Video-game reviews | "Goo" turns physics into a sticky puzzle

Try your construction skills in the charming "World of Goo, " face battling hordes in the latest "Warhammer" or test your reflexes in the racing game "Wipeout HD."

"World of Goo"

In "World of Goo," players use googly-eyed balls of goo to create structures leading to an exit pipe — to finish a stage, a certain number of globs must make it into the pipe. It's a captivating, physics-based puzzle game. The simple graphics have a charming style, and the music ranges from moody to madcap.

The trick is to not run short of goo. The globs themselves form the structure they travel along, and whether they're permanently stuck that way depends on what kinds of goo are available. There are obstacles such as water and spikes that can take goo globs away, too.

Systems: PC (www.2dboy.com download), $19.99; also for Wii (WiiWare download), $20; 1,500 Wii points ($15)

Age rating: Everyone

"Warhammer: Battle March"

The Xbox 360 version of a lackluster strategy game from a few years ago, "Warhammer: Battle March" doesn't improve on the original. Actually, it's a bit worse, as the precision of mouse and keyboard controls has been lost in the game's transfer to the console. A serviceable but finger-twisting control scheme has been shoehorned in to work with the Xbox 360 controller, but it doesn't feel responsive — a common complaint in this genre.

At least the "Warhammer" world is interesting, and players can spend hours tweaking and painting their perfect army for online matches.

Players choose from three campaigns and take their prearranged armies into battle, mission by mission. Units that survive a fight can be replenished and strengthened with new items.

System: Xbox 360, $59.99

Age rating: Mature

"Wipeout HD"

"Wipeout HD" takes several tracks from the two PlayStation Portable "Wipeout" games, tweaks them and shines them up for the big screen. As such, the game plays very much like it does on the PSP — but everything's bigger and prettier.

Players pilot zippy anti-gravity vehicles through futuristic tracks. There are races against other vehicles, solo time trials, speed laps and other modes. In multivehicle races, players can pick up weapons, speed boosts and shields.

System: PlayStation 3 (PlayStation Network download), $19.99

Age rating: 10-plus