| Games - Console Gaming |
The WiiWare service has been out for about seven months now and it probably has a better good to bad ratio of games than the Wii itself. It’s sad but most likely true. Adding to that figure is World of Goo, a game in which you attempt to gather goo balls by building structures out of them. It may sound simple but ask anyone who has played it and they’ll tell you it can become a rather “sticky” situation! There’s danger of all sorts lurking behind every glob of goo so be careful where you stick those balls!
The creative minds behind World of Goo, 2D Boy, have really outdone themselves here. In this captivating game, strange pipes have sprouted up in all sorts of places and the “wild” balls of goo are anxious to find out what lies inside. Constructing themselves into spanning structures as if guided by some unseen mastermind (AKA you), they edge their way closer to these welcoming wormholes. They’ll find out where these pipes lead and may even discover what the mysterious power source for the planet could be.
The story is pretty unique in my opinion and you’ll be hard pressed to find anything close to it. The gameplay is pretty out there too. Based off Kyle Gabler’s Experimental Gameplay Project called the Tower of Goo, World of Goo has you put together buildings, bridges, and a few other variations of structures. What makes it difficult is each shape’s instability. As you might imagine, a tower build out of goo is about as wobbly as a bowl full of Jell-O. There are also outer influences that add to the challenge including poisonous lakes, beds of spikes, and pits of fire.
The main goal in the game is to collect the target amount of goo balls dictated at the bottom of the screen. Once you collect those, you may continue or wait for more to make their way to the pipe. There are also OCDs to aim for in each map. OCDs (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) come in three varieties - collect ‘x’ amount of balls, complete the stage in ‘x’ amount of time, and complete the stage in ‘x’ amount of time. Each goal is a large step up from the minimum requirements of the stage. Some tasks require you to complete stages in less than 20 seconds and even collect each and every ball to complete it. Trying to complete these goo-fy tasks can goo-rind on the nerves but are all goo-d fun.
The world is sprawled out into five different chapters (six in the European release) each with its own set of levels. There are 48 total missions in the game and each brings something a little different to the table. You may need to keep a long string of goo aloft to escape the blades of a windmill or create a suspension bridge to cross over a spike pit. There are plenty of hazards to watch out for so get your goo balls in a bunch and tread lightly.
There’s also the “World of Goo Corporation” side game which you use your collection to build the highest conceivable tower you can. This area is monitored by 2D Boy’s server which keeps track of the biggest towers created. You’ll see your highest peak listed in a floating cloud behind your tower as well as other’s stats from around the world. I’ve actually spent more time here than in the main game; it’s a lot of fun simply trying to build the highest tower possible.
The only flaws I can see are in this section of the game. It is quite easy to pull apart unintended pieces of your tower by accident when attempting to grab a roving ball. Many times this will issue the collapse of your tower. There is no way to go back one step as in the main game so you must click with care. There’s also a minor problem when you’ve misplaced a ball and are trying to remove it. As the rest of the critters crawling within the tower make it sway, this can happen quite often. Adding to that, they all migrate to the highest point making it rather difficult to pinpoint the problem and unhinge it. Many times you’ll have to pull out loose goo after loose goo to get to the one you want. That’s what I call a “peak predicament”!
World of Goo is a fantastic title and worth every penny. It just goes to show you what a few minds can accomplish when without the influence of a large company breathing down their necks. There are plenty of levels, varied challenges, and a lot of fun to be had here. Not once has the challenge felt exhausting or overly complicated; the game remains fun and unique the entire way through. With more coming at a later date as downloadable content, World of Goo has signed its name in thick, gooey ink on the pages of gaming history.
Graphics - 90/100 - It’s a very stylized game that doesn’t try to overdo the visuals. It’s very clean and very nice.
Audio - 90/100 - The music is just great throughout. It goes quite well with the game’s storyline and has a disturbed, almost emo air to it.
Gameplay - 85/100 - Each stage is unique with its own set of obstacles to overcome. There are also the OCD missions to complete and the “World of Goo Corporation” mode to play through. There are some flaws in the controls, but it’s still a fantastic set up.
Plot - 80/100 - Pipes have begun appearing around the world and the goo balls are oddly drawn to them. The “power source” is seemingly transparent to the rest of the world and you may just find out what makes the world go ‘round while playing. Plus, The Sign Painter is our homey.
Goo Factor - 100/100 - Fans of the original Tower of Goo are bound to see this game as a brilliant step in the right direction. Newcomers, too, should be impressed with the simplicity and fun they’ll find in the game. Personally, I haven’t had this much fun playing with ooegy, gooey, sticky balls since… playing Sticky Balls on the Gizmondo!
Lasting Appeal - 95/100 - 48 levels with their own OCD mission, five chapters encapsulating them, the tower building mode with online leader boards, and more levels on their way, there is plenty to come back for. The European release has even more to offer including another chapter taking place on the Moon. It’s challenging, thought provoking, and on hell of a lot of fun.
Overall - 90/100 - World of Goo is a solid purchase. There is so much here to enjoy, it’s a no brainer move to pick this up. No WiiWare library is complete without this title. If you’re not convinced yet, be sure to download the free demo version from 2D Boy’s website!
