This game is well crafted, however the mechanics are more twitch reaction based and less puzzle solving. Since the core goal is to alway solve the tile turning puzzle this becomes frustrating quickly. The developers tried to compensate by allowing the player to automatically skip levels, but this doesn't correct the core problem since the level after the one you skipped has the same problems.

If you have always wanted a twitch reaction tile puzzle game, this one may be perfect for you. Otherwise you may lose interest quickly, as I did.

Wow. I was really surprised at how unfun the gameplay actually was. Mixing up several different gaming styles – contemplative puzzling, timers and fast-paced enemy avoidance – apparently didn't pan out that well in this case.

The gameplay's two major inspirations would appear to be Qix and Pipe Mania (or the hacking puzzle in Bioshock, shudder). Instead of drawing lines like in Qix, you navigate a grid of Pipe Mania -type puzzle parts and manually rotate them one at a time while avoiding enemies.

I kind of want to like Tom – the writing's amusing and the production's solid. However, the core gameplay just isn't fun.

A brief explanation of the game: you're a virus trying to infect systems. To do that you have to redirect power through the system. You just have to rotate tiles till they form a path from the power source to your objective. Had a pretty good start but I just got bored about 3/4 of the way into the game. Doesn't know its identity, whether it wants to be a strategy game, or an action game, or both. Mechanics are sort of just all over the place. At some point it just becomes memorizing tiles. Pretty boring after a while.

Nobody likes having their ideas stolen. For Dr. X, it's more than just a clever invention, but his entire livelihood being taken away by a mega corporation, framing and imprisoning him in the process just to make it abundantly clear what a bunch of greedy pricks they are. Unfortunately, they forgot about a little virus named Tom, who's about to turn their billion dollar company into a pile of rubble, one computer at a time.

A Virus Named Tom is something like a pimped out Pipe Mania. Guiding Tom through computer mainframes, you need to redirect the flow of the hack by twisting panels until the infection has spread across the entire board. Simple in theory, but in execution it becomes quite an elaborate challenge once anti-hack bugs, hidden and unmovable tiles, and the intricate maze designs start to pile on more and more things to keep track of. One of the most impressive things about AVNT is how it balances these elements into a gradual but brisk increase in difficulty. Rarely did I feel overwhelmed by any of the mechanics, instead rather impressed with myself that I was able to solve what initially appear to be incredibly involved puzzles. It's constantly rewarding and satisfying to progress, even with the surprisingly long single player story (which doesn't take into account the entire separate coop campaign which I've yet to even dip into).

As a puzzle game, A Virus Named Tom resides pleasantly in the realm of the best pick up and play arcade classics. It's challenging and enjoyable whether in short bursts or drawn out sessions as you try to attain a gold medal on every level, and never once managed to outstay its welcome for me however long I spent with it. It also features a fantastic electronic soundtrack, and some rather charming and humorous cutscenes which somehow manage to make mass hysteria and deconstruction feel lighthearted and amusing. Really, if a game can't sell itself to you with a dog that doesn't poop, I don't even know what more there is to say.

A really smart puzzle game combinated with game of agility skill. A unique game. What the most not see. I give all my friends and all gamers who love clever and tough games. Try it. Its really amazing Indie game. You should support the developer. I think they have great possibilities if they get feedet by every gamer a bit. PLEASE BUY THIS GAME!

A Virus Named TOM is not a bad game, but the game mechanics and controls don't make this all that fun to play. It really needs a more intuitive method to rotate blocks maybe by using the left/right triggers or bumpers.

the game is fun but generic. its insanely easy up until the final section where difficulty takes on a steep learning curve and becomes nearly impossible to play. luckily by that time the maker gives you enough level skip tokens to get through and see the pointless ending. not a terrible game but not recommended.

Imagine the hacking minigame from Bioshock, except that you rotate existing tiles instead of placing existing ones. Also imagine that you control Frogger, who hand-rotates these tiles while listening to techno and dodging traffic on a highway.

If you dismiss indie games as being EITHER fast, tough-as-nails platformers OR artsy atmospheric environments, I highly encourage you to give this game a shot - this is a fine example of original gameplay that requires split-second precision and risk/reward decision making. I had beaten (not gold-medalled) the single-player campaign in about 4 hours, but don't take that as a knock against the game - I preferred to play in 10-minute intervals to give my nerves a chance to recover from the frantic pace, and I haven't played much of the other modes yet.

The soundtrack by Ian Hicks is extremely well done - 7 tracks that nicely complement the setting and gameplay that are well worth purchasing and adding to your mp3 player. The 8th, which is used in the trailer, feels out of place and I've removed it from my playlist. Recommended.

Speed and precision required: Yes

Straightforward 100%: No

Soundtrack format: DLC, mp3

I liked the puzzle aspect and added difficulty through bots, but making the puzzle disappear and having to guess where you need to go is just the cheap man's difficulty. I would not have even gotten this game if I knew it pulled cheap tricks like that. It just said solving puzzles not memorizing paths. smh

Someone should remove the "puzzle" tag. This is definitely not in this category. Most of the time this game consists of dexterity and agility challenges.
This could have been a good puzzle game and THERE ARE pretty good puzzles in there. Sometimes.