Goat Simulator (PlayStation 4) Review

Realism has been one of the cornerstones of the modern simulation genre, with time-demanding and dull games made to make the player experience the hard work of the everyday person. Goat Simulator instead throws all of the rules out the window and aims to be the court jester of the land.

It is quite easy to grasp that this is a joke game, not meant to be taken seriously, and if there is any doubt about this only seconds into the game, before even starting it, it will become quite apparent that this isn't the everyday simulator. The goal in Goat Simulator is simply to score points by causing as much mayhem as possible and to find golden goat statuettes spread around the city. A very fun task indeed, but in true sandbox style, the player is free to explore the game in any way they want, and there is a lot to explore here.

Amongst other things to find in Goat Simulator there are several arcade cabinets offering very simple yet fun "remasters" of classic games, including the infamous Flappy Bird, all in their goaty re-skinned glamour. These mini-games are fun and are a hilarious way to spend the time. A lot of thought was put into making sure the exploration of the gameworld would be fun and worthwhile, with its vast number of Easter eggs and goat statues to find. For someone willing to invest their time, many hours of discovery and fun await.

Also praiseworthy is how the world is made to reflect perfectly how the surroundings would look in real life. It might not appear to be a big thing at first, but it doesn't take long to appreciate the interiors of the houses and the exterior world. It is as if the developers measured with a measuring stick exactly where to put things, and it shows that a lot of work went into developing the world the goat roams in, making it feel alive and personal.

There are, however, some glaring weaknesses as well. First of all, it is extremely buggy at times. The developers says it best themselves on their website: "Goat Simulator is a small, broken and stupid game. It was made in a couple of weeks so don't expect a game in the size and scope of GTA with goats. In fact, you're better off not expecting anything at all actually. To be completely honest, it would be best if you'd spend your $10 on a hula hoop, a pile of bricks, or maybe a real-life goat." They even had the taste to put in a respawn button, for when the game breaks down horribly and the goat gets stuck and cannot move. Notice the word when. It is not a question of if Goat Simulator will bug out, it's a question of when.

It is very common to get stuck or to even fall through the ground. It's poorly programmed and has several more or less ridiculous bugs that will occur during gameplay. Anyone looking for a smooth experience should look elsewhere, but those able to excuse these issues will find a hilarious experience. It is silly, stupid, and the developers themselves know it. For filling an afternoon with a goofy experience, there is no need to look elsewhere.

A fun multiplayer function makes it possible to share the hilarious experience with a couple of friends. It's said that shared joy is double joy, and in the case of Goat Simulator, this couldn't be more true; while it is ridiculously fun to fly around in a jet-pack, blow up cars, destroy all furniture in a house, play some Flappy Goat, or just collect the golden goat statues, it all becomes amplified with other players in the mix.

Despite its issues, Goat Simulator is one of the most comical games out there. For those able to look past glitches like the goat getting stuck or falling through the ground, this is a title worth buying, especially alongside friends with the same sick humour. Definitely not a game for anyone looking for a serious experience, but for goofy fun this might be one of the greatest gems on the multiplayer shelf.