

Really loved this. Hit me right in the nostalgia, and your humor was spot on!

[@GamesOnHardMode]

Good to hear!

[@Eckertainment]

NEVER HAVE I SEEN THE MUD WALL WITH THAT MANY SECTIONS OMG

[@LyncanShepard]

I used to play this in IT lessons in primary school but I could never remember the name. I've spent years trying to figure it out so thanks :)

[@megm6775]

So glad to know I'm not the only one who couldn't get all of the Zoombinis in the hotel rooms on the difficult levels. I didn't know about this game when I was younger - or any computer game, truth be told. My nephew (a 90s kid) bought this game for my much younger daughter ... but it's this 70s "kid" who sometimes plays it at night when she's asleep! And yes, I am one of those nerds who paused to read up on Fleens as trading partners. Yep, I could see them being bullied at school, too. I love the Fleens mini game, I dislike the hotel one (because I hate leaving any of these little suckers behind), and I love the top trail with the swamp and the frogs. It doesn't take to long on the harder levels if you block the crabs. I guess it takes all sorts!

[@mirandagavrin5644]

I love both paths, but Hotel Dimensia on Very Hard is definitely the hardest level in the game (unless you count the glitched-out Very Very Hard crystal level before they fixed it). I used to be able to get everyone through something like half the time by going into a trace over a piece of graph paper and waking up with a solve, but fuck if I could explain my process in human language.

[@ShenDoodles]

I played this as an adult with no nostalgia for it and fucking loved it.

[@HAUSOFAARON]

“There you go, you got it” 💯

[@deedeedoggydayday3081]

I think this was one of my first video games alongside Reader Rabbit I've ever played. I was only a kid when I loved playing games.

[@geigertec5921]

I remember Reader Rabbit, there was alot of collecting crystals and carrots if I recall correctly.

[@Chicagocity1717]

Make the whole game available on steam. Ill buy it…for real

[@rosed3023]

“You’re right it’s not” Me, sadly: “I loved the Zoombinis 😢”

[@tomgatehouse9507]

Only 1 minute in and I can see you've upped the production quality :) saving this one to watch later, excited about the new style video

[@GamesOnHardMode]

Check out my last 4 videos before this too. That's where the shift began!

[@tomgatehouse9507]

Nevermind, just watched all the way through. Absolutely loving the new format!! About to binge the others. Your CK2 video is next!

[@calt7964]

This deserves more views. It’s so high quality.

[@robertlupa8273]

I still remember "MAKE ME A PIZZA".

[@HolyKhaaaaan]

Fleens? ... You're not Fleens...

[@DrEcho]

MORE TOPPINGS

[@DrEcho]

something on there I DON'T LIKE

[@RobertJW]

I played so much Logical Journey of the Zoombinis as a kid.

[@mewtonezcat4200]

God this nostalgia at it's finest. I first got this game from a door salesman back in 2007.

[@GamesOnHardMode]

This is how all copies of this game are acquired.

[@2degucitas]

​@@GamesOnHardMode not in the USA. They were freely distributed to teachers to try out. My instructor hubby brought it home, handed it to me and asked me to try it out and give him my opinion. Elementary schools all over acquired copies for their computer labs. Since we had the copy at home my kids all played it. As soon as my youngest could sit and use his hands well he was playing this game. He has a well developed sense of logistics.

[@Chrisskates775]

You've now set me off on the quest of bringing all 400 of these nostalgic little blueberries to zoombiniville, I hope you're happy

[@callisquirrel9622]

Love this, commenting for the alg'

[@jaimebac7728]

just found this guy. pretty decent video.

[@celeste9958]

Played it around 2001 (i think) and picked it up a couple of years ago, completed it because I never had enough time during my school lunch hours to finish it before the computers got reset.

[@andrewwright2177]

Glad to see the pizza mini game is exactly how I remembered it! Great video

[@GamesOnHardMode]

Iconic.

[@boodahbass]

i saved every last zoombini at some point last year and it was grueling. i would spend several-hour-sittings becoming dizzy, realizing that it had been far too long since i had last eaten.

[@mollieburge4940]

i never remember playing this but i remember everything about it, well the first half of it, i very vaguely remember the Fleens part

[@kaw8473]

This makes me feel like a fossilized Dino turd. I remember playing these games in grade school, while saving my Oregon Trail game on a floppy disk.

[@geigertec5921]

Imagine if the Zoombinis and Oregon Trail combined into one game, and the Zoombinis could get sick and die of dysentery while on their logical journey. So even if you do everyo right your Zoombinis may just starve or get snake bit and never make it to Zoombiniville.

[@LinkEX]

I've never heard of this game until it was showcased as a candidate for threatening video game music, of all things, by _8-Bit Music Theory_

[@scarlettefoxx5585]

I had way too much fun with this

[@spadefish5146]

Was there a prequel or a sequel to this game? I remember playing a zoombinis game when I was a lot younger, but I think it was 3D or semi-3D? Either way, I love this video! :D

[@eeveeongirl]

I do believe there were 3 original games. The og one, one where they return to their island and have to help bring a animal species back from near extinction, and one on a mountain that I inly played at school and never owned like the other 2

[@EddieSpaghetti69]

There are three OG's and a remake; Island Odyssey, Mountain Rescue, and Logical Journey. There's also a remake of Logical Journey for modern systems on Steam. Here's a fun fact for you, the maker of Logical Journey; Broderbund; also made: Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego; Lode Runner; Sim City; and Prince of Persia 1 & 2 for PC. They made good stuff.

[@WilliamSandshrew]

Please do a video on POD: Planet of Death (1997), the lore on that is going to be just as odd

[@LordTerrisen]

You forgot to mention that if you drop Zoombinis off the edge of the cliff in the Lion puzzle, they make funny noises😃

[@duballet9223]

One of the countless sad things about this game is that at the very beginning, Zoombinis are stated to live in harmony even if they are all different. And what is most of the game based on ? Sorting them one way or another according to their features. Btw I also avoid the top when having to choose minigames 4 to 6 Fun fact : in French, the Fleens are called Nizibooms, anagram for Zoombinis.

[@mintysballroom]

Hot takes: Zoombinis reproduce by budding. The Zoombinis that don't wear sneakers or roller skates are all cyborgs using the same lost technology as the civilization that had the hubris to build the bubble machines and genetically engineer giant toads for transportation. Zoombini nose colors are a helpful indicator of if they like spicy, dry, sweet, bitter or sour Pokeblocks

[@GamesOnHardMode]

A welcome addition to the discourse.

[@geigertec5921]

The nose color indicates the Zoombini's flavor as they were originally created as a livestock animal for the Bloats who created them by domesticating the wild Fleens. But the Bloats realized the Zoombinis were better as slaves than as food so used them as cheap labor, only indulging on eating them on special occasions such as holidays.

[@geigertec5921]

The nose color indicates the Zoombini's flavor as they were originally created as a livestock animal for the Bloats who created them by domesticating the wild Fleens. But the Bloats realized the Zoombinis were better as slaves than as food so used them as cheap labor, only indulging on eating them on special occasions such as holidays.

[@alexlawson9950]

I swear I did Zoombini Punnett squares so, procreation?

[@arnosrock3983]

Finally, some decent content

[@TyinAlaska]

🤣 take all my upvotes

[@TyinAlaska]

So under-rated

[@herrdave920]

Memories of computer class comin' back to haunt me with this classic :D

[@gangstacat]

What’s with these updated graphics?? Nostalgia ruined

[@The-Ye-Boy]

I remember playing the original game at my day care place with me friends. Man I miss those old days .

[@giddthekid4205]

i remember playing a bit of this on the library computer im glad i was able to find it

[@crazycolbster]

Ah, I see. This is one of those channels where no matter what comment is left, it will be hearted

[@yate0128]

I remember struggling so hard with this in school XD

[@OtakuPanda]

This was really interesting! XD

[@GamesOnHardMode]

Thank you for supporting the growing reseach field of Zoombinology.

[@RubieKanary]

2:06 📸🤨

[@skyebarnick7886]

Oh this was hilarious! For my part, while I'm glad you addressed the Bloats' role as an allegory for colonialism, I kind of wonder whether it could've also been meant as a critique of predatory corporate buyouts - a phenomenon that 1990s software companies would've been all too familiar with!

[@geigertec5921]

Bloat is a term used in the computer industry, bloatware for example, unnecessary files and programs forced upon a user.

[@razzaus1570]

The nostalgia is strong with this one.

[@kurilz1]

I remembered playing this at my elementary schools computer lab when i was 8❤

[@zoom7385]

on the dell xp me and my sister (mostly me) would play zoombinis and, well, we had a population of 3000 in zoombiniville

[@GamesOnHardMode]

Heroic effort.

[@Knux84]

I have a zoombini beanie baby-alike toy that came with a special boxed copy of the game from WH Smiths. It is my prized possession. I wonder if the zoombeanie baby in each box was semi-randomised in appearance or if they just made one?

[@killspiritproject]

Awesome video congrats!

[@Lunarman327]

I remember playing zoombinis a lot as a kid. Are you gonna make a video on the other 2 games?

[@GamesOnHardMode]

I think they're a bit harder to come by but I'm not ruling anything out.

[@Lunarman327]

@@GamesOnHardMode I can't remember much about the 3rd one except that it was 3D I think, and the second one the only thing I remember is some minigame with balls and lights Keep up the good work though, wish I could have video ideas like you.

[@TheWorldisQuietHere3]

I don't know who you are but this was really funny, I enjoyed it. There's just something about British humor....

[@Vesper-p6o]

I adore Zoombinis! They are so cute

[@leahg.2672]

Core memories unlocked

[@Koluma]

I absolutely love this video

[@Cassielball]

Fuck this video made me laugh harder than I'll care to admit. Subbed

[@rmb6037]

Wait, so which minigames are in the bottom path? I played this a tiny bit as a child in computer lab, but I barely remember any of it (and I never had time to get too far since we weren't allowed to play until we finished our typing exercises and I have a hand tremor that made that extremely difficult)

[@nc5193]

I loved this game! Omg the nostalgia ❤️

[@denisefigueroa7761]

What do the zoombinis say? It sounds like speech put in reverse sometimes.

[@NoneNullAnd0]

What is wrong with you? Spring is clearly the best body part.

[@GamesOnHardMode]

Incorrect.

[@MyratheDunmer]

I completed it as a kid! I was 7, had a blast with it

[@SmokeyMirror-xw7dr]

There you go you got it

[@Zahn-rad]

Didn't they make sequels?

[@zamir3773]

Handless zoombini

[@dennisbouhuis3385]

You should make videos playing old flash games!

[@spencerhiginbotham7538]

Brief explanation of each minigame: Allergic cliffs: One face on Mt Rushmore are allergic to blue people with either red noses or spiky hair, and the other one is allergic to blue people that don't either have red noses or spiky hair. What a coincidence. Also, someone decided that the best possible bri9ge structure was one where two bridges are held up by a single rope tied around a pole that is unstable enough that a sneeze will cause it to fly away, but it's OK because there are five back-up poles lined up. Stone col9 caves: Living, talking rocks discriminate blue people based on hair style and nose color next and doing Kirby's box thing every time one they don't like gets close to them. Pizza Pass: Talking tree stumps have access to a machine that instantly makes a pizza with only a few button pushes, but they're too lazy to do it themselves, so they wait for blue people to come do it for them. They're also too lazy to tell you what they want, and they act like Karens if you don't somehow read their minds. Captain Cagun's Ferryboat: This boomer thinks that the best way to avoid conflict is to violently separate any two people who are too physically different from each other. Titanic Tattooed Toads: There happens to be a neatly organized bunch of lily pads with stuff painted on them. These frogs that have similar stuff painted on them that are like 100 times as big as the blue people are happy to carry them to the other side, but they only want to jump on pads that share their mark. They're more willing to hop around in circles then to jump on a pad they don't like. Stone Rise: More rocks that discriminate blue people based on physical characteristics, except these ones don't talk. Fleens: These 16 big yellow guys who each just so happen to have characteristics that correspond to one of the 16 blue people decide that they each hate the blue person they're matched with. The blue people see that three of the yellow people are sitting on a tree branch with a beehive, and they think, "Hey, if we can get those three yellow guys to jump off the branch, it will shake the hive and make the bees mad, and the bees will form a scissors shape and chase all the yellow people away. Lets risk our lives to make this convoluted plan work." Hotel dimensia: The blue people need a nap they wouldn't have needed if they had gone a different way. 8onveniently, there are these hotel rooms carved out of trees. Of course, the only way to get up to the rooms is to have a magical hand pick you up and put you on the little porch thing in front of the room which is a problem because the porch thing gets sucked into the tree if a blue person without the right physical characteristics steps on it. As a result, seven of the sixteen blue people en9 up sharing one room while 19 other rooms go unused. Mudball Wall: Somebody came up with a very practical solution for how to get over a ledge. "Let's build a machine that shoots painted mud at a wall. The aim will be based on what color the mud is and what shape is cut out of the mud. If it hits a light gray spot with dots on it, it will trigger a catapult that will shoot us over the ledge." Lion's Lair: There's this lion that's basically like an elementary school teacher. He won't let you leave until you're lined up in a single file line in a specific order that he may or may not explain to you. Only in this case, if you make too many mistakes, he's just like, "Nope. I'm going to remove the nails that are stopping the cage you're in from closing, and you're going to stay here forever." Mirror Machine: "We're going to ride these mine cart things. But uh oh. There's this jump. Oh well. We'll be fine as long as we don't bump into that crystal thing, and we can get it out of the way for two seconds at a time by projecting an image of a blue person like us onto both sides of the crystal." Bubblewonder Abyss: "Oh look. A chasm. How do we get across. I know. Let's get in these bubble making machines so that a bubble can take us. Hopefully, the wind won't blow us into these whirlwinds. I guess the way the wind blows will depend on our nose color because that's physics."

[@vj7248]

the Zoombinis are just like the Albinaurics from Elden Ring. a clone race turned into slaves. Zoombinis: Prepare to Cry Edition

[@emperorwasabi3038]

But when is the Mathra video

[@AndrewNajash]

I watch jerma play this game 1 time and now I am here… help

[@GamesOnHardMode]

Did Jerma like the game?

[@stebansiles]

he did!

[@allangreene15ag]

I had completely forgotten about this game, but the moment I read “zoombinis” it all came crashing back. Fuck those rocks

[@fuzzytheduck]

Do you have any other video essays because this is extremely funny

[@GamesOnHardMode]

Not yet. But not never.

[@anthonybramante2921]

The artstyle looks different here. Is this a remaster?

[@GamesOnHardMode]

@@anthonybramante2921 Yes it is, in hindsight I should have found the original for this video.

[@soko4710]

Please tell me that you're joking about the pizza mini game being easy. I was about thirteen when I got this game and to me that part was impossible, even on the easiest setting!

[@Wiimeiser]

Before the sundaes are introduced there's just enough leeway to make a pizza for each topping and infer from there. Also, apparently, at least on the last two difficulties, the trolls collectively use all the toppings and there's no overlap.

[@PrinceEmeraldMoonstone]

How do zoombinis reproduce anyway I mean they’re just ball with no hands or bodies

[@GamesOnHardMode]

Jury's out on this one.

[@timcarpenter7399]

Well done

[@xxSeanVxx]

Zoombinis slaps

[@McYawgi]

I am not up to date on my Zoombinology it seems XD

[@GamesOnHardMode]

Very big of you to accept this.

[@infinityzer054]

olde zoombinis > new style zoombinis

[@JustVibing4now]

The original Minions

[@sofi._goldfish7950]

are your using the fcjink ipad version

[@denisefigueroa7761]

10:08 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Smenchevieve]

EEEEEwww YUCKK!!

[@geigertec5921]

There's something in this comment I don't like!

[@cyanrazorCel]

I like the old scary look better

[@TaxEvasi0n]

Ahhh, SURE!!!

[@HyperKryst]

Jerma brought me here

[@db85]

holy shit i played this lol, the pizza game wtf

[@GamesOnHardMode]

It's a shared memory. We all remember the pizza game.