5 posts tagged “wii”

For the past couple of months my default, “let’s kill 20 minutes” game has been 2D Boy’s World of Goo.

WoG, for the uninitiated, is a physics based puzzle game involving little blobs of goo.  The object is to get as many goo balls as possible into a feeder pipe that takes them all away.  Of course, getting the goo balls to these pipes is something of a challenge.  The player must use the goo balls to build bridges, towers, chains, etc. all while trying to get a minimum number of goo balls to the pipe in order to complete a level.

Along the way, new forms of goo balls are introduced including red, explosive ones, clear, water-like ones that always hang down in drips, and green, “connector” goo balls that can be re-used several times.  Many of the puzzles and challenges involve using a specific type of goo ball to reach the pipe.

There is a story too, but it is secondary to the main action of playing the game.  It mainly unfolds in the cut scenes at the end of a level or between stages, although there are signs left by “The Signpainter” in all the worlds that offer bits of philosophy, warnings, or just observations.

World of Goo is a beautiful game.  The design of the goo balls and the worlds they inhabit is just spectacular.  The artists and designers found the sweet spot between cartoonish and childish that brings back reminiscences of Saturday mornings and sugary cereal.  Further, the soundtrack is equally beautiful.  The designers at 2D Boy created several loops that blend together and play back in almost transcendent harmonies and pieces that are so good, the soundtrack by itself is almost as much fun as the game.

WoG is available for Mac, PC, Linux, and Wii and costs 15 to 20 bucks.  It's worth every penny.

Other reviews:

Kotaku

IGN

GameSpot

Rock Paper Shotgun

1 Up

Most of the time, the Second Life application button sits on my desktop completely untouched.  Then, occasionally, I jump in, see what's changed, maybe chat with a few people and then get back out.

And I do almost the same thing with Google Earth.

I think the reason is that I consider both of these programs entertainment, and I primarily try to keep my machine to work related software.  I try to push most of my entertainment to the t.v., where I have a DVD player and my Nintendo Wii.

Which got me to thinking - why can't I install SL and GE on my Nintendo as Wii Ware or Wii Channels?  This seems like the sort of natural match that geeks and nerds seem to love.  I'm sure there is a hack out there, or some version of Wii Linux that would let me install both, but I don't want that.  I want legitimate options on my Wii for both pieces of software.  Someone get on that.  Please?

MarioKart has been on my must-play list since I first had a Nintendo system, way back in my university days.  I've played it on the N64, GameCube, DS, and, now, the Wii.  And it rocks so hard.

I've been playing somewhat obsessively for the past couple of days (I've had some time off of work) and have been enjoying myself immensely.  I've managed to rack up gold cup trophies in 7 of the 8 cups so far, although only at the 50cc level and have to remind myself to shut the machine down after an hour or so and go do something else, less I play all day.

The best part, for me, is that I finally have a game that my wife will sit down and play with me.  She finds the wheel easier to use than the crosspad other versions have required, both for steering and for drifting. 

I'm rambling.  The point is, go get the game.  It is awesomeness squared multiplied by awesomeness cubed.

I've had my Wii for about four months now and it is fantastic.  The wiimote is fun and easy to use and I've had a lot of fun with Wii Sports; even building my Mii and answering the questiosn in the Everybody Votes Channel is fun.  The Wii is a great machine.  But it ain't perfect.

Here's my quick list of things I want for my Wii.

• Region Free DVD Channel
• Access to Virtual Console Games in any language
• Indepentent Wii Channels available for video and or third party games
• Wii Sports Online
• Headset / Microphone support
• Podcatcher Channel
• Starfox 64 on the Virtual Console
• Music Channel (Either from USB Drives or SD Cards)

These things, and more, I'm sure, that I haven't thought of, would turn my machine from a fun on the weekends game station into a far more useful home entertainment system.

Here's hoping.