What started as an experimental game project has grown into quite a monstrous beast with a rather hefty cult following. Some years back, a relatively little known freeware game experiment, Tower of Goo, captivated multitudes of puzzle/strategy game enthusiasts. Now, with the game’s much anticipated release as a commercial product, adoring fans can finally delve into the masterpiece of strategy that is World of Goo.

Much as the previous Tower of Goo, World of Goo builds on a physics-based system of gameplay where the player builds bridges, ladders and towers using goo balls which mostly are highly elastic. Various environmental elements are thrown in to complicate the building of such highly unstable constructions and as levels are progressed, new types of goo balls and other miscellaneous goodies are introduced.

There are a total of 5 different worlds to explore, each chocked full of fun and engaging, often massive levels lush with living scenery. Breathtaking soundscapes add to the unique and fantastic imagery while subtle, perfectly melded sounds of interaction between the objects and the environment stun the player with an amazing sensory experience.

The interface really is about as simple as a game could offer, being purely mouse-driven. The drag-and-drop mechanics used to control goo balls make the game playable even for young children, whose eyes and ears will likely find attachment to the cartoonish characters and their silly sounds.

After having completed the game, I must say that while the game is short in comparison to many puzzle and strategy games out there, it is nonetheless an epic adventure and such a wonderful experience can only find a 5 star rating on this blog.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars