Josh Reviews: Osmos

It's been a while since I've done this!

So, Osmos is a....you know I'm not all that sure how to classify this game with the usual game labels. It's a.....thing. Steam labels it as a 'Casual, Indie, Family' game which is no help whatsoever. I suppose its a physics based 'chillout' game. Bear with me....

In Osmos you play as an organism (of some sort). This organism moves by expelling mass and utilising Newton's third law of motion (Every action has an equal and opposite reaction) to propel itself around the play area. You as the player do this by using the mouse to control the direction and rate of mass ejection. The aim of the game is generally to get bigger, which you do by absorbing other organisms until you reach the required size. The thing about absorbing other organisms is that you can only absorb ones that are smaller than yourself! Any organisms that are smaller than you will be blue, any that are larger will be red. If you try and absorb a red organism, it absorbs you instead! That means game over.....

Sometimes the aim of the game is to simply get bigger to reach a goal set for the level, other times it is a means to an end to achieve some other goal. One such goal is absorbing an organism that actively tries to avoid you! Very hard seeing as you lose mass in the chase, you might get it only for it to absorb you instead!

Visually, Osmos is a rather pretty game, with a clear minimal visual style that works incredibly well with the game's soundtrack, which is as chilled out as chilled out can get! Together both the graphics and soundtrack make the game a really relaxing experience to behold. All of these factors make Osmos a really great game to play for those who aren't of the inclination to shoot/maim/blow someone up and are more looking for an interesting game that is well produced with fun gameplay mechanics.

I'm now going to completely invalidate everything I've written by posting a trailer for the game below (If a picture is worth 1000 words, how many words is a video worth? Depends on frame-rate and resolution I suppose!)

Why is blogger making the player so small?!

Osmos is a great game to play if you want a bit of a mellow but fun gaming experience and is good value for money at around £6/$10. However if you're a cheapskate (or simply wish to try before you buy) there is a demo available both on the developer's website or on trusty Steam! If you purchase the game from the developer's site, you get a totally DRM free copy of the game that will work on Windows, Mac AND Linux! Bargain if you ask me! You can also buy it on those wretched iPhone things too....


So that's day one of the review week spectacular complete! Let me know what you thought in the comments, as well as suggestions for other things to blog about!

'Til Tomorrow....