Goo Saga HD Edition is an HD version of a popular mobile title developed by Toka Loka Games. This HD PC port provides puzzle-platforming gameplay across 20 levels. Can you help Goo find his creator? Doing so may very well help Goo figure out his purpose and the reason he was created.
Goo Saga HD was created originally to provide puzzle-platforming gameplay in the vein of games like Rayman, for mobile devices. Now with the HD Edition, Toka Loka Games has added controller support, HD Graphics, and Steam Achievements exclusively for this version. In addition, Goo Saga HD offers 2 different endings, 20 levels of gameplay balanced for puzzle-solving and platforming, 12 types of robot enemies and more.
The 20 levels that encompass Goo Saga HD can be completed in three different ways; Normal Mode, Survival Mode, and Time Trial Mode, which all present unique challenges for the player to overcome. This adds a layer of replay value to Goo Saga HD that makes it more than just 20 levels of gameplay. Normal Mode gives you the goal of collecting all of the multicolored goo blobs in a level. Survival Mode requires you to complete the entire level without taking damage. Lastly, the Time Trial Mode (which is somewhat self-explanatory) requires you to finish a level in a certain period of time.
The premise of Goo Saga HD is Simple: Goo is on a journey to find his creator. Across the 20 levels of the game, by puzzle solving, platforming and defeating enemies (including 4 epic bosses) you (and Goo) will discover the reason behind Goo’s creation. By completing the modes of each level, you can collect crystals which are used to upgrade Goo’s capabilities. This is frustrating as crystals can only be gained when all modes for a level are completed. This makes progressing Goo’s abilities only for the most skilled of players.
Goo has three states of “elasticity” – Deflated, Inflated, and Normal. These states are used in a variety of ways in order to solve puzzles and progress forward. Inflated is faster than the other two modes. Deflated Goo can slide through tight spaces, while Normal Goo doesn’t really have advantages or disadvantages. Goo can slam down onto enemies in order to destroy them and gain goo blobs by defeating them, if playing in Normal Mode. Puzzle solving involves avoiding things like lasers, spiked balls, and spike hazards. Other puzzle solving involves timed switches, moving boxes, and other physics-based puzzles.
Each of the levels of Goo Saga HD takes place in an underwater lab, yet the variety of levels and enemies makes the atmosphere of the game incredibly beautiful. The music is calm, peaceful and relaxing, and conveys a sense of serene tranquility. The mystery of where your creator has gone permeates the story, and the cutscenes that detail the story are beautifully voice acted and animated.
Despite all of the good things that it has going for it, Goo Saga HD is somewhat lackluster. There are no tutorials, and I didn’t even know I could kill enemies until level three or so. The controls can be remapped, but there is no real explanation of what button does what (playing with a gamepad that is). It feels like a mobile game just given a fresh coat of paint. Even the bosses lack imagination, simply feeling like classic bosses from other games (Sonic comes to mind), just with a gooey finish.
At the core of it, Goo Saga HD is fun, but it isn’t to the caliber of gaming greatness that it strives for. With a lack of direction and guidance (plus a progression system tied to being at peak precision skill), Goo Saga HD falls short of peak performance.
A Steam Product Code for Goo Saga HD Edition was provided by Toka Loka Games for the purpose of this review