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I feel silly as I type this: The World of Goo, a game involving building climbing structures out of balls of goo, is one of the most enjoyable games I've played in recent memory.

I mean, I've killed a lot of dragons and shot a lot of zombies. I've deprived a lot of Sims of food, toilets and front doors til they've died heartbroken (or died of a mysterious cooking accident, wink wink). I've conquered civilization, raced cars, rescued princesses. I feel compelled to say this, to list this video-game-playing resume of sorts, because I think the description of 2D Boy's World of Goo sounds ridiculously banal: the game involves manipulating balls of goo into soundly-structured goo frameworks so the balls can climb their way to a pipe to complete the level.

Weeeeeee!

But damn, the game is fun. Addictively fun.

As I went to write up my review of this game, I think I returned to World of Goo at least five times. Ostensibly, I wanted to have more to say, more analysis of the graphics, perhaps, or the soundtrack. Maybe I could say more about the puzzles the game presents, the challenges for each level. Something about, errr, physics, maybe. Or hey, there's a surrealist bent to the "instructions" the sign painter leaves on each level.

But if you'd like a more erudite review, something about theme and meaning, read this. And excuse me while I return to World of Goo. I've got goo to stack.

Audrey Watters


Published

Audrey Watters

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