Escape Goat

More often than not, level progression in a puzzle platformer looks like this: first, ten or so interesting levels built around a unique gimmick; second, ten more levels where the aforementioned gimmick or mechanic becomes awkward to execute; and finally, a hundred more filler levels that showcase an overall lack of creativity, stretching the already questionable mechanic really thin and testing the player's patience until the game is dropped. Thankfully, Escape Goat is a notable exception to this rule. It's very well thought out, brilliantly executed, and full of character. Precision is required, but it is more than manageable. The single-screen levels are just the right length, ensuring the necessary restarts don't feel disheartening. The ability to tackle different levels at your leisure does a lot to improve the overall pacing, and the devs obviously had more than enough creative juices flowing to delight and surprise you until the very end of the game. There are numerous times when a seemingly daunting puzzle gives you that awesome "Aha!" feeling upon completion—more than enough to warrant a 100% recommendation.

It's a short [b]cackle madly and don't stop running[/b] type of puzzle platformer where each level is a one-screen machine of unknown attributes, and the only way forward is to [i]goat[/i] right into the gnashing gears of it and [b]die[/b] till you've reverse engineered the thing. Hurl your mouse and perish, fool! Only then will you become wise! [i]Then[/i] you know how it all works, and can clatter on through in seven seconds. Tripping through all the levels, knocking the doors of the mystic prison rapidly down, it's quite satisfying! The puzzle design really is a fine thing, though defaulting to the easier side, with multiple levels of finesse possible in most levels -- but the overall aesthetic, and the silly, strangely [i]sincere[/i] feeling of spirituality the game puts off are what burned [i]Escape Goat[/i] into my brain when I got it on GOG over a decade ago. A warlock goat, a daredevil mouse, captive philosopher sheep, and a mysterious Master of Chains . . . I feel like it's trying to tell me something. (Think the game is too easy? Then you can try the free "All Intensive Purposes" pack after you beat it, but after going through four or five of these levels, I think…

Goat outsmarts each trap Puzzles open paths to light Freedom leaps ahead

accidentally beat the entire game at double speed because i didn't limit the fps. oops

Very good

Jumping through puzzles like a goat on a cheese hunt. Every challenge feels like a wise cat’s hint, and I m still trying to find the exit and my basket before the cheese disappears!