Comedy, in any form, is difficult to write. Jokes are composed of so much more than just their punchlines; they require the right diction, proper timing, and most importantly: a good setup. Fortunately, Untitled Goose Game, developed by House House, manages to hit all these marks, creating and utterly hilarious slapstick experience for both the player and on-lookers. 

Throughout the game, you are put into the shoes of a vexatious goose, your only goal to cause trouble for this perfect little town town, and cause lots of it. The game has you completing a variety of mischievous tasks, from placing a rake in the lake, to trapping a child in a phone-booth. Each task is unique and unexpected, and the reactions that the villagers have towards your ministrations are a delight to watch. The game encourages you to experiment past what is required by the goals through rewarding you with extra interactions and the completion of a goal on a hidden list. 

It feels strangely cathartic to mess with the townspeople and their picturesque town; as you play, you begin to live vicariously through the goose, annoying people in ways you never knew were so satisfying. Untitled Goose Game makes you feel like an evil mastermind, scheming, chaotic and untouchable. 

The game is wonderfully slapstick, and its comedy is made all the funnier by its soundtrack. Delightful piano notes, from Debussy’s Preludes, fade in and out as you run amok in the town, crescendoing as you grow closer and closer to completing a goal. The music fits perfectly with the tone of the game, filled with light, jovial tones that match up rhythmically to the bouncy waddling of the goose. The use of a dynamic soundtrack ensures that no two players have the exact same musical experience, as the soundtrack is coded to react to different actions and triggers. It adds a whole new level to the game, making it a true joy to play. 

However, Untitled Goose Game is not without its fair share of problems. The physics system is a bit crooked, which makes maneuvering around the world a frustrating challenge at times. Often, the goose won’t move the way you want it to, and occasionally, it will get stuck in loop when it is next to a villager trying to grab a stolen item. 

The game can also be strangely nitpicky about timing. One challenge has you trying to pry a chair out from underneath an old man, but if you’re a second off with your timing, he’ll notice you and push you away. The problem here is not that the puzzle is difficult to solve, it is obvious that you have to pull the chair away, but that the task includes a contrived challenge in the form of precise timing. This leaves players trying the same thing over and over until you finally get it right by chance. 

Overall, Untitled Goose Game was a fun and unexpectedly exciting experience. Although it had some flaws, it is one of the most unique games currently on the market, and provided a very satisfying play. Because of this, Untitled Goose Game gets a 4.5/5.

via GIPHY