I think we all can agree that we need a way to blow off some steam as we navigate the dystopian horror show that is 2020.
While many gamers play games like Fortnite or Apex Legends to scratch that itch, some of us just can’t get into the FPS style for one reason or another. There has been a gap in the video game landscape for a casually competitive and non-violent option that you can play in quick bursts with friends and family.
Enter Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout.
Mediatonic has released a family-friendly game that is sure to get your heart rate up and your nerd rage on without the violence and gore.
Fall Guys features a very bright & colorful set of arenas where cute little blob-like characters that give off a “Minions meets Grimace from McDonalds” vibe join 59 other players to run through obstacle courses with one simple goal: be the last blob standing with the crown.
Your character levels up as you play, which gives you cosmetic seasonal awards like hot dog suits, color options, and patterns that you can use to customize your character. My character frequently competes with a rainbow unicorn horn & tutu.
There is also an in-game currency that you can earn to buy additional items that are available daily in the shop. Yes, there are micro transaction options if you’d rather buy the currency than earn it slowly. Micro transactions can kill a game before it ever gets started, but in Fall Guys the currency isn’t used for anything that offers competitive advantages—it’s strictly cosmetic.
The amazing thing is that I’ve been playing Fall Guys for about a month without winning a round yet, and that doesn’t impact my enjoyment at all. I just get in a party with a friend, and we talk while playing a goofy video game. It’s exactly what I need some days after all the stresses that come with being a human in 2020.
Now, it isn’t all sunshine and rainbows. There have been some server issues since the launch of the game. I’m not sure the game company was prepared for the fast success that the game had. For the most part, those concerns have been greatly reduced in the last couple of weeks.
Of course, as with any game where you’re playing online opposite other people, you’re going to have to deal with griefers. The game mechanics in Fall Guys allow you to grab and hold onto other players. As you can imagine, this can lead to the occasional jerk who has no interest in playing the game as intended and instead is focused on preventing you from doing so. Still, these concerns are minor and, aside from making me hoarse at shouting obscenities in my friends’ ears, it hasn’t really impacted the fun of the game at all.
This is the perfect game for the casual gamer who wants to have some silly fun with friends, and I highly recommend it.
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