Doing bad can be fun, but imagine doing it as one of nature's biggest insects: the goose. The Goose Game is a simple but funny thing about being a goose and harassing the unwary. While there is something nice and exciting about that, the game shows all its cards up front and it will never be possible without the initial goodwill of the building. The Goose Game is a title with a cheerful heartthrob I'm glad I took, but it left me with no further idea as the credits rolled.
Whether they are lazily sharing the sidewalk in front of your car, chasing after unsuspecting children, or leaving their “presents” on sidewalks, goose can be real jerks. That is why thinking about one's role and raising objections is satisfactory. Your goal is to advance you to different parts of the city by completing the objectives, which draw you toward your worst actions. Maybe you need to steal the stuff of your goose doll, or chase a scary guy into a place to put phones. To accomplish this is just as nature has given you: your beak in praise and take, and your wings attention.
Goose's untitled game combines sparkling light with puzzle elements. Like a pit, you need to look at people's paths and routes, looking for things like tables and desk hiding underneath. You can also take things and put them anywhere as a way to distract people, which is important; if you get caught, they chase you out of the area and return anything you stole. Everywhere becomes its own puzzle, forcing you to think like a goose to complete some of the tasks, such as pretending to be a statue, or a happy privilege as someone is about to do something to get them started with fantastic results. Some of your actions are just silly and depend on careful timing, such as pulling a chair down before a person can sit down. All of this is fun, especially as you watch the reactions and consequences of your actions, such as getting two neighbors to argue or seeing a woman who forced you to break her broom.
You soon fall into your hell-raising routine, and watching the townspeople chase after you as you chase after a lively life is something to behold. Some puzzles take extra effort and can't be completed until you reach a new location and then go back in time. When the credits are filmed, you also discover new, complex goals in the same areas of restoration; some hijinks even have time constraints for extra pressure. That being said, the game of Goopless Goose has no feeling of being reduced, and the first run takes a few hours. I have no problem with short games, but no matter the length, your tasks do eventually. There are only so many times when you can steal things, move things from one end of the country to the other, and get started in the city. And, in all this paradox, nothing is as high as clever or too memorable. The gags are quite standard and safe, and only a few objectives of the game in the background are complex enough to require critical, disappointing consideration.
Goose's game of the title is a good idea, and it ends with the way it looked. Pranking people is fun, and acting like a goose is just fun. Most people will play it because of the moving structure, complete it in a few hours, and continue their happy way without touching it again. If you just want to challenge people like a goose, here's your chance – but modesty and repetition hold you back from being a truly engaging game.