As it hit the gaming zeitgeist at about the same time it was released on PS Plus, I thought I'd give "Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout" a try. I found a game that's fun, but that reveals all it has to offer far too quickly. (For the record, I appreciate that, over time, the intention will be to increase the variety of the levels, but I'm reviewing the game as it is, following the midseason one update, in September of 2020.)
Like a combination of "Takeshi's Castle" and "The Wall", "Fall Guys" sees you control a small minion-esque character as you participate in a virtual game show in an attempt to be the last person standing. Each episode is split into five games, these games can take the form of races, matching games, team sports and balancing challenges. Controls are minimal, with only movement, jumping and a basic grab function available to the player.
"Fall Guys" great strength is its immediate playability, controls are simple, goals are obvious and it's a (mostly) level playing field. Progression in the game gives you in game currency, but this can only be exchanged for cosmetic items (that can also be purchased via microtransactions) there is no paying to win. Success can feel a little random, as the physics of how your character interacts with the level, and most importantly with the other characters, can determine how you proceed. That can be a source of immense frustration, when it's not your "fault" if you fail to qualify, but the ability to quickly get playing again in a new episode does ease a lot of that.
The trouble is, after about an hour or so's play, I felt like I'd seen everything that the game had to offer. There are only twenty five levels, some of which are only available as the fifth and final game of an episode and with this repetition of the levels comes the realisation that most of them have at the very least an optimal route of completion - which increases the repetition even further. If there were hundreds of levels, or even just hundreds of variations to the levels - then this would be a classic party game and maybe it will get there one day, but for now, it's an entertaining couple of sessions only.
