Mighty Goose

Run, gun, and honk in Mighty Goose, a hectic run and gunner where you play as a goose armed to the beak with futuristic weaponry. As fun as it is gorgeous, this is a game where outstanding visuals are just the cherry on top for a solid gameplay experience.

Inspired by the classic 2D horizontally scrolling shooter games, Mighty Goose is a solid reimagining of a genre that’s slowly disappearing. Solid action and responsive controls are but a few of the reasons why this game is one to keep on your radar this year.

Killer Honks

Fans of the run and gunner genre will immediately notice the similarities between Mighty Goose and Metal Slug, another titan of the genre. Not only are the controls similar: the basic gameplay is pretty much what we would expect from a modern take on the iconic SNK franchise.

You play as a goose that just happens to be one of the galaxy’s most effective bounty hunters. This feathered mercenary is no common hunter, however, as it is on a quest to defeat the evil Void King and his army of minions.

Guns are your best friends in Mighty Goose: an entire arsenal is at your disposal to eliminate your enemies. These weapons have their own powerups to increase their efficacy, but your destructive powers don’t end there.

Vehicles and Worlds

While guns are your main tool for dealing with threats, you can also use an assortment of vehicles to make things easier. Mighty Goose can pilot tanks and mecha suits, laying waste to anything that stands in its path.

You’ll need all the firepower you can gather because the bosses in Mighty Goose are some of the toughest we’ve seen in a while. Not only are they massive, their attack patterns and animations usually fill up an entire screen, putting your evasion skills to the test.

Of course, we have to talk about the elephant in the room, and that is the game’s pixel graphics. They are, simply put, gorgeous. Every sprite looks incredible, and the animation is on a whole other level. Details such as shading and particle physics look amazing, giving this game a timeless look that makes it stand out among its indie peers.

All that said, this intergalactic journey is also one that’s over too soon. Even taking your time to explore every level, you’ll most likely spend just a little over 2 hours to beat the game. Fortunately, the fast-paced gameplay and hectic action mean there’s a lot of replayability value in Mighty Goose.

You Are Not Alone

To spice things up, Mighty Goose offers players the opportunity to customize their guns using upgrade chips to match their playstyle. Also, some companions can help you to beat some of the tougher levels.

This adds an extra layer of complexity to Mighty Goose’s gameplay, as players can truly customize their characters however they want. Sometimes, brute-forcing a boss simply won’t do, and players will be forced to reevaluate their strategies to overcome any threat.

Pros:

• Tight controls
• Excellent 2D visuals
• Funny character designs
• Great soundtrack

Cons:

• Can be a bit too short