World of Goo is a game that has a major place in video game history, since it was one of the first successful games that started the indie movement. That said, I never understood why this game got so much praise in the first place. This puzzle game is based on creating constructions by attaching goo-like creatures together, resulting in wobbly seams, and fight gravity to reach the end of the level. As with many physics engines, it's never quite clear how your structure will react under certain conditions, as you frustratingly see your entire construction fall apart one piece away from completion. Having wobbly seams also adds to the frustration as a win or a loss can be entirely dependent on luck. There are also many types of goo having different properties. While this keeps the gameplay varied, it also makes selecting the correct goo a complete chore since they all overlap each other and move around constantly, and clicking on the wrong spot can cause a seam to break. There is some kind of story, but I personally find it quite depressing and nonsensical at times. The absurd humor and art style are crude and very much not my style. Even the audio, while good in itself, is too distracting and doesn't always match what happens on the screen. The game is also quite unstable. I've had it crash numerous times for no apparent reason. In particular, you can use your salvaged goos in a special mode to build the highest tower possible, but I've never been able to do so because of constant crashes. So basically, it would be an average game in my opinion if it wasn't for the technical issues. If you're looking for a fun puzzle game, I recommend to keep looking.
Note: This review is based on the original PC CD-ROM version. Cyberia is set in a cyberpunk universe and has a unique mix of the puzzle-adventure and on-rails 3D shooter genres, with separate difficulty settings for both genres that actually matters. The goal of the game is to retrieve a top-secret weapon from the enemy through infiltration and dogfighting. The infiltration segments are very atmospheric although quite cheesy at times. Instead of exposition through dialog, you have to piece out most of the story through your investigation, which is quite refreshing. Controls are awkward since you can only follow predetermined paths and only choose where you want to turn at invisible nodes. Figuring out what you have to do is very rewarding but often unfair. For example, during a firefight, getting in and out of cover is so slow that you have to time yourself perfectly. These issues are rarely frustrating though thanks to the generous checkpoint system - just expect to die and see the Game Over screen a lot. As for the action segments, they are surprisingly innovative for their time. Your aircraft is equipped with a rechargeable shield in addition to its normal damage meter similar to Halo, except that you can't wait for your shield to recharge while under cover since the levels are autoscrollers. This makes dogfighting segments very tense and rewarding. In addition, the sound design and retro-futuristic HUD makes these segments very immersive. To top it off, there are also shooter scenes that don't rely on your aircraft which has slightly-different gameplay and variety. My only complaint here is that there is a very long action sequence at some point in the game with many levels in a row which becomes repetitive. Overall, Cyberia is a mixed bag and certainly not for anybody, but for those that can overlook its issues you will find a unique and enjoyable experience that has never been replicated in any game that I know of except its own sequel.
