Escape Goat isn't a texture swapped Super Mario Bros. like most of the platformers on the Xbox Live Indie Games service. Escape Goat isn't about quick reflexes (but they certainly help); it's about assessing the situation and solving the presented puzzle through sheer willpower and intellect. In a lot of ways, Escape Goat reminds me of Portal 2. They both make you feel like the smartest person on the planet once you figure out their puzzles, and I never had to look up a solution to one as I always figured it out on my own. That's really remarkable for me as I'm really bad at puzzling solving. Not only that, but I'm also really bad at platformers, so Escape Goat is kinda' a double threat for me. I like puzzle games, but I don't really enjoy platformers, but since platforming is your form of locomotion in this game, the puzzles needed to be really good for me to play through it to the end. And let me tell you, they're really good. Not only that, but the platforming side of things of jumping around and managing air control feels intuitive. Developer Magical Time Bean does an excellent job in introducing their base platforming and puzzles mechanics, and also does an exceptionally good job of easing you into new situations and getting you comfortable in your ability to use new tools, which is frequent. I never felt overwhelmed in Escape Goat, but I always felt challenged and in control of my abilities, and I really can't see a more perfect balance than that.

There's no doubt in my mind that this is Magical Time Bean's best work yet. Escape Goat raises them up to and above the best talent on the Xbox Live Indie Games service. The level and puzzle design is sublime, the platforming is pitch-perfect, the visual style is striking, and the soundtrack is worth purchasing on its own as it's one of the best of this year. It also encourages you to play through twice, as the New Game Plus option gives you unlimited access to a previously otherwise tool that completely changes how play the game.

Escape Goat is the definition of a complete package, and is borderline flawless at what it sets out to achieve. That's why Escape Goat is not only Hidden Audio Log's Xbox Live Indie Game of the Year of 2011, but probably the best Xbox Live Indie Game ever.

Purchase Escape Goat for the Xbox 360 here! And while you're at it, go buy its incredible soundtrack here!