Tales From Space: Mutant Blobs Attack review: Secret of the ooze

All of Mutant Blobs Attack's tchochkes are rendered with impressive physics, so knocking about the world and eating anything that's not nailed down is a simple joy, even divorced from the platforming challenges you'll complete to progress. That joy is heightened by a tone that never takes itself too seriously, thanks in part to some cute references to beloved memes and indie games throughout. (I especially enjoyed a billboard advertising Souperbrothers Sweet and Swour Swoup.)

When he's not eating livestock, the blob has the ability to stick to magnetic surfaces, squish to eel-like dimensions and — occasionally — fly. What Mutant Blobs Attack does so brilliantly is introduce these mechanics, fully explore all their silly implications, and move on before anything gets stale.

For example, soon after learning of your ability to manipulate some items in the environment with the front touch screen, you'll need to kick the blob with a massive boot to move forward. In many games, this would be a recurring gimmick, but Mutant Blobs Attack has the restraint not to make it a one-off treat.

Where so many of today's releases force players into gameplay cycles that provide diminishing returns of fun with every revolution, Drinkbox is constantly inventing baubles in Mutant Blobs Attack to entertain the player. It's doubly impressive for a title that asks only eight bucks in exchange.