World of Goo (Review)

World of Goo (Nintendo WiiWare)

Rated “E” For “Everyone”

Imagine yourself in a world filled with goo. Now realize that there is a game about it. World of Goo has made its highly anticipated splash onto Nintendo’s WiiWare download service and has people crazed over its unique gooiness.

=====Background=====

In this world, a new corporation has started to rise and give change to the inhabitants. Goos are being used to create/recreate the world in a whole new vision.

Okay, the story isn’t really important. This game is about 2 things; goo and physics. It’s a simple formula that creates a great product, but mastering those things is the big challenge.

=====Gameplay=====

The gameplay is fairly simple that anyone can do it. Pick a moving piece of goo, move it around while watching it leaves lines to show how it connects with other goos, think if you want that connection, then release the button to form the gooey structure. That’s all you really do. Pick up goo, move goo, and build with goo. The ultimate goal is for your remaining goos to traverse your goo structures to reach a pipe and be placed in a vial. Collect the minimum number of goos and you have completed that stage.

Sounds simple? Well, it is. Now let’s add in physics. Yes, physics. You don’t have to be a physics major to understand how to make physics work for you. These goos have weight and when they’re only connected by thin strings of themselves, there’s bound to be some tension (or lack there of) between them. Without enough a good base to build on and enough support as you continue constructing goo, things start to…tilt…and fall. The game graciously let’s you retry levels or even snap back a move or two before your gooey failure. These simple ingredients add to a great challenge.

=====Difficulty=====

Physics aside, the game does serve up a lot of challenge. You start from simplistic level design and it just increases in difficulty along the way. You’ll have your goos needing to travel in a vertical direction AND a horizontal direction. That might sound simple, but once you add pits, spikes, fire, and a few other obstacles that eliminate your goos…that’s when you’ll understand how difficult a game could get.

Not only that, but you’ll be given different goos to play with later on. Removable goos, balloon goos, flammable goos, and a many more. They’ll be fun to mess around with since they each have unique properties, but it’s also an indicator of how much of a headache that level is. Create a structure of flammable goos to reach the flame to make a structure of nonflammable goos fall, but you’ve added too much weight on one side that the goos reach the flames prematurely and it burns all your goos after building that structure for 5 minutes after thinking of how to do it for 10 minutes…it can happen.

And if you even decide to tackle the OCD (Obsessive Completion Distinction Criteria) then you’ve definitely have a challenge ahead of you. Each level has an OCD to complete ranging from completing levels in a certain time limit, number of goos, or in a number of moves. If you thought it was hard enough doing these levels normally, then you have no idea what you’re in for with these OCDs.

====Presentation=====

Goo difficulty aside, this game is pretty and vibrant. Sure you’re working with just blobs, but the world of World of Goo has a unique style to it. Levels have their quirky little descriptions that let you know what you’re about to dive into. When you see it, it makes sense.

You’ll mostly be dealing with the color black, but other colors definitely pop when you see them.

The music is relaxing (good for when you’re sitting there thinking for a few minutes). Goos have a distinct noise they make when they’re moved around. You’ll most likely hate the sounds of your goos screaming and splatting when you’ve messed up though.

The humor of the game is great as they almost never take themselves seriously. Cut scenes are cute/odd along with the odd/cute story. And the helpful signs from the Sign Painter are great help and funny as he/she/it never takes themself seriously either.

=====Final Thoughts=====

It’s really hard to describe a game that there isn’t much to. Goo and physics, that can lead to just an infinite number of thoughts of what it could be. For that reason, I point to the link for the demo. You’ll get an understanding of what you’ll be working with.

http://www.experimentalgameplay.com/game.php?g=17

2D Boy really struck it rich with this title. World of Goo is very deceiving in its simplicity and a very much welcomed challenge for those that get into it. It’s a good representative of what WiiWare games can serve to the table. It’s easy to pick up and play and that easiness is what will hook you in when you can’t beat those difficult levels later on that you know you can beat. Add in the ability of multiplayer and you have a mess of goo on your friends hands and collective screams as you work together to prevent goo droppage and get your goos to their destinations.

Rated 5 out of 5

GameTrailers Review

Wiiviewer Review

Rated CBAM Feature: 6-Year Old Reviews 'Animal Paradise'

I just thought this was a really cute "review." Matt Behrens from N-Sider didn't have it in him to play Animal Paradise for the DS, so he gave it to his 6-year old girl to play it. He then did an interview with her to ask her about the game she played.

N-Sider - Animal Paradise (Review) - click

Samba de Amigo (Review)

Samba de Amigo (Nintendo Wii)

Rated “E” For “Everyone”

Time to shake it up with Sega’s musical monkey, Samba. Samba de Amigo is a Maracas based music game from Sega that originated on the Dreamcast. Now it is brought back to life years later to make some noise in the current-gen era.

=====Music=====

Unlike most music games that are current, Samba de Amigo brings a Latin flavor for their music list. Many of the tracks you play in this game will not be found in almost any other rhythm game out there. From Ricky Martin to a few Latin classics to even a few remixed versions of popular songs, Samba has a large list of songs to keep you shaking your Maracas. While most are from the original version, they’ll still feel new due to the many years of absence. And with downloadable bundle packs to purchase online, there will be a nice length of play time to keep Samba’s lifespan long and fun.

=====Gameplay=====

If you never played the Dreamcast version of Samba, that’s okay. The controls will be new for everyone. The main portion is to shake your control as the rhythm balls fly towards 1 of the 6 circles. The closer you get them to the middle of the circle, the higher the points you receive.

So how does it work? You have 6 circles around you, how do you make your controls know which one to shake at? Very simple. Keep the Wiimote and Nunchuk (or second Wiimote) pointed forward and shake left/right for the middle, point the controls up and shake left/right for the top circles, and point the controls down and shake to make the bottom circles register. It sounds simple and it really feels simple, especially in the easier difficulties. As the challenge rises, that’s when you might falter as you try to remind yourself which way to hold the controls and then shake. That might drive most players to stick with lower difficulty to keep it fun and not frustrating.

=====Story=====

Umm…there is no story. Let’s talk about the game modes instead.

There is the standard gamplay, career mode (for the bulk of unlockables), and mini-games. All the old mini-games are here along with a few new ones such as Pinata, Volleyball, and Love Love. Most mini-games focus on certain ways to play the actual game while others are just for the fun of it. Love Love is the only one that rates you on how well you work well with another player as the others have you competing against one another.

=====Changes=====

New songs, that’s always a plus. New mini-games, that’s more fun. New gameplay controls, those could be better. New downloadable content, a first for the game. New characters…new characters?

Of course, Miis are integrated into the game. You’ll see members of your Mii pile dancing and shaking in the background of levels. Not only will you see them, but other Sega faces make appearances. One of them is a famous News Reporter from space and the other is the blue blur of Sega, Sonic. Sonic is the latest amigo of Amigo. Cheers for Sega fan service.

=====Final Words=====

There are plenty of music games out in the market. While more of them have been leaning towards the realistic gameplay, Samba de Amigo isn’t that much different. They were one of the first to apply instrument specific peripherals. But Samba shines with the music it has. It’s vastly different from almost every music game out there and that says a lot. What may get to players is the controls. If you don’t get used to it, you’ll just be shaking your controls like a crazy person. If you get used to the controls, you’ll be shaking your controls like a rhythm crazed monkey. It’s the easiest instrument out there to play at least.

Rated 3 out of 5

IGN Review

Rhapsody - A Musical Adventure (Review)

Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure (Nintendo DS)

Rated “E” For “Everyone”

Cornet is her name and she’s a puppeteer too…well, let’s have her tell you who she is.

That’s right. Just as the title says and just as Cornet has shown you, this is indeed a musical adventure. That opening alone sets the tone of the adventure ahead of you in this Playstation port.

=====Music=====

So with that kind of opening and the title of the game, you’d expect there to be singing everywhere you go. Not true. Like a musical movie, music is a key part of the story, but the singing only happens at the more important moments. While music is woven into the game (Cornet playing her horn to have puppets join her party), singing is only during main parts to help progress the characters and plot in the story.

Also to note (ha) that this version on the DS has the songs in Japanese with English subtitles. The original PSX version had a dual language choice, but you don’t get that choice with your portable musical. This could be a major turn on/off for some people, but either way, they’re still the same quirky songs that make Rhapsody.

And along with music comes with sound and that is something that falters. Sounds are still bland and far and few in between. The DS version seems to have made the sounds more faint, more bland, and more far and few in between. Most of your battles will just be the battle music from beginning to end with the occasional thud or pop.

=====Gameplay=====

Battles are another change. The Playstation Rhapsody played more of a strategy RPG. Move yourself and your puppets around strategically to improve offensive and defensive strategies. In this version, Rhapsody has changed to the normal RPG turn based gameplay. While this doesn’t make the challenge any more difficult (this is a fairly simple RPG), it does help move things faster along especially with the Auto option. So it will be a little faster to quickly level up your cast of puppets to take down your target.

=====Story=====

So why are these crazy characters singing? For many reasons, but they all circle around the heart of one Prince Ferdinand. It’s your job to hook him and Cornet up. Unfortunately, the Evil Queen Marjoly throws a bad note into your music score to make the sweet music not so kind to the ears. So you help Cornet get her Prince back and restore order to this musical.

=====Changes=====

Already mentioned was the use of Japanese voices for the songs and the new gameplay. A couple extra changes include the use of the stylus (it is a DS game after all). Nothing too big, just tap on the screen to move Cornet or make your choices in battle or the menu. All this can be done with the normal button layout.

Also added is the in-game map, which is very helpful. Most dungeon layouts are look the same and it was easy to get lost in the Playstation version. The map certainly helps with determining where you are especially since later dungeons include more and more floors as the game goes on.

The script has been polished a little bit more. Players of the original don’t have to worry though. All the quirky one-liners, weight jokes on the main character, and charm are still here.

The use of Kururu as an individual character just adds another team to your party. Before, Kururu would just accompany Cornet, tease her, and sing a few songs. Now she’s a butt kicking puppet that can help take out foes. She’ll also be completely on your side in your quest to be with the Prince.

=====Final Words=====

While there have been quite a few changes from the Playstation to the DS, the game is still the same. The story is the same. The difficulty is nothing for seasoned RPG players. Some may not be able to get passed the overall cuteness of the game that is always crammed down your throat, but that’s part of what makes Rhapsody Rhapsody. This game floated under the radar the first time around and might be repeating that process again. It’s not for everyone, but if you want a game that doesn’t take itself to seriously and can bring out a couple laughs, then this game will definitely do it. And if you don’t mind having a couple of silly songs bounce around in your head, then you will really want to play this.

Rated 3 out of 5

(pictures from DS, videos from PSX)

Evil Queen

Amphibian Paradise

Amazing Pirates (extra song left out of both versions, Spanish subtitles)