Gang Beasts PS4 Review

As multiplayer fighting games go, Gang Beasts is certainly not one that should be taken seriously. This is more of an enjoyable party game as opposed to an insanely competitive brawler, but there really isn’t anything wrong with that, and there’s certainly potential for lots of fun with this one.

Initially, Gang Beasts can be rather difficult to get to grips with, so it’s certainly not a pick up and play game in the way that many other party games are, and it sometimes even feels rather awkward to play, but this also adds to its amusing charm somewhat. There’s individual arm control for your customisable jelly-like character, and these controls do take some time getting used to, as do actions such as grabbing hold of the environment and climbing it, and these are two things that will often save your bacon.

Don’t let the learning curve completely sour your opinion of the game though, as when things start clicking there’s a lot of fun and hilarity to be had in bouts against other players, with potential for up to four players locally and up to eight online. It’s a game that doesn’t deserve to be written off straight away.

The unpredictable physics in the game are definitely what could be called impressive, and bring to mind the likes of Human Fall Flat. Due to this, bouts are also hugely entertaining to watch, and there can be some tense and exciting rounds as players battle to toss each other from a height or into an obstacle such as a moving train or a grinder, scoring the victor of the round a point. With lots of grappling and dragging often happening in the game, Gang Beasts often also resembles a wrestling match, albeit a sometimes poorly choreographed wrestling match.

There’s also a nice variation of stages in the game, which includes everything from rooftops, moving Ferris wheels, train stations, wrestling rings, and more. There are 17 stages in all, which means there are a nice number of them included in the game. This is appreciated considering the game’s rather lengthy development, with it first being revealed back in 2014.

In terms of modes, there’s the brawl mode, which has you fighting against other players. There’s also a wave mode, which pits you against AI opponents, either in single player or multiplayer, and it has to be said that the AI opponents definitely put up a fight. Finally, there’s also a football mode, but this is the worst mode in my book and just slightly pales in comparison to the rest. It’s still a lot of fun though.

I mentioned the Waves mode above, but apart from this, there really is nothing else for the lone gamer out there. With that said, this is definitely a game that feels geared towards its multiplayer options, but this isn’t surprising considering that it is very much a party game, and party games are regularly best enjoyed with others. In fact, even though the game has online options, it’s definitely the kind of game that is at its best when played with and against others in the same room.

Gang Beasts is the kind of thing that is best enjoyed in short bursts, but they are often short bursts of great entertainment and laughs, which helps makes it a memorable party game. It may feel a little frustrating and scrappy to play at times, but as a silly and fun multiplayer game I would still recommend giving Gang Beasts a look.