World of Goo

[Bandit]

For $20 bones, "World of Goo" on Steam is my pick-up for this weekend. (http://store.steampowered.com/app/22000/)

I tried the demo last night, and was blown away at the quality of this title - and it was basically built by two guys (2DBoy).  Description from Steam:

World of Goo is a multiple award winning physics based puzzle / construction game made entirely by two guys. Drag and drop living, squirming, talking, globs of goo to build structures, bridges, cannonballs, zeppelins, and giant tongues. The millions of Goo Balls that live in the beautiful World of Goo are curious to explore - but they don't know that they are in a game, or that they are extremely delicious.

Chapter 1 is available as a demo on Steam, so no reason not to give it a try.  Highly recommended.

[Yegolev]

It's a construction game, then?

[Bandit]

Yeah, physics-based puzzling...bridges, towers, etc.  I have played some flash games with similar physics, but this is sooo well put together.  The demo even has a online mode, where you try to construct the highest tower with a set amount of pieces against anyone logged in.  You can see other tower heights represented by clouds with the name and country attached to it.

I see there is some type of "profanity" pack you can add, but can't tell if that was just for pre-order.

[Yoru]

Picked this up last night off the 2DBoy website, where you can buy a DRM-free version. I played through the first chapter (of 5? 6?) in about an hour. Definitely a good bit of fun. I look forward to the more complex levels.

[Samwise]

I preordered this right after GDC, having been a big fan of this guy's work ever since the Experimental Gameplay Project (this game has its origins in a 24-hour prototype called Tower of Goo, which is just free-form tower building).  I've been pleasantly surprised at how fresh it manages to keep the basic gameplay, what with the different goo types and the occasional block-stacking physics puzzle.

[Tebonas]

Not buyable in Europe until February anymore. Does Valve think we are Australia?

[schild]

Not buyable in Europe until February anymore. Does Valve think we are Australia?

[Azazel]

Clearly not, since I can buy it right now. 

[schild]

Haha oh wow.

[Samwise]

Try the 2DBoy website.  I'd bet they're less finicky.

[JWIV]

Actually picked this up on the Wii for shits and giggles since I had the points laying on there for months.  It's awesome.

[Tebonas]

Thanks, Samwise. That worked. Even better, that route I will get the Mac and Linux version as well when they come out. Or so it seems. Thanks, retarded European distributor. You did me a favor here   

[Bandit]

Finished the first 3 chapters this weekend.  World of Goo continues to impress.  Totally agree with Samwise about 2DBoy keeping all the levels "Fresh".  Different colors, music, and ingenious puzzles rule the day.  The only knock thus far, is that most of the levels seem to have only really one method of completion (with minor variations) unlike a physics-puzzler such as fantastic contrapion....so the replay value on the title might go out the window.

[JWIV]

Finished the first 3 chapters this weekend.  World of Goo continues to impress.  Totally agree with Samwise about 2DBoy keeping all the levels "Fresh".  Different colors, music, and ingenious puzzles rule the day.  The only knock thus far, is that most of the levels seem to have only really one method of completion (with minor variations) unlike a physics-puzzler such as fantastic contrapion....so the replay value on the title might go out the window.

I'm actually okay with that.  15-20 bucks for a single playthrough or two is plenty.

[Samwise]

Yeah, there is relatively little replay unless you want to go for the OCD awards by doing each level "perfectly" (sort of like the challenges in Portal).  I was able to get it for the first two levels, but lost patience quickly after that.

[trias_e]

This game is hard when you are drunk.  That's my excuse.  5 hours of gameplay!  Hah!  If you have a spatial IQ above 90 I suppose!  I've spent 3 hours on the first chapter and I still can't beat the goddamn tower of goo.

[Soln]

I preordered this right after GDC, having been a big fan of this guy's work ever since the Experimental Gameplay Project (this game has its origins in a 24-hour prototype called Tower of Goo, which is just free-form tower building).  I've been pleasantly surprised at how fresh it manages to keep the basic gameplay, what with the different goo types and the occasional block-stacking physics puzzle.

good call, I remember it too from there (and Gama article).  Great example of how you can prototype something neat and build on it.

[JWIV]

This game is hard when you are drunk.  That's my excuse.  5 hours of gameplay!  Hah!  If you have a spatial IQ above 90 I suppose!  I've spent 3 hours on the first chapter and I still can't beat the goddamn tower of goo.

Big base helps.  Also, don't be afraid to click the eyes if you make a bad placement.   That said, the last section is tricky and requires you to move fast, since it gets all wobbly and I basically got through it by throwing shit fast and furious and getting to the pipe before it fell.

[trias_e]

Big base helps.  Also, don't be afraid to click the eyes if you make a bad placement.   That said, the last section is tricky and requires you to move fast, since it gets all wobbly and I basically got through it by throwing shit fast and furious and getting to the pipe before it fell.

Haha yeah, I did the same.

Although while sober I did much, much better. 

[JWIV]

Wife and baby are away, so I finally got to sit down and dedicate some proper time to this.   I love those fucking gooballs so much.   2D Boy deserves high praise for putting this together and for both the humor and variety in gameplay.     

[Special J]

Pardon my necro post, but this game is up on steam for 5 bucks this weekend.

Only got steam recently and picked it up tonight.  I'm really enjoying it.  If it's worth your $20 then 5 is an absolute steal.

[Samwise]

There's pretty much no reason for everyone in the world not to buy this at $5.

[schild]

Yea, finished it this weekend. Took 5 hours not counting dicking around, but at $5 it's indie GOTY stuff.

[Samwise]

I ended up gifting 4 copies to friends.  GOOO!!!

[Tarami]

It was worth the money (how could it not be, unless it's crap), but I don't really get the gushing reviews. It was okay fun but really just a puzzle game with a couple modern bells and whistles. It felt like the puzzles never really came together, each level had one or possibly two gimmicks that were to be employed - the mechanisms very seldomly interacted to produce something more complex. The theme was strong but as said, as a puzzle game it was fairly weak.

[JWIV]

For me it was the combination of the music, art direction, a wry sense of humor, and an unexpected narrative.  Yes, it is relatively basic gameplay mechanics, but it pulled together for a compelling experience.

[Prospero]

Yeah, the art direction really sold it for me. The game wasn't much of a challenge, but I found it very relaxing.

[gryeyes]

The story/art are really what elevates the game into something special. Reminds me of a Tim Burton inspired universe.