In Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout, you participate in a gameshow like Total Wipeout or Takeshi’s Castle with competitors being eliminated over the course of five rounds. Participants tackle obstacle courses or compete in team games and eventually, a winner is crowned.
I don’t hate the game, I just feel my enthusiasm for it isn’t anywhere near that of everyone else’s. It’s fun, but maybe it’s time to get down off the see-saw of hype and join me in the slime of reality.
Pros
- Enjoyable gameshow gameplay
- Bright and vibrant visuals
- Accessible controls
Cons
- Cosmetic items and micropayments
- Not fun with friends
With all its bright colours and a cute aesthetic, it’s clear that this game is not to be taken seriously. Visually, the game is fantastic and the aesthetic completely sells the idea that this is supposed to be light-hearted fun!
The gameplay is also pretty silly. However, with each passing round, you’ll feel a little more engaged and by the final round, you’ll feel that you have as much of a chance as any other player to win it. It certainly makes for some entertaining low-stakes fun.
The controls are so simple that anyone can pick them up and, with quite a bit of luck, novice players can make it quite far and maybe even win. You move around and can jump, dive, and grab, and that’s it!
It’s not all fun and games, though. The fun is overshadowed by the fact that the game is constantly selling you cosmetic items. I just wish I could just play without constantly being shown crap I don’t need or want.
I know that seasons, rewards, and currencies are becoming increasingly common in games, especially ones with a large online component, but that doesn’t mean I have to like them.
It’s also not a great game for playing with your friends. If you’re eliminated while playing on your own, you can jump straight into another game, but when playing with others, unless everyone gets eliminated in the same round, you’ll be sitting around waiting for them to finish their game.
However, I do have to commend the community that Mediatonic has nurtured. The developers seem friendly and welcoming and it makes me think that the game’s storefront and rewards could be due the reality of the modern games industry rather than some unscrupulous devs looking to cash in. Or that could be what they want me to think…
The Verdict
I think Fall Guys, much like Fortnite, is a game that works incredibly well for streamers and its success, though deserved, definitely could lead some to thinking the game is better and more enjoyable than it actually is.
It’s fun, it’s just not that fun.
Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout was developed by Mediatonic and published by Devolver Digital.
Indie Bandits 