Chill Fox Review (PC)

Goat Simulator is proof that even the silliest sandbox games are capable of stealing the limelight every once in a blue moon. Chill Fox, too, shares that philosophy—a notion that the world needs ridiculous things to keep the world from succumbing to momentous pilgrimaging and foolhardy tendencies. It doesn’t do all of its fixtures justice, though it also doesn’t make a sly habit of being something that it’s not. Alas, Chill Fox isn’t a double-stacked A-list video game; it’s a kooky fox-centric simulator that waxes kooky ideas and nonsensical humor. It’s Goat Simulator — with a fox.

As much as I’d hate to burst your bubble and fill your head with bitter truths, it is worth pointing out that, while Chill Fox does feature some slinky mechanics and “authentic” fox-based gameplay, it isn’t Stray, nor is it anything that could hold a candle against the vast majority of its creature comfort kin. No, Chill Fox is a little safer and primitive in that it turns a blind eye to compelling plot points and instead focuses on simple, numskull-like scenarios. It fosters chickens, guard dogs, and of course, rag doll physics. We’ll let your imagination do the rest of the work. Not that you would need much to develop a clear image, mind you.

With all of the above said, Chill Fox is a small game that actively chooses to spend its short time with a simple set of rules: capture chickens, and avoid the two prowling dogs that roam the grounds of a vibrant sandbox locale. Granted, there is a little more to it than that, but you get the gist.

The Gloves Are Off

Chill Fox slumps you into a mischievous world of fox-fueled comedy and chicken-chasing theatrics. In this world, you take to the paws of a fox that ponders a simple objective: to hunt chickens, and to frequently interact with whatever oddities that spring out from beneath the woodwork of the weirdly wonderful farmyard area. And if you think that all sounds a little too simple, well, that’s because it is. Moreover, if you think it sounds a lot like Goat Simulator, then again, that’s because it is, pardoning the guard dogs of course, more or less the same thing.

The game itself is described as a relaxing experience — and it is. Well, sort of. The fact of the matter is that, although the game does allow you to rampantly roam around a farmyard and dodge barking foes and what have you, there isn’t all that much of a challenge for you to overcome here. Case in point, the game doesn’t spoon feed you any timers to keep tabs on, nor does it give you any strict rules or impromptu guides to juggle. Heck, it doesn’t really hand you all that many objectives to complete. And I suppose that’s a bit of a double-edged sword when you think about it, as on the one hand it doesn’t force you to engage in any kind of point-docking activity, whereas on the other hand, it also doesn’t test your limits or give you much to fight towards. Given the nature of the game, though, I suppose it doesn’t really matter either way.

Not-So-Sly Fox

As it turns out, Chill Fox is actually quite a lot of fun to play. And I don’t mean that it’s nauseatingly fun, but that, in its own unique sort of way, it is pleasantly entertaining to romp through for an hour or two. Of course, the gameplay is a little on the barebones side of things, and the mechanics don’t offer a great deal in terms of complexity. To add, the world that it brings to the table—a barnyard biome with various set pieces and tongue-in-cheek references, for the most part—doesn’t exactly capture anything particularly exciting. Having said all of that, Chill Fox is a surprisingly harmless and bashful sandbox sim. It’s still about chasing chickens and butting heads with strangers, but then, if Goat Simulator could sway the tide in its favor, then so can Chill Fox. Right?

Suffice it to say that, as far as lengthy romp ‘em ups go, Chill Fox certainly isn’t in a position to flex its wad. It’s a short game all in all, and it doesn’t overstay its welcome by implementing worthless filler or jargon to keep your attention. No, if Chill Fox does anything at all, it simply gives you the tools to explore at your own free will, and takes the frequent chance to pepper its world with some form of comical set piece or, in some cases, an a-ha moment that make you shed just the faintest hint of laughter

From a mechanic point of view, Chill Fox is more or less everything that you would expect it to be: a half-cooked physics-based experience that lacks the grace of a fluid engine, but counteracts its inherent flaws with a comical design that’s absurdly entertaining to watch unfold. It isn’t great, but then, Chill Fox isn’t with the mindset of being great; it settles for being a comedy with a few broken teeth and embraces it. I can’t complain about that.

Verdict

In spite of all its minor shortcomings, Chill Fox still manages to bring simple fun for the weary traveler. It doesn’t do anything particularly well, though it does make a genuine effort to keep you chugging along and giggling at its silly theatrics and easter egg references for all the while you don the tail and chase the coop.

Let it be said that, while Chill Fox isn’t blessed with the best performance or audiovisual qualities, the vibrant biomes and gimmicky tropes that it does bring to the table do make for pulpy additions that feel both wholesome and oddly pleasing to romp around in. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel with the materials that it supplies, nor does it do much to steal the thunder from beneath its closest competitor’s feet, for that matter. That said, Chill Fox settles for an easygoing experience that will no doubt appeal to the modern audience and those adolescent spirits at heart.

To cut a long story short, if it’s a fox-centric version of Goat Simulator that you’re looking to dig your claws into, then you ought to consider Chill Fox the next time you’re itching for some sandbox mayhem.