Animal Well

[radiofloyd]

Picked this up as it was discounted on Steam and I’m feeling very intelligent after playing Blue Prince. I thought there was a thread but I guess not.

 

Anyway, I booted it up to try it out and 90 minutes disappeared very quickly. Artistically, the game is a knockout. The mysterious animal theme is a very nice. Now that I’m thinking about it, the mysterious atmosphere of the game reminds me of Superbrothers: Sword and Sworcery EP, even though they have nothing else in common (I haven’t thought about that game in over 10 years). The subtle visual and sound effects are very well done too.

 

Gameplay wise, it’s kind of like a compact metroidvania with a focus on puzzles.

[radiofloyd]

6 hours in now. I have one of the four flame thingies that I guess will do something when I get them all, Dark Souls style.

 

Not much to say other than that the game is very good. Whether it will be a “classic” like Fez or Hollow Knight, or just another very good indie game like Cocoon or Tunic, time will tell.

[radiofloyd]

Up to 11 hours now, 2/4 flames. 30+ eggs. Actually I just remembered there’s a reward for collecting 32 eggs so I need to collect that.

 

The last part I did was quite exhilarating. There’s a portion of the game where you have to carry an item from one part of the map to quite a distant area, while being chased by an enemy who pursues you the whole way. 
 

One thing I loved about games like Outer Wilds and Hollow Knight is that they didn’t hold your hand. They had their own internal logic and they guided you in the right direction, but for the most part you were on your own. I’m starting to think I love games like that, and Animal Well is another excellent example.

[Maf]

I played some of this last year and quite liked it, but it's a very dense Metroidvania. Like you say above I agree it brings to mind things like Fez and Tunic. Maybe some Axiom Verge as well (And a little Pac Man because of the shape of the thing and the colours). It's a very dense game that doesn't tell you shit, you just have to move around and figure it out. And I wasn't in the mood for that in December. Do want to return to it and give it another go, though.  

[radiofloyd]

Probably on the home stretch now. I collected all four flames, have 41 eggs.

 

I’ve been pretty thorough and have traversed the map multiple times over the course of my play-through, but there’s definitely tons of stuff I missed. Not least eggs, I think the total is 64.  But if this is the final stretch I’m happy to go ahead and finish the game.

[radiofloyd]

Yeah that was the home stretch. Finished after more or less exactly 15 hours, 14/20 achievements.

 

It’s a very good game, an easy recommendation if you like metroidvanias. Quality wise I’d probably put it in a similar bracket to Blue Prince - great, but maybe missing something that the very very best games have. What that something is seems to be subjective though.

 

There is also clearly plenty to do post-game, but 15 hours is a nice round number to end on.