Death Goat (XBLIG): "!@#$% Hardcore!!!"

In the video game industry there are different levels of "Hardcore". Netherealm Studios, and Midway began a trend with their highly successful ultra-violent fighter "Mortal Kombat", and even Rockstar Games stepped in to develop their own lewd rule-breaking series called "Grand Theft Auto". Very rarely do you see an indie developer delve deep into this seriously "Hardcore" stuff though. Thankfully there are some indie developers willing to push the limits with more "adult" themed content. Brian Ferrara, and Nocturnal Studios joined forces to bring us indie enthusiasts a truly awesome, and hardcore shmup (shoot 'em up). This game, otherwise known as Death Goat is filled to the brim with gory graphics, and a noteworthy heavy metal soundtrack. Collectively it brings a whole new meaning to the word "Hardcore". Even the art style seems to pay homage to the heavy metal lifestyle that many of you will likely be familiar with. You'll find animations resembling tattoos, and a color scheme fitting of such skin art. As a complete package "Death Goat" is a thoroughly enjoyable experience that takes the gamer deep into the bowels of hell, and makes them like it enough to return again, and again for more.

Death Goat is definitely an interesting twin stick shooter to say the least. From the ominous, and devilish start menu onward you will find plenty of heavy metal content embedded in all aspects of the game. The title screen featuring a devilish goat head screams heavy metal as does all of the menu's fonts which provide navigation throughout the game's various sub-sections. You'll find a dark assortment of stages to choose from (A City Abandoned, The Land of Frigid Solitude, The Wasteland), a demonic cast of wacky characters (Death Witch, Death Goat, Death Kitty, Death Granny, Death tank), and 9 tracks of heavy metal music. This music arrangement of course includes vocals, and ranges from the more classical tunes to the ultimately hardcore ones known as "Death Metal".

Gameplay in "Death Goat" is what you'd expect from a twin stick shmup. You'll find that the left thumbstick controls the characters' movement while the right thumbstick shoots the current weapon you have in your possession. Features like boosting (LT), and bombs (RT) are an essential part of gameplay as well since they will both allow you to escape from dire circumstances should you find yourself in such a predicament.  After you've selected your stage, character, and the music track (Vanisher!!!) via the start menu option you will be placed in the midst of a wave after wave of swarming creatures while your preferred music plays in the background (Press Y to switch tracks). To fend off the various fiends that constantly swarm about you must collect shields (Protection Orb ov Quorthon), and weapons (Baaaahmb ov Blasphemy, Mutiilation Blast, Searing Wound ov Total Armageddon, Abyss ov Agony, The Soul Ravager) that will help you dispatch the deadly denizens. The shield will protect you for three hits while changing color each time you are struck (silver/blue, yellow, red). The weapons vary according to the color (Green, Red, Purple, Blue) of the circle power-ups that you gather. There is everything from a shotgun type of bullet spray to laser shots, and even a saw-like beam. The in-game control menu will spell it all out for you with the detailed visual aids that it provides.

Aside from the usual control setup you'll also find that "Death Goat" has some other unique features worth mentioning. Like any proper shmup the developers of the game have provided a local highscore leaderboard for anyone interested in trying to outperform their competition, or themselves. Along with the standard "Top 10" leaderboard listings also comes the character of choice's name, and some stats that keep track of how well you did during your playthrough. Things like "Time Survived", "Total Score", "Kills", "Kils Per Min.", "Shots Fired", "Hit %", and "# of Rounds" are a part of this statistic based list. Accompanying the leaderboard display is an artistic display of your fallen character in it's final death pose. Blood, and guts are included.

When it's all said, and done "Death Goat" delivers an awe-inspiring escape from the norm. The heavy metal soundtrack that plays in the background as you litter the playing field with the blood, and guts of creature corpses only makes you want to go back for more. Even with the game as challenging as it is I never grew tired of rocking "The Wasteland" as my favorite character (Death Witch) while listening to the "Vanisher" music track. I simply let the track repeat over, and over as the gore, and blood of my enemies spilled like a tattoo masterpiece on the game's virtual battleground. The death animations were always exciting to watch, and the creatures themselves seem to be ripped straight from the minds of the "Heavy Metal" movie artists. Brian Ferrara, and the Nocturnal Studios team did one hell of a job making this heavy metal tribute. I enjoyed every moment of my playthrough, and will definitely return to the game often for future stress relief. If you haven't picked this game up yet i highly suggest that you do. It is most definitely worth every point!