Biosis Review

Biosis from Concolor Games is an action/puzzle title that doubles as a sobering reminder: no matter what odd form life takes, and no matter how alien its surroundings may be, life-affirming love can be ripped away at a moment's notice.

But that doesn't mean nothing can be done about it.

Biosis stars Mil, a small alien with a gelatinous, cell-like body. One day while Mil and his girlfriend are hanging out in their weird world, an insect-like creature attacks and consumes the plasma bodies that Mil and his beau depend on to survive. Mil gets his body back with the player's help, but he needs to collect enough plasma to revive his lady love.

There's lots of plasma floating around Mil's world, but unfortunately for him it's not easily harvested. Players help Mil collect plasma by moving him around - and that, in turn, is done by manipulating the surrounding environment. Magnetic creatures, when activated, will pull Mil towards them. Pitcher plant beings shoot out their tongues and snag Mil when they're tapped. Bee-like insects shoot stingers when they're prodded. There's a little more to taming Biosis' wildlife, however. Players can make critters angry by swiping a finger across them, and when they're angry, their function changes. Magnetic blobs will repel, not attract. Pitcher plants' tongues get longer. And so on.

Successfully collecting plasma in each level requires the player to change creatures' temperaments at the right time. They also have to know exactly when to activate a creature's power so that Mil is safely moved around, caught while in mid-air, etc. Getting the timing down in Biosis is infuriating at times, but the clever wildlife-based puzzles are so original and admirable that players are compelled to try again and again.

In fact, Biosis' world and the graphics illustrating it are creepily gorgeous. The wildlife is as alien as it can possibly get, and the floating platforms and eerie backgrounds make it clear this game takes place miles and miles away from anywhere the human race might call "home." Even at its most frustrating, Biosis pushes players forward with its imaginative setting and beautiful soundtrack.

Biosis is sure to charm as well as enrage. One thing's for sure: For better or worse, nothing else out there is quite like Mil.