20160704:
Like choosing films on Netflix, I spent a while thinking about which game I should play next - though it does get tougher after having played two. In any case, after skipping several games, I end up choosing this platformer, Escape Goat 2.
Setup: I decided to play with my Logitech Rumble Gamepad F510, I didn't need any bells and whistles of the Steam Controller. I had to close the game and reopen it for the Steam screenshot shortcut to work.
Playing straight for a little over an hour, I almost couldn't put it down. Of course, that was in part due to the sentiment that I was getting close to betting the game. However, when I began to get the feeling I had reached about the halfway point, I decided to stop.
This is especially good since there's always the chance that there's some sort of plot twist which would cause the game to double in length.
Note that some of the game time is from me replaying a level and determining the fastest way to complete it. This game would be decently fun to speedrun, though I personally wouldn't want to figure out all the optimal solutions.*
Steam Game Time 74 minutes (cumulative game time)
*There's a video of someone doing a 100% speed run in just over 45 minutes (RT: 56 minutes). There were many clever tricks. For example, in 4-4, my "quick" solution was to turn off the two beams on the right. The speedrunner's solution was to fall parallel to the falling block!
Thoughts:
Pros:
+ The controls seem responsive
+ Variety of puzzle mechanics keeps the game fresh
+ Original gameplay (I'm not sure how it compares with Escape Goat)
+ Puzzle mechanics are taught progressively; easy to learn
Neutral:
~ Puzzle Platformer
Con:
- Lacks an appeal, particularly in the aesthetic department
Recommendation:
I love whenever I'm exploring my game library and find something fun and worthwhile. Escape Goat 2 is a fun puzzle platformer and I look forward to completing it.
While it lacks the atmosphere of puzzle platformers like Braid (2009) or Limbo (2011), Escape Goat 2 has strong and enjoyable gameplay. As such, if you like puzzle platformers, I would definitely recommend it.
20160706:
As I suspected, I was only about halfway done in terms of completing the game, but less than a quarter of the way done in terms of a 100% map completion. Today after finishing the game I went on to uncover some of the map.
Steam Game Time: 3.5 hours (cumulative game time) / 2.3 hours (session game time)
20221002 (AM Hours):
Last night I downloaded Hyperdimension Neptunia, but there was a cloud sync issue and so I loaded this game up instead. This game lacked a save file but I felt okay playing it from the beginning. Eventually there are many actions to keep track of:
- Double jump
- Trigger switched
- Dash RT
- B FOR mouse
- Down B to have the mouse stand
- Up B to throw
- Mouse avoids concrete
- Eventually unlock X to switch with mouse
Steam Game Time: 4.0 hours (cumulative game time) / 0.5 hours (session game time)
20221002:
Gameplay Log:
- Made progress.
- Knocked out some achievements (nine to be exact)
- I attempted "Hat Trick in the Library" ("Beat 4-6 without obtaining the Magic Hat") achievement and could not do it.
- Ended the night (20221003 AM Hours) in room 9-2. Had Completed X-11 for all lower levels.
Remark: this skeleton enemy in 9-1 and 9-2 seems familiar. I wonder if I've played these levels before.
Steam Game Time: 9.7 hours (cumulative game time) / 5.7 hours (session game time)
[20221002][20231020 Edit]
20221003:
Gameplay Log:
- Triggered the ending. Seems like an homage to Castlevania. At least from endings I know. (on a cliff watching castle collapse)
- Continue with remaining 9-X levels (the ending happens in 9-6)
- After all X-11 levels, completion is 88.43%...
- Tried searching around for hidden rooms. No luck.
Steam Game Time: 12.0 hours (cumulative game time) / 2.3 hours (session game time)
20221005:
I took a naive shot at the "Speed Escape" achievement ("Beat game in under 30 minutes without loading from save"). I definitely wasn't prepared for it. I later watched a speedrun to acquire some skips. I'll probably spend an hour practicing such tips.
Steam Game Time: 12.6 hours (cumulative game time) / 0.6 hours (session game time)
20221006 (Part 1):
After practicing, I did a run and I forgot which level is best skipping. I managed to finish in 31 minutes. As such, with some small improvements and skipping level 7, I could probably get the 30 minute achievement in under two tries.
Steam Game Time: 15.9 hours (cumulative game time) / 3.3 hours (session game time)
20221006 (Part 2):
I did it. I completed the run in 26:20 (that's in-game time). I died 19 times; there are four hidden achievements, and I imagine one of them involves a no death run. I imagine another hidden achievement would be to uncover 100% of the map.
Steam Game Time: 16.4 hours (cumulative game time) / 0.5 hours (session game time)
20231225:
Today I was looking to ensure that my Steam Deck save files were backed up. However, when I loaded up the game, I had loss a bulk of progress - and there was only one save file. I then opened up the game on the Steam Deck and the progress was the same but there were four saves. Returning to PC, there were now also four saves (main game and three speed runs). At the time, despite having lost progress, I had decided to play some of the levels again (on the main game save; 0.7 hours). However, later in the day I decided to compare the actual save files. Luckily, SyncThing had an older version of the files and I loaded up the first save on PC. Luckily, this worked! This file had my full progress. Reflecting on my observations, I suspect the main save file from my PC was older, yet somehow took dominance and overwrote the main save file on my Steam Deck. Note that each save file is contained in its own file "Stronghold.s.#.save"
Steam Game Time: 17.1 hours (cumulative game time) / 0.7 hours (session game time)
Escape Goat 2 (PC) (2014)
Relevant Links:
Escape Goat 2 Website
Escape Goat 2 (PC) (MetaCritic.com)
Escape Goat (Wikipedia.org)
Like choosing films on Netflix, I spent a while thinking about which game I should play next - though it does get tougher after having played two. In any case, after skipping several games, I end up choosing this platformer, Escape Goat 2.
 |
| You're a wizard! |
Playing straight for a little over an hour, I almost couldn't put it down. Of course, that was in part due to the sentiment that I was getting close to betting the game. However, when I began to get the feeling I had reached about the halfway point, I decided to stop.
This is especially good since there's always the chance that there's some sort of plot twist which would cause the game to double in length.
Note that some of the game time is from me replaying a level and determining the fastest way to complete it. This game would be decently fun to speedrun, though I personally wouldn't want to figure out all the optimal solutions.*
Steam Game Time 74 minutes (cumulative game time)
 |
| One mice to rule them all. |
Thoughts:
Pros:
+ The controls seem responsive
+ Variety of puzzle mechanics keeps the game fresh
+ Original gameplay (I'm not sure how it compares with Escape Goat)
+ Puzzle mechanics are taught progressively; easy to learn
Neutral:
~ Puzzle Platformer
 |
| Progress after first run. |
Con:
- Lacks an appeal, particularly in the aesthetic department
Recommendation:
I love whenever I'm exploring my game library and find something fun and worthwhile. Escape Goat 2 is a fun puzzle platformer and I look forward to completing it.
While it lacks the atmosphere of puzzle platformers like Braid (2009) or Limbo (2011), Escape Goat 2 has strong and enjoyable gameplay. As such, if you like puzzle platformers, I would definitely recommend it.
20160706:
As I suspected, I was only about halfway done in terms of completing the game, but less than a quarter of the way done in terms of a 100% map completion. Today after finishing the game I went on to uncover some of the map.
 |
| Like any good puzzle platformer, you'll occasionally have to try again. |
Steam Game Time: 3.5 hours (cumulative game time) / 2.3 hours (session game time)
20221002 (AM Hours):
Last night I downloaded Hyperdimension Neptunia, but there was a cloud sync issue and so I loaded this game up instead. This game lacked a save file but I felt okay playing it from the beginning. Eventually there are many actions to keep track of:
- Double jump
- Trigger switched
- Dash RT
- B FOR mouse
- Down B to have the mouse stand
- Up B to throw
- Mouse avoids concrete
- Eventually unlock X to switch with mouse
Steam Game Time: 4.0 hours (cumulative game time) / 0.5 hours (session game time)
20221002:
Gameplay Log:
- Made progress.
- Knocked out some achievements (nine to be exact)
- I attempted "Hat Trick in the Library" ("Beat 4-6 without obtaining the Magic Hat") achievement and could not do it.
- Ended the night (20221003 AM Hours) in room 9-2. Had Completed X-11 for all lower levels.
Remark: this skeleton enemy in 9-1 and 9-2 seems familiar. I wonder if I've played these levels before.
Steam Game Time: 9.7 hours (cumulative game time) / 5.7 hours (session game time)
 |
| Too many doors in the puzzle room. |
[20221002][20231020 Edit]
20221003:
Gameplay Log:
- Triggered the ending. Seems like an homage to Castlevania. At least from endings I know. (on a cliff watching castle collapse)
- Continue with remaining 9-X levels (the ending happens in 9-6)
- After all X-11 levels, completion is 88.43%...
- Tried searching around for hidden rooms. No luck.
Steam Game Time: 12.0 hours (cumulative game time) / 2.3 hours (session game time)
20221005:
I took a naive shot at the "Speed Escape" achievement ("Beat game in under 30 minutes without loading from save"). I definitely wasn't prepared for it. I later watched a speedrun to acquire some skips. I'll probably spend an hour practicing such tips.
Steam Game Time: 12.6 hours (cumulative game time) / 0.6 hours (session game time)
20221006 (Part 1):
After practicing, I did a run and I forgot which level is best skipping. I managed to finish in 31 minutes. As such, with some small improvements and skipping level 7, I could probably get the 30 minute achievement in under two tries.
Steam Game Time: 15.9 hours (cumulative game time) / 3.3 hours (session game time)
20221006 (Part 2):
I did it. I completed the run in 26:20 (that's in-game time). I died 19 times; there are four hidden achievements, and I imagine one of them involves a no death run. I imagine another hidden achievement would be to uncover 100% of the map.
Steam Game Time: 16.4 hours (cumulative game time) / 0.5 hours (session game time)
20231225:
Today I was looking to ensure that my Steam Deck save files were backed up. However, when I loaded up the game, I had loss a bulk of progress - and there was only one save file. I then opened up the game on the Steam Deck and the progress was the same but there were four saves. Returning to PC, there were now also four saves (main game and three speed runs). At the time, despite having lost progress, I had decided to play some of the levels again (on the main game save; 0.7 hours). However, later in the day I decided to compare the actual save files. Luckily, SyncThing had an older version of the files and I loaded up the first save on PC. Luckily, this worked! This file had my full progress. Reflecting on my observations, I suspect the main save file from my PC was older, yet somehow took dominance and overwrote the main save file on my Steam Deck. Note that each save file is contained in its own file "Stronghold.s.#.save"
Steam Game Time: 17.1 hours (cumulative game time) / 0.7 hours (session game time)
Escape Goat 2 (PC) (2014)
Escape Goat 2 Website
Escape Goat 2 (PC) (MetaCritic.com)
Escape Goat (Wikipedia.org)
No comments :