Osmos
Verdict: soooo relaxing
In a Nutshell: Physics game about cell-like creatures and was one of the 2009 PAX 10.
“Enter the ambient world of Osmos: elegant, physics-based gameplay, dreamlike visuals, and a minimalist, electronic soundtrack.
Your objective is to grow by absorbing other motes. Propel yourself by ejecting matter behind you. But be wise: ejecting matter also shrinks you. Relax… good things come to those who wait.
Progress from serenely ambient levels into varied and more challenging worlds. Confront attractors, repulsors and intelligent motes with similar abilities and goals as you.”
- Fun Rating: Really Fun
- ESRB: n/a
- Players/Mode: single-player / campaign
- Game Duration: each level takes anywhere from 5-30 minutes
- System: PC
- Developer: Hemishpere Games
- Website: http://www.hemispheregames.com/osmos/
- Cost: $10 from the Dev
- Demo: Windows demo
| Would I play this again? | Most definitely |
| Would I recommend this game? | yes |
| Was the story good? | n/a |
| Was the music good? | Wonderfully mellow |
| Were the graphics good? | Beautiful |
| Was this game difficult? | Yes, nice difficulty progression |
| Was this game frustrating? | no |
| Was this game offensive? | no |
| Was this game worth your time/money? | yes |
Playing the game
Left-click to propel yourself in the opposite direction. Touch smaller objects to absorb them and get bigger while avoiding things that are bigger than you because they will destroy you.
You can also zoom in an out with the up and down arrows, respectively. The speed can also be adjusted by slowing down with the left arrow and speeding back up with the right arrow.
What the game gets right
This game is so incredibly beautiful, simple, and relaxing. The ambient glow of the visuals and music set the pace at which most of the game needs to be played: chilled. out. The first level only requires one click, giving you more time to enjoy the music.
A third of the game is relaxed puzzling that rewards patience and planning. But it’s not all laid back as the game provides action as well so beware, lest the first few levels lull you into a happy comatose state. Some of the more advanced levels require some quick maneuvering to keep from being absorbed by more aggressive motes, or to keep you moving in and out of orbit around a gravity well.
And finishing a level, usually by becoming the largest mote in the area, and the game in general is so satisfying that I kept playing until I had absorbed nearly everything in the area, just to continue enjoying the music and the visuals.
What the game gets wrong
The only thing I can think of that could make this game more fun would be a multiplayer mode. But, a battle between motes wouldn’t be near as relaxing as the majority of the game currently is.
Sum it up
My first experience with this game was at PAX on opening day when the exhibition hall was teeming with lively displays and attendees. But once the headphones were on and the level started up, I was somewhere else entirely.
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Rate this Game
(4 votes, average: 4.00 out of 4)
Osmos
Developer: Hemisphere Games
This physics game will absorb you with its tranquility.">
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January 25th, 2011 at 3:45 pm
I got a copy of this for the iPad. I played through all the game modes rather quickly. My girlfriend has literally spent days of time playing this game. Highly addictive and highly relaxing.