Goons: Legends & Mayhem Preview

Hockey games are nothing new and like any sports game, there’s a host out there that covers nearly every part of the ice hockey experience, at least in theory. However, developer RageCure Games has decided to go in a very different direction with ice hockey: this one is an action-adventure game on skates instead of a sports game. We have to ask if Goons: Legends & Mayhem is scoring a goal or if it will end up in the penalty box.

The plot takes place in Zambonia — some of the puns are pretty…ice (heh), where an evil horde of mascots has taken over. You take the role of several heroes that you unlock throughout the game. Honestly, the plot is pretty inconsequential, and it isn’t the deepest story in the world. However, it gives you a reason to keep heading forward, and I never felt like I was out of my element or had no idea what I needed to do. There’s something to be said for simple plots, really: there’s nothing major to think about here and Goons: Legends & Mayhem is better for it.

The gameplay is based on ice hockey and is split into several game modes. The first game mode focuses on exploring a large map and fighting small groups of enemies by shooting unlimited pucks. Now, I have to say one thing: play this game with a controller —  the keyboard controls are a nightmare, especially moving back and forth! The large map mode is pretty entertaining, but it gets old quite quickly.

The other major gameplay mode is more like an actual hockey match instead: I call it the arena mode. You are locked in an ice rink and must shoot the opponent enough to weaken them. For instance, the first major fight involves fighting a Zamboni that you need to hit enough to whack it with a charged shot. The only downside of these matches is that they often don’t fully explain what you need to do; although it’s usually quite easy to figure out. For instance, in one of the fights, you’ll need to weaken the opponent by shooting a specific kind of fish at them, but there are two kinds of fish in the ring, and the game gives no indication of which is which. It’s very much like the old PlayStation 1 mascot games in terms of design, and it’s fun to engage with, but, like those games, it gets old after a while. 

The repetition is somewhat fixed by the ability to use several different characters. I was able to try out the Wizard and the Valkyrie. Each option has two different skills, one movement-based and the other an attack. For instance, the wizard has a fireball and can move in a burst of lightning. Swapping between the characters kept me from getting bored with the missions, and this is where the multiplayer came into effect. I didn’t get a chance to try it out, but I can see the appeal of it. 

The game's graphics are fun and the music is much the same. Goons: Legends & Mayhem is reminiscent of a puppet show, and the movements, bosses, and attacks are all well-designed and entertaining. I especially like the design of some of the bosses, each one hockey-or ice-themed. The music was less interesting, but it added fitting background music that helped to keep me interested.

Goons: Legends & Mayhem knows what it wants to be, and it offers something I haven’t seen before. The idea of using a sport as a basis for an entirely different genre is one I’ve not seen before. A few bits need some work, but otherwise, this is certainly one to check out.