Like the Leisure Suit Larry saga, which went directly from the third to the fifth episode, Goat Simulator indeed zaps the expected second part, to go directly to the third. A good way to disturb some players and, above all, to remember that the game is above all about fun and that it should never be taken too seriously. Moreover, even the digital collector’s version plays the misinterpretation and is called “Downgrade Edition”. As for the introduction of the adventure, it immediately breaks the fourth wall. Not only does it parody the Skyrim intro, but it also directly references the fact that it parodies the Skyrim intro… The tone is set, and that cartoonish vibe will continue throughout the game. You will have the opportunity to find multiple references to Fallout, Wolfenstein 3D, the Simpsons or even Ikea. We could multiply the examples almost endlessly as the nods to video games and pop culture in general are numerous, but it is best that you discover them for yourself. Goat Simulator 3 being a sandbox devoid of a real scenario, the surprise effect counts for a lot in the pleasure of the game. We can still tell you that the parody also affects the gameplay mechanics. Thus, you have to synchronize with goat towers in order to reveal points of interest on different sections of the map. The game indeed takes the form of a small open world and therefore takes the opportunity to mock, or simply take over, the clichés of the genre. Thus, you will also find 200 “trinkets” to collect in the sets, and about thirty ramps to borrow.
GOAT THEFT AUTO
The presence of these ramps stems directly from the presence of vehicles traversing the map, and from the ability of our goat to expel the various drivers to take their place. Accidents, explosions and crushing of pedestrians are also part of the game, as in the first GTA came. The game also has a quest system and, surprisingly, this is one of its main strengths. Whether you spot these little quests on the map or discover them by chance, their objectives are sufficiently vague that a minimum of exploration, even reflection, is necessary to fulfill them. “Find the toilet key!” Ok, but where? “Impress the judges of the Farm has an incredible talent”! OK but how ? “Save Steve”! Alright, but the drowning human is called “Not Steve”… The solution is never that complicated, but it’s nice to have to look for yourself rather than follow some objective indicator .
Completing these “scripted” quests or small challenges called “Instincts” earns Illuminati and Karma points. The former are used to unlock doors in a gothic-looking goat castle, while the latter allow you to buy various cosmetic accessories, which are generally quite crazy. It is thus possible to customize the head, body, back, fur and horns of our goat. And even to completely change our avatar, which can then take the form of a giraffe (called “big goat”), a pig (“delicious goat”), a fish or even a scarecrow. Some of these skins can be purchased with Karma Points, and others can only be unlocked by completing the associated quests. Needless to say, by replacing a short-legged goat with a huge giraffe, the collision bugs typical of the series are multiplied. Indeed, the open world may well hold the road, you will not escape some technical, aesthetic or physical problems, which the developers will tell you are voluntary. Moreover, Goat Simulator 3 takes over the “lick and drag” function of the first episode, which allows the goat to carry almost any object, even if it means seeing its tongue lengthen by several meters.
BLE, BLE, BLE, AS THE DAY…
In addition, commands which elsewhere would be considered as debug functions reserved for developers are here accessible to the player (switch to ragdoll mode, reappearance in the scenery, etc.), while the basic interaction remains the good old headbutt. Our goat can also choose to be ridden by a man or an animal, bleat, climb ladders, run on walls, slide on electric wires, bounce on mattresses and much more. All interactions have one and the same end goal: to cause as much chaos as possible. And for that, nothing better than playing together! Goat Simulator 3 can indeed accommodate up to four players simultaneously, both online and locally. This is a really welcome feature, which benefits from the presence of a wheel of emotes and competitive mini-games (crazy versions of football or golf, for example). It is regrettable, however, that these mini-games are only a very small number of seven. The graphics turn out to be quite uneven, some elements seem dated and others much more acceptable. Let’s say that they are far from the height of what is best in 2022, but that they are more than enough for a joke game of this type. Because Goat Simulator 3 may be bigger and richer than the first episode, it still retains this joke-game status. As such, we are also quite surprised to see that it is sold at a basic price of €30, which is three times more expensive than its predecessor, and that the bill even rises to €40 for the Downgrade Edition.