A Virus Named TOM (Video Game Review)

Read the review in full on Paranerds.com

A Virus Named TOM does a lot of things both right and wrong. The game starts out amazingly; it has a great sense of humour, a visual aesthetic which completely fits the theme it was going for and progressively challenging levels. At the same time though, you can’t help but feel there’s one or two imperfections holding back what should really be a great game.

The story behind this one revolves around mad scientist Doctor X after he goes that little bit too far even for AVNT’s ludicrous world. After working for a shadowy profit seeking company for years and quite literally building them a city of the future, he sets his sights upon “curing” walking. The company is fine at first, taking advantage of the mobile walkways which are used for mass transit, but have a few problems about he making a giant robot to kill anyone caught walking. After being fired (“Mad they called me! MAD!!”) X decides to get his revenge upon Mega-Tech by unleashing a virus upon the technological wonders they have become so reliant upon. You are the virus, your name is TOM, and it’s your job to be his instrument of deranged scientific terror.

Most of the story from here on is increasingly minimal. Just about all of it consists of purely text based messages from either Mega-Tech getting increasingly hostile due to your efforts to destroy their comany, or X contacting you to explain upgrades. While they’re okay they seem to lack a lot of the humour which was promised in the opening cutscene. Probably the funniest moment is when Mega-Tech tries, twice, to convince you they’re on your side and you should run into their new security software. Even then it only makes you chuckle rather than truly laugh. This would be like playing Portal 2 and after the first half an hour to discover that almost all the jokes disappear. Unlike that game though, the story is not a major part of enjoying the game so this is something which can be overlooked if you’re willing to be generous.