Triple Click

Triple Play: Animal Well (with Russ Frushtick)

May 16, 2024

Join video game journalist Russ Frushtick, known for his insightful reviews at Polygon and co-hosting The Besties, as he dives into the delightful indie game, Animal Well. The trio discusses its clever environmental puzzles and minimalist art style, comparing it to classics like Metroid and Outer Wilds. They highlight the whimsical charm of exploring hidden areas and the joy of collaborative puzzle-solving. The conversation also touches on the fascinating themes of Naomi Klein's book, Doppelganger, enriching the gaming discourse with reflections on narrative structures.

56:50

Creator website

Episode guests

Russ Frushtick

AI Summary

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

Animal Well distinguishes itself with a unique focus on environmental puzzles and exploration rather than traditional combat mechanics.

The game's innovative item mechanics encourage players to think creatively, using items for multiple functions to solve intricate puzzles.

Community engagement plays a crucial role in Animal Well, as players collaborate online to share strategies and uncover hidden secrets.

Deep dives

Overview of Animal Well

Animal Well is a unique Metroidvania game developed by Billy Basso, emphasizing environmental puzzles rather than combat. It features a minimalist design and a haunting aesthetic, drawing inspiration from other games like Metroid and Outer Wilds. The gameplay focuses on exploration and problem-solving, with levels designed to entice players to uncover secrets at their own pace. Players control a character that looks like a pillow, navigating through a well populated by strange animals, all while collecting various items that aid in solving intricate puzzles.

Intro

3min

Exploring 'Animal Well': A Metroidvania Journey

14min

Whimsy in Game Design

13min

The Thrill of the Hunt in Animal Well

14min

Accessible Thrills in 2D Platforming Adventures

3min

Exploring 'Doppelganger': Misidentification and Narrative Structure

5min

Exploring Game Mechanics: From Mini Shoot Adventures to Hades 2

4min

Animal Well is one of the best video game surprises in recent memory, and we'll be talking about it for years. This week Jason, Maddy, and special guest Russ Frushtick (Polygon, The Besties) give their impressions of the game in three increasingly obsessive phases.

One More Thing:

Maddy: Doppelganger by Naomi Klein (she finished it!)

Jason: Minishoot Adventures

LINKS:

Russ's gaming podcast The Besties and his Polygon review of Animal Well

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