Home > Untitled Review - Untitled Goose Game Review
Originally published on Nintendo Castle.
This game is about a goose doing goose-like things. There really isn’t much else that needs to be said, it’s that straightforward. But the premise alone is utterly captivating, causing as much mischief in this quaint village as possible and making everyone’s lives miserable in the process.
Platforms: PC, Switch [Reviewed]
Developer: House House
Release: September 20, 2019
MSRP: $19.99
Press Copy provided by House House
Australian indie studio House House have struck gold with Untitled Goose Game. Every single motion the goose makes is absolutely charming, from the way it waddles to each and every honk it makes. And honk you shall do, as it has a dedicated button (because why not?) but also serves as one of the primary mechanics, used to draw attention to yourself but not get caught in the process. While you ultimately want to remain hidden, sometimes you do just want to harass whatever unfortunate human happens to be in the presence of the majestic bird. Another dedicated button is to flap your wings, but that mostly serves little purpose outside of very specific tasks, it’s mostly there to make you even more goose-like.
The goal of Untitled Goose Game is to complete a selection of tasks which eventually lead to opening up new areas. These tasks range from the mundane “steal certain object” all the way down to moving a specific person away from his post so you can drop a bucket on his head. They’re all brain teasers to some degree, making you think outside of the box and having those “aha” moments as you plot how to cause chaos with the objects around you. Some of these tasks have creatively Rube Golgbergian methods, while others are just simple but satisfying. It can drag on a bit when the humans start interfering with your master plans, leading to starting over, or when access to certain areas have you wait for the right conditions, but the charm of it all never makes it a major bother.
The presentation on display is sublime. The simplistic cel-shaded visuals give everything in the world a whimsical feeling, but nothing is so simple that they can’t clearly be made out. You know exactly when something is just a piece of the background or an object you can make mischief with. The game is mostly silent (outside of the constant honking you can trigger at will) save for cleverly managed piano tracks that only play once certain elements fall into place. Startle a villager and single notes play, being chased down by a surly guard and dramatic hammering of piano keys brings tension to the game, it all fits in so organically that it feels like the natural soundtrack to life.
Untitled Goose Game is a short but satisfying game, never overstaying its welcome. It does feel a little too short, but more objectives are presented to you after the credits roll to give you more to feast on. If you had to describe it, Untitled Goose Game is a mission-based stealth game with a lot of goosing around.
Honk.
Pros:
- Simple and satisfying, it knows what it’s doing
- Music woven cleverly into the gameplay
- Lots of creative puzzles and solutions
- Doesn’t overstay its welcome
- You’re a goose
Cons:
Verdict:
Great
Great games are generally good buying decisions and are recommended for those with an interest in the genre. There might be a few flaws that detract from the gameplay, stories, controls, presentations, or value, but the game is still an enjoyable experience that justifies a full playthrough.
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