Goat Simulator 3 - Review

Ever feel like just wreaking havoc, doing random quirky tasks and just stretching out your legs to do whatever you want, but as a goat? Then Goat Simulator 3 is definitely something you’d enjoy. If you were having fun with its predecessor, then you’d have fun with the latest iteration.

Goat Simulator 3 is exactly what you’d assume it was going to be. You’re in an open world map as a goat, where you have the option to complete objectives in any ridiculous way you can imagine, which can also be very fun. It’s easily comparable to any open world game, where you ignore the main quests and just start messing around, in fact it may remind you of Grand Theft Auto, at least it certainly did for me. The main thing about this particular game is that it may not be for everyone as you definitely can’t take it seriously. Even watching the whole opening scene gives you a trophy named ‘Watched intro trophy’, which clearly shows that the creators obviously know it’s somewhat pointless video but are happy to laugh at themselves.

What I am trying to say is that everything you can do in Goat Simulator 3 is all about trying new and wacky things, there is no such thing as a bad idea. Whether it's roaming around licking different surfaces, headbutting random people, just trying to complete tasks in any way will make you chuckle, this game has it all. For those who are fashion forward, you can accessorise your goat, from pieces of clothing to various accessories like horns, wings, and even a rocket pack which lets you fly (uncontrollably) in the air. All these accessories are unlockable by finding trinkets which you use as a point system to expand your looks and abilities. You can for whatever reason you come up with, lick another person or player, which attaches to you like a bungee cord and shoot yourself up in the air while dragging them with you.

The open world map itself is relatively vast, it does offer up the usual suspects of open world locations, like mountains that are covered with trees, sunny beaches and suburban locations, complete with all the elements that make them liveable. The variety across them also helps with that familiar ‘Grand Theft Auto’ open world feeling, perhaps more so when you start messing with the police. All-in-all, the gameplay is varied and comes down to, if you can think of it, there is a fair chance you can do it.

One thing that’s for certain, is that this game is definitely better when you play with other people. Playing it solo may be fun enough for some players either for long or short sessions, however, having a mate join in on the chaos and helping to destroy everything is significantly more entertaining. You can opt to run around on your own, watching them cause mischief or you can about together, attempting to come up with some creative solutions to obstacles that may not need so much thought applied. Co-operative play is always fun, when you can play with mates, but sometimes, getting in their way and just annoying each other, can be more delightful. If you have someone to play the game with, then you should do that as this is a game that feels as though it was made for multiplayer.

On the visual side of things, Goat Simulator 3 provides some nice-looking locations, before you get your hooves on them, with the city that sprawls across the map being especially well done. Where it becomes a little less visually polished is with the visual glitches, but before you jump to conclusions and ridicule the last sentence, it’s definitely done on purpose. The problem is that those visual oddities are at odds with the janky-ness of the controls, which can lead to some frustration at times. The first game became the hit it was, because it never took the visuals to seriously, showing that the gameplay was the star, I mean, it’s a game where you’re a goat wreaking havoc across the world and doing random and quirky things. Here though there is a clear evolution of the graphics, but they seem to conflict against the same visual issues that people are expecting. Much like the gameplay though, this maybe exactly what you are looking for as again, it may not be for some people, and absolutely is for others.

Is Goat Simulator 3 a game for everyone, no it is not. However, if you enjoy roaming large worlds and doing whatever it is you can do, then this is a game that should appeal to you. The problem is outside of those little tasks, there isn’t much of a narrative thread connecting your actions to anything larger. It would be like getting all the sides for your main meal and not getting the steak, sure once in a while a plate of veggies is perfect, but not all the time. This could be a great game to play for a little bit between more serious games like God of War or Call of Duty, but it’s a side dish, not a main. Personally, it was fun playing online with my mate for the first hour or so, but after that the lack of a reason to continue made it hard for me to stay invested.

The Score

6.0

Review code provided by Coffee Stain Publishing

The Pros

+Fun to play online with a mate

+Big open world map to wreak havoc

The Cons

-Feels a little to random and quirky

-The purposeful janky and glitchy visuals get annoying