World of Goo for Nintendo Wii

The World of Goo is a release from 2D Boy, an independent game company formed by two former employees of Electronic Arts. The World of Goo has been nominated for numerous awards and accolades since its release in the Fall of 2008.

The World of Goo is available to download for play on the Nintendo Wii. Versions for the PC and Mac are also available. The game is available for 1500 Wii points from the Wii Ware store on your Nintendo Wii console with Internet access enabled.

Object:

The World of Goo is an made up of little "goo balls" that can be connected together. When goo balls are unconnected, they seem to be a living breathing creature, with a subtle curiosity. They can be manipulated with the Wii remote to accomplish various tasks. Goo balls can be moved around the screen and tasked to adhere to one another to form a bond. The object is to use the required amount of goo balls to create a structure so that they can reach their destination. The destination is usually a pipe at the other end of the screen.

The types of structures to build vary wildly, for example, you can build towers and bridges, and use them to cover gaps in terrain. There are usually obstacles that the little goo balls must cross. The object is to get these little goo balls to connected so that the remaining goo balls can travel to their destination.

There are six chapters of game play. Each chapter contains a number of different levels of increasin difficulty. There is a story that is told with each chapter with a hint of mystery. The story line keeps the game moving along and gives the player a strong desire to continue onwards so that the mystery can be solved.

Physics

Each structure that you build in the World of Goo is subject to the laws of gravity and physics. Each bond that a goo ball forms has a finite strength, and must be properly supported when building large structures. Building bridges can be especially difficult. Creating each structure requires a little planning before you start glopping goo balls together. If you happen to have an engineer in your family, then they will likely become quickly addicted to the game.

Graphics and Sound

The game is set in a two dimensional world. However, as you build structures, you will find that they take on an almost three dimensional appearance. In addition, as you progress through each of the chapters and levels the obstacles become more three dimensional. The Wii remote works seamlessly when moving goo balls around on the screen.

Where this game really shines is in the artistry of the animation. Each screen and level contain animation that is surreal in appearence and mysterious. The Ninentendo Wii has not problem in handling the frame rate of the game. As a matter of fact, it appears the programmers used a little lower resolution in there game engine, which gives a little liquidy look to graphics.

The game has an excellent sound track. There is a different soundtrack for each level. The music has a mesmerizing and repetitive effect that some players may not like. There is no option to mute the music, other than muting the volume on your monitor or television.

The 1500 points needed for the game is a a little high for Wii Ware game. However, the game play, graphic design, and music make it well worth the price. Beware, if you have a propensity to spending long hours solving puzzles, then this game will be sure to get you addicted.