Ultimate Chicken Horse Mini-review | PC

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It's been seven years since the animal party game Ultimate Chicken Horse came out, and now after numerous new content over the years, there’s a fresh "Shellebration" update, so we thought it was time to take it for a quickie.

by James Michael Parry

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​@james_parry

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Developer: Cleaver Endeavour Games
Publisher: Cleaver Endeavor Games
Platforms: PC, Xbox One, PS4
Players: 2-4

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So this game definitely sounds familiar?

You're right! In the time-honoured tradition of gaming milestones the development team at Cleaver Endeavour Games have decided to mark the game's seventh birthday with a free update.

The game itself remains its tried and tested self, but there's a brand new level, character, outfits and more to explore.

What's the game actually like then?

The aim of the game is to get from the start to…stay with us on this…the goal. It’s really as simple as it sounds, the characters start in one area and have to end up in another, but getting there will be anything but simple.

You’ll place one item on the level at the beginning of each round which can either help you get across, or is a trap to hinder the other players. Of course, if you’re not careful, you’ll fall fowl of it too.

Speaking of fowl, where do the chicken and horse come in?

Your characters to choose from are a selection of charming animals which, while they don’t have special abilities, will make various noises as you inevitably die. The designs are really cute and you feel terrible for letting them down, instantly.

There are currently a whopping 12 characters to choose from, including a cheeky monkey and a snake on a skateboard, so there’s something for everyone.

Plus, up to four players can play locally or online at the same time for maximum carnage.​

How’s that new level you mentioned?

The latest addition to the very impressive levels roster, which sits at an impressive 19, is The Metro, which includes the hazard of a train occasionally whistling through to electrocute you horribly.

The rest of levels all have their own memorable elements or challenging quirks too, including The Waterfall, which has you clamber from behind the waterfall itself around a ledge anti-clockwise, creating a particularly nasty choke point where all sorts of mayhem can, and will, occur.

Was there anything you didn’t like about it?

To begin with, if you jump straight into a multiplayer game without having played before, it can be a little challenging to work out exactly how it all works.

Fortunately after even a single round, and certainly by the time the first game is over, everyone will have the hang of it – or may have stormed off in frustration.

When we played this time, fond memories of the time we spent with it way back when came flooding back.

There’s the odd bit of visual lag here and there for other players’ movement, but nothing that ever affects the game.

You’d say the game, and the Shellebration update, are worth checking out?

Given that the update is free, and all the new content can be unlocked in-game, it already seems like a no-brainer, but more than that the game is great fun to play and stands the test of time, giving bags of replayability.

If you still need any convincing though, here’s a reminder of just how absolutely terrible Sam and I are at the game in our now five-year-old Let’s Play: