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.
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.
The Three Layers of Gameplay
The game introduces three distinct layers of gameplay that progressively increase in complexity. The first layer consists of basic Metroidvania mechanics, where players collect objects and solve puzzles to advance through the game. The second layer challenges players to backtrack and hunt for hidden eggs throughout the environment, revealing additional secrets and deeper mysteries. Finally, the third layer is a culmination of the previous gameplay styles, introducing collaborative puzzles that require solving in community, often leading to complex, yet satisfying discoveries.
Creative Item Mechanics
One of the standout features of Animal Well is its inventive approach to item mechanics, where every item serves multiple purposes beyond their initial use. For example, players might find a bubble wand that functions similarly to a traditional double jump by enabling unique traversal techniques. This design encourages experimentation, prompting players to leverage their items creatively to overcome obstacles in various ways. Each new object players acquire opens up further possibilities, creating a sense of satisfaction and wonder as they unravel the game's secrets.
Community and Collaboration
The gameplay of Animal Well also emphasizes community and cooperation, as players often share insights and hints to uncover the more challenging puzzles. The game encourages collaboration through social media and online forums, where players can exchange knowledge about egg locations and strategies for solving intricate riddles. This interaction mirrors experiences found in games like Destiny, where players team up to decode mysteries. As a result, players forge connections and engage in discussions that enhance their overall experience of the game.
The Appeal of Secrets and Exploration
At the heart of Animal Well lies the engaging allure of exploration and the joy of uncovering hidden secrets. Each player's journey is layered with surprises and requires keen observation, leading to moments of epiphany when they discover something previously unnoticed. The intricate design encourages players to continually engage with their surroundings, as every nook may harbor a new secret or cleverly hidden puzzle. This commitment to exploration not only heightens immersion but also fosters a dedicated player community eager to share their discoveries.
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!)
