World of Goo

As many experienced with Braid and Portal, there is something exciting about being stuck in a puzzle without all the cliches of the genre. There are no falling blocks, kitschy music, or plotless gameplay here. World of Goo clearly envies the simplicity of these recent puzzle titles and aims to stand among them, which it does. The game is basically a physics puzzle where you are building bridges with the aim to get to a pipe at the end of the level. You will come across various forms of goo that have different effects, some act as a balloon, some blow up, and others help in more specific situations. The game is easy to understand and the biggest difficulty you will face are your old demons from 5th period Physics class.

World of Goo has some of the best physics ever seen in a game. Where Half-Life 2 and Portal teased us with half-assed physics puzzles, Goo demands you to learn what works and what will not work. The last portion of the game is a true trial of how well you understand the game mechanics, and there isn't a FAQ that will hold your hand through some of the tough calls you'll have to make. Like all puzzle titles, the game offers such a satisfying release when you finish a level. To add to this satisfaction is excellent presentation that offers a very relaxing PC game amidst the noise of shooters. The game tries to tell a story somewhere between Portal and Katamari Damacy [塊魂], filling the world with signs that read just like a quote from The King of All Cosmos. Unfortunately, this humor comes across as a bit trying and more in tune with some troll's humor from a IGN message board then the clever lines you heard in those other titles.

Where the humor fails, the game's world is spectacular. The game carries a strange Tim Burton in Candyland feel that is charming and haunted, once again recalling Braid. Without ruining anything, the 3rd gameworld completely changes the gameplay and setting. The game suddenly explores new avenues and themes to great success, offering the sort of inventiveness that most big franchises hold on to for a sequel.