Osmos

It’s moving in every sense of the word.

Frustration and lack of tension aside, Osmos is an excellent game. I would only hesitate to recommend this to the most diehard ambient music hater, and I imagine such a person would be too angry for video games anyway.

Despite its problems, then, Osmos is an ambient Katamari Damacy for the flOw generation, addictive and emotional and singularly satisfying.

The small team at Hemisphere has crafted an alluring, captivating experience that is a nice change of pace from the frantic action videogames often provide.

And it’s with good reason: Osmos is a great game (and is a great bargain, at only $10US) that will challenge the puzzle-solving skills of even the best gamers, as ambient gaming enters a new cosmos with Osmos.

Osmos is very capable of putting you in a trance like state with its hypnotic music, visuals, and it's addictive gameplay. The best compliment I can give this game is that I play it 6 or 7 times a day because it works so well as either something bite size to play right before I go to sleep, or something I can easily just drop an afternoon in, without the pressure or frustration that accompanies the other titles that I routinely play.

The controls may irritate you and the game's attempt at a Zen aesthetic may come off as a little dull, but it nonetheless remains a constantly surprising, wonderfully unclassifiable, and, ultimately, damned satisfying piece of gaming.

In the end, however, $10 is a bargain for such a creative and addictive puzzle title.

Osmos is a spectacular example of how a game based on a simple idea can out-trump the best of them.

Osmos is a very good game in its class. The music, the idea and gameplay and pleasing graphics all make this a complete package for any fan of ambient/casual games. Considering the price point is reasonable, and there is a decent amount of replay value, Osmos is a good option to buy and enjoy.

A relaxing, addictive and intuitive action-puzzler. [Christmas 2009, p.86]

For £6.99 you’re getting a worthwhile package and there’s a demo for you to see if it’s the right game for you. For most it will be an engaging and addicting, if somewhat rage-inducing later on.

Another charming indie. [Dec 2009, p.83]

Moving water across a semi-permeable membrane wasn't this fun in biology. [Issue#26, p.56]

Osmos is great fun in short sessions. The basic idea is simple, but the levels stay interesting. Amazing soundtrack and funky visuals make Osmos a good way to chill out. [Mar 2010]

It's tempting to write off Osmos as a "been there, done that" experience. While all of the mechanics in play here certainly aren't new, the team at Hemisphere Games does a wonderful job of wrapping them up in a cool, calm, and collected package that makes it feel new and refreshing.

At least $10 worth of entertainment, especially if you're an electronica aficionado or an ambient game/puzzle junkie. The mid-game shift from "mellow" to "frantic" will lead many gamers to never complete it, however, and it will leave a bad taste in your mouth after the blissful sweetness of the early levels.

This crafty and calming puzzle game won't addict you, but it will lull you into the occasional trance.

If your nerves are shot to pieces with the glut of zombie gore 'em ups out there Osmos will do a sterling job of rubbing those aching temples and making the nightmares go away.

Osmos fits snugly into the Zen genre: the music is ambient, the visuals minimalist, and the risk/reward mechanic demands a measured approach. [Nov 2009, p.131]