One of the best video games released in the past 12 months can be purchased this weekend for as little as one cent.
The developers of World of Goo are celebrating their brilliant game's first birthday by letting gamers pay whatever they think it is worth. The game normally costs US$20 to download.
World of Goo is another great example of how the most interesting and innovative games will increasingly come from the independent fringe rather than risk-adverse major publishers. It's a simple yet ingenious puzzle-based construction game that players of all ages can enjoy. But it's certainly not easy: the challenges soon get very tricky, and there are "OCD" benchmarks for masochists.
The goal is usually to build a structure that can transport your precious globules from your starting structure to a pipe elsewhere in the level, avoiding obstacles like spikes and spinning windmills. Constructing structures like teetering towers and bridges is intuitive and immediately satisfying, but the Goo's elasticity combined with the realistic physics ensures you are constantly on edge, hoping your constantly wobbling house of cards won't collapse into a heap. Fortunately, if you do make a fatal error you can quickly click on a nearby bug to reverse time, which is particularly useful when you inadvertently grab the wrong Goo in haste.
The game is constantly introducing inventive elements to provide interesting new tests as players progress through the 50 levels. Different coloured Goo balls have different properties: some can be moved after they have been placed, others can float like balloons, stick to vertical surfaces or explode.
Once you have completed every stage there is a compelling incentive to keep playing, as rescued Goo is added to a giant toybox where you can build a colossal tower. You can compare your tower's height to others, and the urge to make it taller is strong. The presentation is another highlight, with sly humour, stunning minimalist backgrounds and wonderful music.
The game is compatible with Windows, Linux and Macintosh PCs and can be downloaded from the 2D Boy website at http://www.2dboy.com/games.php.
Don't miss it.