Review: Mighty Goose

• Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X (Reviewed), PC via Steam
• Developer:  Blastmode
• Publisher: PLAYISM
• Release Date: June 5th, 2021

Sometimes a Game of the Year candidate fly right under your nose and make for a pleasant surprise. If you were to tell me at the start of 2021 that a game starring a bounty hunter goose with an arm cannon would be one of my best gaming experiences of the year, I’d tell you that you’re about as crazy as the concept of a game starring a bounty hunter goose with an arm cannon. Blastmode and PLAYISM’s Mighty Goose takes the classic formula of Run and Gun Arcade games like Metal Slug and injects more speed, enemies, and plenty of unlockable upgrades to create a thrilling modern take on a nostalgic genre.

In Mighty Goose you take on the role of the most intimidating bounty hunter in the galaxy, a goose decked out in space armour, who is contracted to take out the Void King and his minion army. To do so you’ll be thrown into nine chaotic side-scrolling levels with waves of enemies that flood the entire screen. At its core, Mighty Goose very much feels like a love letter to the iconic Run and Gun franchise, Metal Slug. The game definitely wears its inspirations on its sleeve at times, especially in the vehicle design, as you pilot stubby little tanks and planes at points of most levels. Mighty Goose does tweak the formula to make the running and gunning feel more modern, mostly by adding a little much-needed speed to the gameplay. The game is short and sweet, with most players likely able to roll credits in one sitting, however there is a New Game+ mode that adds replayability. There is also local multiplayer for the players who enjoy a little couch co-op action (more on that later), but unfortunately at the time of this review there is no online co-op functionality.

Another added element that really enhances the experience are the wide variety of customization you unlock over the course of the nine levels. First, many of the NPC’s that you rescue on your missions are rewarded to you as companions, which will join you and offer a lending handle by throwing you weapon power-ups or fighting alongside you. You’ll also unlock some special attacks that can be used in limited quantities with a short cooldown time, as well as plenty of perks that can be equipped to have your goose pack a little more of a punch. Each perk takes up an allotment of energy when toggled on, and you can only equip so many before your energy meter is full. This adds some experimentation as you progress through the game and tailor your perks to your playstyle, for example these perks can add a charge attack to your primary blaster, grant you extra ammo from a weapon pick-up, or let your mighty meter fill faster when executing a dodge roll.

One of the most impressive things about Mighty Goose is how incredibly smooth the game runs, no matter how chaotic the gameplay gets. Even when mighty mode is activated, a temporary power-up that gives the goose invincibility and an increased rate of fire, the massive amount of explosions and enemies flying across the screen never causes the framerate to dip.

From a visuals standpoint, Mighty Goose has an extremely charming pixel art aesthetic and cute character designs for both the hero and the swarms of baddies. The soundtrack is very high tempo and fits the gameplay like a glove. If there was to be one complaint about the game’s presentation it would be that some of the pixel art during the cutscenes looks a little rough, especially on scenes when the game’s camera zooms in on a character like Mighty Goose or the Void King and their sprite takes up most of the screen real estate.

One of Mighty Goose’s biggest letdowns and only flaws is its previously mentioned co-op offerings. As the 2^nd player you are delegated to playing as the companion characters, who have a very limited skillset compared to the player who holds the first controller. Also, the companion characters do not have a health gauge and cannot die, so it doesn’t really deliver a full co-op experience. It may be some fun for a younger sibling or a spouse that isn’t very skilled at games to tag along, but other than that you should go into this game with the mindset that you’ll likely be playing solo.

Mighty Goose feels like a throwback in the best ways possible. The controls are tight and responsive, the weapons all feel insanely powerful, and there’s plenty of power-ups and upgrades to elevate your experience. Mighty Goose delivers an insane level of carnage, while simultaneously giving a flawless technical performance. While it does lack a strong co-operative multiplayer offering, if you’re a fan of old school run and gun side-scrollers or just an enthusiast for geese in power armour, Mighty Goose is definitely worth your time and money.

An Xbox review code for Mighty Goose was provided by PLAYISM. The game was reviewed using an Xbox Series X console.