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Computer Times
Editors' Choice Game Tasty Planet: Back for Seconds Review by Angie Kibiloski
Back in 2007, I reviewed one of the most entertaining casual games I had ever played, called Tasty Planet. Now, the wide-eyed little glob of grey goo is back for more fun, and just as ravenous as ever. Tasty Planet: Back for Seconds (Retail $19.99), from Dingo Games, reunites the grey goo with our poor, unsuspecting world. This world becomes a smorgasbord full of new delicious things to gobble up, from rocks and trees, cats and people, to volcanoes, dinosaurs, aliens and planets. This time, the adorable omnivorous blob eats a time machine, and keeps zapping himself into different time periods, having to contend with dinosaurs, Egyptians, Romans, and more! Nibble your way though six different periods of history in this delectably fun sequel! Yum, Yum!
If you played the first title, you will feel right at home with this new one. The controls and basic goal of the game are the same. Devour everything smaller than you, and avoid the larger things, especially those that can harm you, until you grow big enough to eat them too. You still change color depending on what you eat, so its fun to try eating things in various orders, to see what color combinations you can create. For instance, eating a yellow flower will turn you yellow, but if you eat a red butterfly soon enough afterwards, you will turn orange. Meet your size or quantity goal for each level to unlock the next. You can play the levels with the timed challenge, or the casual, untimed mode, if you want a more leisurely feast. As before, periodically you get to see comic strip style storyboards, starring the grey goo, the scientist who created him, and his hapless assistant, that keep you up to date with the narrative. Very cute stuff, so take the time to read them.
There are some new features to this title that weren’t in the original. First, the grey goo himself has been slightly redesigned. Nothing drastic, just a small make-over. Secondly, you now have the ability to play in two player mode. The grey goo is joined by a second grey goo, who looks a little different so you don’t get your goos confused. Cooperate to reach your consumption goal and terrorize the population twice as fast. This mode can only be played from the same computer, so it makes for a rather intimate dining experience. Also, as you grow big enough within a level, the view will zoom out to reveal a wider area of the environment, and more things to munch on. This can happen several times in a level, so just when think you’re at the top of the food chain, you pull back to see bigger, tastier goodies. You might start the level smaller than a leaf, but ended it larger than a brontosaurus.
Tasty Planet really was one of the most entertaining casual game I have ever played. Years later, I still load it up when I have some downtime at work. Tasty Planet: Back for Seconds is just as great as its predecessor, and will join the ranks of my favorite games. There is just something irresistible about that cute little grey goo, seemingly innocent, yet able to devour everything in our universe. You don’t know fun until you’ve gobbled up the pyramids, or snacked on the Roman Empire. Go get your copy today at http://www.dingogames.com. Opa!
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