Ultimate Chicken Horse

Ultimate Chicken Horse
Developer(s)Clever Endeavour Games
Publisher(s)Clever Endeavour Games
Composer(s)Vibe Avenue
EngineUnity
Platform(s)
ReleaseMicrosoft Windows, Linux, Mac
  • WW: 4 March 2016
PlayStation 4
  • WW: 12 December 2017
Xbox One
  • WW: 15 December 2017
Nintendo Switch
  • WW: 25 September 2018
Genre(s)Platform
Mode(s)Multiplayer

Ultimate Chicken Horse is a multiplayer competitive platform video game developed and published by Canadian studio Clever Endeavour Games. It was released for Microsoft Windows on 4 March 2016, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One in December 2017, and Nintendo Switch on 25 September 2018.[1]

A spiritual successor, titled Ultimate Sheep Raccoon, is scheduled to be released in 2025.[2]

Gameplay

Screenshot of "Free Play" mode

Ultimate Chicken Horse is a platform video game where players assume the role of one of various animals. The goal of each game is to score points by building a platform level one piece at a time (per player) and race each other to a flag on the other side of the level. Players add obstacles designed to challenge their opponents, while also making sure they themselves can handle their handiwork.[3] If nobody reaches the goal, or if everybody does, nobody gets any points. Points are awarded each round for various achievements, such as reaching the goal first, or setting a successful trap.[4] The winner of the match is the player who reaches a set number of points or has the most points after a set number of rounds. Each round is estimated to last a minute.[5]

The PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox and PlayStation versions of the game support cross-play online.[6]

Development

The concept for Ultimate Chicken Horse emerged in September 2014 during a game jam. Developer Richard Atlas stated in an interview with Gamasutra that he was in the process of forming Clever Endeavour Games when it came about. The final team included personnel who had previously worked on games such as Gardenarium and Rimworld.[7]

Ultimate Chicken Horse was primarily built in the Unity engine.[7]

Reception

The PlayStation 4 version of Ultimate Chicken Horse received "generally favorable" reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic.[8] The Escapist said the game "does everything it tries to do very well, but a few quibbles keep it from greatness," and recommended "a better guiding hand for stage building, especially for new players".[9]

References

  1. ^ "Ultimate Chicken Horse Brings Level Creation Chaos To Switch On 25th September". Nintendo Life. 16 September 2018. Archived from the original on 29 November 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2018.
  2. ^ Romano, Sal (11 December 2024). "Bike-racing party game Ultimate Sheep Raccoon announced for consoles, PC". Gematsu. Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  3. ^ Tom Marks (5 February 2016). "Sabotage your friends, and probably yourself, in Ultimate Chicken Horse". pcgamer. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  4. ^ Campbell, Colin (30 August 2015). "Ultimate Chicken Horse is competitive platform design on the fly". Polygon. Archived from the original on 31 January 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  5. ^ Matulef, Jeffrey (2 February 2016). "Ultimate Chicken Horse is an early frontrunner for game of 2016". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 25 January 2022. Retrieved 16 November 2017.
  6. ^ "Ultimate Chicken Horse Lands on PlayStation 4 in the Americas, Jumps to Xbox One Dec. 15, PlayStation 4 Europe Dec. 18". Archived from the original on 29 January 2021. Retrieved 12 December 2017.
  7. ^ a b Couture, Joel (27 January 2017). "Road to the IGF: Clever Endeavour Games' Ultimate Chicken Horse". Archived from the original on 29 January 2021. Retrieved 9 December 2017.
  8. ^ a b "Ultimate Chicken Horse". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 29 November 2022. Retrieved 10 January 2018.
  9. ^ a b "Ultimate Chicken Horse Review – A Great Way to Both Make and Lose Friends". The Escapist. 11 March 2016. Archived from the original on 5 December 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2017.