iPad/iPhone > All Reviews > iPhone & iPad Apps > Games > Osmos for iPad Review

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 Osmos for iPad Review

Stunning, serene ambient game that has us gripped. Check out Osmos for iPad

Manufacturer: Hemisphere Games
Pros: Wonderful serene game, perfectly suited to multi-touch
Cons: Would be even better if it had online multiplayer
Min specs: Apple iPad
Price: £2.99
We rate this 5 out of 5.Star rating:

Osmos for iPad is a rare beast indeed. A wonderful game that looks fantastic, offers a new take on gameplay, and is so well suited to the iPads large capactive touch-screen that it's hard to believe it was ever intended for any other system.

So it comes as a surprise to find that Osmos for iPad was originally a highly regarded Windows PC game that's part of a genre known as "ambient gaming". This sort of game offers a tranquilizing experience with trippy visuals and music that forms an integral part of the game.

In this case you play a pulsating ball of light. Tapping around your ball emits a small pellet of light and pushes you in that direction. The more you tap to move the smaller your ball gets (as you push out light). Balls of light smaller than you (coloured blue) will be absorbed into your ball making it bigger.

Larger balls of light than you (coloured red) absorb light from you. The aim is typically to work your way up the light food chain by tapping around a level.

So far, so simple. But it's a engaging experience like no other. At times simple enough to tap around; other levels are fiendishly complicated.

Different balls of light act differently. Some just float around, others are sentient like you (hunting around), some repel balls; others act like large planets upon which everything gravitates. There are also anti-matter balls that absorb your energy while dissipating themselves.

Osmos for iPad

The music, created by a range of musicians (Loscil, High Skies, Julien Neto, Gas and Biosphere) fits perfectly with the gameplay.

What was originally an intriguing PC game has taken a whole new life on the iPad. The touch screen fits the gameplay perfectly, much better than a mouse ever would. In fact the only single thing we can think to improve it would be online gaming where you can pit your wits against other live players.

MACWORLD BUYING ADVICE >
1 | 2 | NEXT >

Reevoo Price Comparison For Osmos for iPad

Reevoo Reviews For Osmos for iPad

Submit your own review for this product

Click here for the latest reader comments

<<prev article | back to index | next article>>

Search reviews

Search Google

Newsletter signup

It's easy and free to get the latest news headlines, reviews and opinions straight to your email inbox. Sign up NOW to make sure you receive the latest Mac news, reviews and tutorials on your favourite topics.

Out now:
iPad & iPhone User

Find out what's in this month's iPad and iPhone User here.

Macworld reader poll

What version of Adobe Creative Suite do you use?:

View poll results

Have your say in the
Macworld Forums!

Register now

Stay on top of the latest, breaking Mac news and chat with other Mac professionals and enthusiasts about the issues that matter to you. Register with Macworld today to join our forums and receive our twice-weekly email newsletter, Macworld Mainline.

RSS

Have the latest content delivered to your desktop via RSS. Use the links below to get access to a specific blog, news, or reviews feed.

Subscribe to our feeds here

Latest PC industry news

Latest news from MacVideo

MACWORLD MARKETPLACE

	LogMeIn Free - Remote Computer Access LogMeIn is a secure remote desktop software that lets you access your computers, files, and apps from anywhere on any device. Simply connect with LogMeIn Free and be free to work the way you want.
	TemplateCloud TemplateCloud.com is the design marketplace for graphic designers. You create designs, and use our software to build them into online editable templates. We sell your designs in different countries via different websites. Each time a customer uses your design, we pay you a royalty; the price is set by you.
	Amsys Amsys is recognised as the technical leader in Apple and has developed bespoke technical products and solutions to deliver class leading support to its business clients. Amsys clients can select from consultancy, integration, break-fix, recruitment, training and app development. Amsys make Apple products work for business.
	About NAD NAD Electronics has always stood out by doing things differently. Our relentless pursuit of great sound has earned us a ‘giant killer’ reputation. Every product is designed with heart and soul you can hear, emphasizing quality over quantity. We focus on the inside where it counts—and where you can hear the results.
	Sphero is a completely new type of gaming system. It's the world's first robotic ball that you control from your smartphone or tablet. You can drive Sphero, play tabletop and multiplayer games, use Sphero as a handheld controller for on-screen gameplay, and even explore augmented reality. Now with 20+ apps!
	MeteoGroup WeatherPro - the award winning weather app! Developed by professional meteorologists and providing weather forecasts for over 2 million locations with real-time, high resolution radar and satellite images, ski weather, water temperatures and more, WeatherPro is the most accurate and comprehensive weather app on the market.
	Beat the Credit Crunch - Lease your Mac from Hardsoft Hardsoft are the only 'one stop' solution for the supply and finance of I.T. to businesses throughout the UK via our regional branch offices. We are uniquely both equipment Apple Approved Reseller and licensed Credit Brokers and have tailored a solution which includes a full 3 year warranty and an equipment upgrade every 18 months.

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 Osmos for iPad Review

Stunning, serene ambient game that has us gripped. Check out Osmos for iPad

Email A Friend

Permalink This Article