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World of Goo

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9.0 User Score:

Universal acclaim

Based on 21 critic reviews
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Based on 254 votes
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Game Info

Publisher: 2D Boy

Developer: 2D Boy

Genre(s): Puzzle

Players: 1

ESRB Rating: E (Everyone)

Release Date: October 13, 2008

Summary

[WiiWare] World of Goo is a physics based puzzle / construction game. The millions of Goo Balls that live in the beautiful World of Goo don't know that they are in a game, or that they are extremely delicious. [2D Boy]

Also On The Web: Official Website

What The Critics Said

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Nintendo Life

Not only is World of Goo easily the best WiiWare release to date, it's also proof that you don't need a large development team or millions of dollars to create an outstanding video game. In an era of video gaming where style is often emphasized over substance, it's refreshing to see a title like World of Goo that somehow manages to feature an abundance of both.

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100

1UP

It's the atmosphere that transforms World of Goo from a great concept to a fantastic game, with production values well above what you'd expect from a tiny indie developer. The crisp, hand-drawn visuals burst with care and creativity, recalling the wonderfully distinct approach of another recent downloadable favorite, Castle Crashers. And the music -- who would've expected such intense anthems from a physics-based puzzler?

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100

NintendoWorldReport

World of Goo should not be passed over by a single gamer. It is easily the best WiiWare game to date and, perhaps, one of the best this generation.

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100

Eurogamer

World of Goo is breathtakingly fresh while built on the foundations of genre classics. It offers a gentle challenge as you make your way through its seasonal chapters the first time, and then a fiendish one as you try to fathom quite how it's possible to attain the OCD targets.

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100

NGamer UK

Deep, gorgeous and inventive, World of Goo is not only the most striking title on WiiWare, it's also one of the finest puzzle games around. [Feb 2008, p.72]

100

DarkZero

World of Goo falls into a special category that only a select few games fall into. Do you remember when you first got your hands on Super Mario 64, the excitement that oozed out of you when you picked up the pad and controlled Mario around in 3D for the first time? Or when you were pulling out the Master Sword from its stone placement in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time? These were special moments in a gamer’s life and playing World of Goo deserves to be placed alongside such events.

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100

GameShark

World of Goo is a fantastic game, and without a doubt the best WiiWare title on the market. I’d even go as far as saying it’s one of the most enjoyable titles on the Wii, period.

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100

Wii Brasil

World of Goo is a major opus. It's a charming and intelligent game, but, more than that, a mark to the genre (like Tetris decades ago), incorporating features which could not be thought before, like social critics and an atmosphere capable of leading emotion to the player, who not only plays, but observes.

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Official Nintendo Magazine UK

As clever as it is stylish, as darkly humourous as it is challenging and as infinitely playable as it is addictive, we simply love World Of Goo to pieces because it's everything that a good game should be.

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Destructoid

It may not be as instantly satisfying as your standard action title, but after just a few minutes of play, World of Goo makes you feel like a genius, a general, and a god all rolled into one.

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IGN

It's packed full of brilliant, challenging levels. It's gorgeous. It's got beautiful music. And it controls really well. So if you value any or all of these qualities, and hopefully you do, you should be delighted to know that Nintendo's downloadable service is about to rock your world, goo style.

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Cheat Code Central

This is exactly the kind of experience WiiWare seems designed for. 1500 Wii Points is really a small price to pay for excellence, especially when the sheer quality of World of Goo handily puts more than a few full-blown Wii releases to shame. It's a blast from start to finish. If there's one game you pick up on WiiWare this year, make it this one.

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MEGamers

World of Goo is the new definition of ‘fun’ and ‘entertainment’. The unique, fun gameplay, amazing design, and killer music make it a surefire hit with gamers of any genre. Add this one to your collection ASAP!

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The Onion (A.V. Club)

Though the game's downbeat point of view doesn't quite jibe with the gameplay, the puzzle setups are irresistible, and the physics impeccable.

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Game Revolution

World of Goo pushes the downloadable game cliché out of the window, providing hours of dynamic and unique fun that a lot of fully priced releases fail to do. Get on sliming!

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HellBored

A simple premise, brilliantly executed, makes World of Goo one of the year's best puzzle games.

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Thunderbolt

If there was ever a game that demonstrated quality over quantity, this is it.

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Jolt Online Gaming UK

One of the many factors that elevate WoG beyond mere construction puzzles is the excellent physics engine.

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Gamervision

This game is nearly perfect.

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GameSpot

Innovative, addictive, and delightfully weird, World of Goo is a superb puzzle game.

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games(TM)

A beautifully presented, elegantly constructed puzzle game that draws you in with its charm and personality, then keeps you playing with its addictive, inventive level design. [Christmas 2008, p.121]

What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this game is 9.0 (out of 10) based on 254 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Brian U gave it a7:
Very cool game, however, it reminded me of a lot of free online games you can find. Simple rules, easy and intuitive controls. I beat it in 2 weeks though. I won't say it's a bad game, however I was a bit disappointed that I dropped some cash for it. I guess I expected a bit more. Hell...it's in the top 3 Wii games on this website, but is it really even close to Zelda or Mario? Final thoughts: loved the game, but not exactly worth the cash for me.

Titanium Dragon gave it a9:
A very good game for $15, World of Goo is an enjoyable puzzle game. Some complain about the length, but I think that's somewhat unjustified; you get 1 hour of gameplay per $1-2, and that's not bad. The puzzles are challenging enough to be interesting, but not so hard as to be frustrating; the OCDs (the achievements, more or less) are tougher and fun enough to try for to bring you some amount of addition fun out of the game. It is true that it has little replay value, but that's okay - you get good enough value for your dollar already. The music is quite decent, and the humor in the game is amusing. The overall look and feel is quite good as well. The game really has only three flaws. Firstly, the freeform tower is limited to only three hundred goo balls for no apparent reason. While I'm sure it has something to do with engine limitations, it is disappointing. Secondly, there is no reward for getting the OCDs - you get them, you get a little flag, but that's it. I was hoping for an unlockable level or something. Thirdly, sometimes it is troublesome to grab the goo ball you want, which is frustrating when it happens. Overall though, the game is very good, and it is worth the $15 it costs.

John B gave it an8:
World of Goo is a great game, but a bit overrated. Let's talk about the downs first. Game is too short, and it doesn't have a very good replayability unlike some people seem to think. When one have completed all the levels once, he's completed them 100 times and the levels do not provide challenge second time around. Gooballs themselves were not sympathetic or cute for my opinion all the time, but mostly annoying. Japanese seems to be the only ones who can get this done right. On the bright side, World of Goo has a lot of great humor (aside from most of the gooballs), and the basic gameplay is total blast. Wii is the best machine to play this. The best part is surprisingly the music, which is almost too grand sometimes for this type of game. World of Goo is all the better the less you expect from it.

James S gave it a7:
I am just quite dumbfounded about the scores here. I am a huge fan of the puzzle genre and couldn't wait to play through this after coming here and reading up on it. What I found instead was a mildly interesting concept with an utterly disappointing presentation (I am a huge fan of in-game music and was thoroughly disappointed with the rave for this particular category). I was just not pulled in at all! I did not care for the Goos, I don't understand why something that tries to pass as a story is being told via in-game board signs, and I especially am not fond of using the Wii remote in a game like this (and can see how, for the first time I can personally think of, I would enjoy playing using a mouse instead). I can't explain it using words, but it just feels goofy using the Wiimote to tilt your arm and wrist to 'build" and move goo around. I am my no means asking you to skip this game but am merely suggesting that there is a niche of people that it will not resonate with. For my money and time, I'm sticking to Plants vs Zombies.

[Anonymous] gave it a9:
This is an excellent game with very few flaws. It runs smoothly, looks nice, and has very solid gameplay. However, the controls can be a bit off at times (more than once, I was unable to select a gooball that I needed in a certain time frame and failed the level), and it's rather short, but that's made up for by the fun and replayability. Just get it. Now. What are you waiting for? Do it!

Scott W gave it a10:
At a time when realistic 3-D violence seems to be the mantra, this is a refreshing and long overdue game. World of Goo is so addictive; we lost track of time and ran the Wii remote out of batteries! This is not another repackaged platforming or shooting game. It is so unique; it might create an entire new genre. Along with such titles as Pong, Tetris, Donkey Kong and Asteroids, this is destined to become a landmark game.

Tim W gave it a10:
Every once in a while a game comes along that is truly innovative and refreshing. World of Goo is such a game. It is sure to spawn a host of (inferior) clones. Game play if fun from the first try. The music and setting lends itself to a casual gaming experience, but don't assume casual mean shallow and boring. World of Goo drew me in. Not did that, but my wife wanted me to play it because she became enamored of all the little goo balls. World of Goo is also one of those games that you can't just stop playing. 2DBoy proved that even the small guy can produce a blockbuster. This is Hall of Fame material. If you only buy one Wii Ware game make it this one.

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