Animal Well

johnny_ultimate

Out now on PC, PS5 (including as part of the upper PS+ tiers), Switch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfaqL1oQlck

Reviews: https://opencritic.com/game/16663/animal-well

Turned this on for 45 minutes this evening and it seems like a very special game. I've also been playing the new Prince of Persia, and that's an expertly crafted Metroidvania, but lacks that certain extra something for me beyond just being a confident spin on a familiar formula. This, on the other hand, already has an abundance of that special something: mystery, secrets, discovery, fiendishly clever puzzles, ominous giant animals.

Quite remarkable that they fit this into a 20-40mb (depending on your platform) download. It's haunting and full of character (music, art design, visual direction) in a way that really shouldn't be possible with that kind of file size!

By all accounts it's an absurdly rich game, including a deep layer of secrets that requires different players to share information from their version of the game and work out the mysteries together. So far, though, it's just a wonderfully clever puzzle platformer that makes a stunning first impression.

Zero-Cool

Glad I'm on this day 1 as i felt i was so behind with Hollow Knight. Like you said above, that special something, it's missing from so many games these days that need to make profit to either cover debt or keep shareholders happy so when a game comes out that was made purely to be enjoyed by the player first and download, it's just a breath of fresh air. Getting crazy reviews as well.

https://twitter.com/GermanStrands/status/1788564180716384685?t=fCNw_VZiOB6rEWLWMGhvGg&s=19

Zero-Cool

Ghost Cat is scarier and more relentless than Mr. X!

johnny_ultimate

Spoiler Warning

All about the yo-yo.

Zero-Cool

Fecking crows!

recyclops

Was all in until you said Pop was an expertly crafted metroidvania.

It was fine but this has definitely pique my interest, is it enough to finally dust off the Ps5 (for those not on a tier) and buy it or will a steam deck purchase suffice?

McFly85

Spent a lot of yesterday evening playing this, it’s an absolute joy. Has a feeling of exploration unlike any Metroidvania I’ve ever played, where getting sidetracked can go so far you start to feel that you shouldn’t be going that far and should go back, making pressing on further all that more exciting.

Puzzles are unique and interesting so far too, looking forward to seeing what later ones using multiple items are like.

My PS+ sub ran out the other day so I got it on the deck, which it’s perfect on. Looking forward to getting back to it over the weekend.

johnny_ultimate

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122118834#Comment_122118834

I mean 'expertly crafted' in the sense that it hits all the beats of the genre confidently and competently, and feels good to play with some well-implemented powers and combat (though the parry timing is rather off IMO). But for all that careful skill and craft, it doesn't really have a unique take & identity in the way it's immediately and abundantly clear Animal Well does :)

Steam Deck will more than suffice for this one. It's verified system requirements are hilariously minimal:

Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
OS: Windows 10
Processor: 1 GHz
Memory: 1 GB RAM
DirectX: Version 12
Storage: 40 MB available space

40 MB!

johnny_ultimate

On a separate note, setting off a firecracker for the first time must be one of the most memorable visual 'wow' moments I've seen in a game recently. The whole thing is a really fresh and interesting take on traditional pixel art, especially the hallucinogenic lighting.

Zero-Cool

I can't believe 1 person made this. The level design is just mind boggling for 1 person and then you have the beautiful art and like said above, lovely twist on the common pixel set with the use of glowing lights and colours. I've gotten stuck in a few rooms now where I'm not sure if i can't figure out the puzzle or if i don't have the right tools yet but it's so quick to get around, it's not a big deal to backtrack.

johnny_ultimate

The things I had to go through to hold onto that frisbee 😮‍💨

Zero-Cool

I got my 2nd flame and about 20 eggs. I'm stuck on 3 puzzle rooms that all use the same pressure plate so I'm guessing I'm missing a tool. Wandering around the map and said I'd go up the big ladder again by the room with the 4 flame statues and it turns out i never went up before and now have a whole new area to explore, it's just incredible.

I managed to free 1 cat but by the time i found out how to do it, i was finished with the area so will definitely go back for the rest.

Penn

Started it last night. Enjoying it so far. Very much just drops you in it and says "Go!"

Got stuck for a while with the big Ghost Dog after taking the disk, but explored elsewhere and found the fake disk.

So yeah, the looks and feel of the game is sublime, it really invites exploration, and is a joy to play so far.

gneel

Starting to back track a lot. Not sure where I'm supposed to go next. Went from one end of the map to the other but nothing new.

Just needed to go to the bottom left. I made the mistake of trying that flame icon last

gneel

I somehow completely missed the fast travel item lol. That would have saved some frustration.

Zero-Cool

Hhhmm need an M disk, why does that sound famili.... Oh you have to be joking me!! Actually proud of myself for getting that bit done.

3 flames down, 1 to go in the lizard zone but I've hit a wall wherei can't reach the pressure plate in the floor under me. It's stopping me getting to the flame room above. Gonna go back over the whole zone to check.

Edit... Aaaaand figured it out, goddamn i love this game.

johnny_ultimate

The versatility of the toolset they give you is wild. Not going to spoil any of the major secondary (or tertiary) uses of items you discover naturally, but even figuring out a seemingly insurmountable obstacle is passable with an item you got hours ago is a joy.

Got my first two flames last night, only halted in my progress by the unfortunate human need to sleep.

Zero-Cool

All 4 flames done and still going strong, don't want it to end. Although I'm looking forward to 'finishing' the the story so i can go on an egg hunt. I only have 25 and egg room suggests there are 64. Really looking forward to going through every level with the tools i have.

Penn

Got my first flame this morning. Only have maybe 5 of the tools you can get but yeah the way they can be used in different ways is a joy, and never stops amazing you with the ways that it means puzzles need to be solved.

johnny_ultimate

So this room, just at the start of the green lizard area… I might be looking for secrets in a place they don’t exist, but given how devious this game is I’m not sure! Spoilering as it contains some item use details.

Spoiler Warning

Basically if you drop the slinky into the water under the bridge, it seems to make a different noise depending on what step you drop it onto, in what order. But the pattern seems complex, so not sure if it’s actually something. But seems to me like it’s there for a reason.

Anyone fancy checking it to see if I’m going mad… or maybe it’s just something for later on 😅

Penn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122127672#Comment_122127672

Just got my third flame, and had to do the M disk bit. Quite a few times… but damn that was awesome!

gneel

Got the credits rolling. Great game. Replacing combat with puzzles was a stroke of genius. Right up my alley. Finished with 40 eggs. Mostly due to failing to find the fast travel item and not figuring out I had to reuse the M disk. My only complaint is it dragged in the middle but that's my own dumb fault. I even climbed a ridiculously tall tower only to be blocked by a bird at the top. I don't know who needs to hear this, but you can fire bubbles downwards if you are in the air. I've a few more leads to explore. One is very hard. Requires a technique that I didn't know existed and I've yet to reliably pull off. I can see myself going for 100% in this.

johnny_ultimate

Just rolled credits there too. Only around two dozen eggs so a lot more exploring to do. Also missing one inventory tool so curious if I skipped it or it’s an optional one.

Not nearly done but if this was the end of it I’d be delighted. Just an ingenious game all round - takes all the good things about a Metrodvania, puts clever spins on them, then forms delightfully thinky and fiendish puzzles around them. Easily my favourite game of the year so far and maybe a new high water mark for the genre.

Two major secrets are teased right after ‘finishing’ the game, and by all accounts the secrets go extraordinarily deep. So much more to dig into.

Zero-Cool

Dunkey has a new video where he interviews Billy Basso, the sole dev, and he said the game has 3 layers. 1st is the puzzle platformer that most little will complete. The 2nd is the secrets like collecting all the eggs for 100% completion. The 3rd layer consists of the deep secrets that he thinks could take a few years for people to find all of them. I'll start with the eggs anyway and look forward to what the country finds on the deep secrets.

McFly85

Credits just rolled with 28 eggs. What an absolutely cracking game, every puzzle was really fun, and finding out different ways to use your tools is a complete joy.

Not ready for it to be over in the slightest, so will be beginning the egg hunt now!

Zero-Cool

Credits rolled for me as well, just loved every bit of that. And man wtf is going on with the last few scenes? I went back to the cats to free the rest of them and cannot find any more codes, Jesus these secrets are tough but i love it. I think I'm missing 1 match as well.

With the f pack, i figured firecrackers are more important that i thought so i tried one..

Spoiler Warning

On the kangaroo near an end scene and he dropped a shard. Like wtf else is hidden in this game?

SuperBowserWorld

Sounds like a great game, puzzle based rather than combat based.

The guy did the game engine, game, graphics, art, music, sound ... And it's on 3 distinct platforms. I notice there is no scrolling in the game and still it all holds together. Just watched a short interview with him. He seems so blasé about it all.

Kind of makes of mockery of the AAA half a billion dollar games that are suffocating the industry at the moment.

Penn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122130829#Comment_122130829

Rolled credits tonight too, about 26 eggs when I finished but have kept exploring and got 33 eggs now, and more importantly, another 2 tools that I didn't even need for the main part. The cats I found a code earlier and can't remember where it was so only freed one so far.

As for your spoiler

Spoiler Warning

Yeah I've firecrackered him twice and got shards both times, but the next two times he hasn't dropped anything, even though I'm pretty sure I need another shard to complete whatever it is. But I think it's because I hit him in the same areas as before so need to find out where else he shows up.

gneel

I think if you hear cat noises and there's no cat on screen, there's a code nearby.

Retr0gamer

Finally got around to this last night. It reminds me a lot of obscure Gameboy game trip world which is a platformer where there's very few enemies and you can interact with the animals in each stage. If course there's a hell of a lot more depth to this. Really enjoying what I played so far. Feels like a cross between trip world and Fez.

Penn

Just an FYI in case anyone has been scratching their head about the rabbit mural thing (presuming you've already found how to manipulate it)

Spoiler Warning

You're going to have to look it up online. You can't solve it on your own. You're only given a small section of the puzzle (and you need two particular tools which aren't on the main path to get your section), and it's designed that at least 50 people would have to put their sections together to get the full thing. But it's already been completed and the solution is online.

johnny_ultimate

LOL finally figured out where the random, occasional bird cry is coming from.

Have no idea what to do with that information now, but at least I have it 😅

Zero-Cool

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122131611#Comment_122131611

Is that the random siren sounding thing that goes off? I hear it sometimes and I'm like where the **** is that coming from??

@Penn that's mental, this game is definitely deep.

johnny_ultimate

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122131746#Comment_122131746

Yep, that’s the one! There is a pattern to when and why it goes off, though might only become apparent with some additional info you’re privy to in the post-game.

Penn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122131746#Comment_122131746

Spoiler Warning

I had to look it up online because I knew there had to be a lot more that I was missing, as you're only given a 4x4 piece of it, and it's about 20x40. Even after completing it I'm not even sure which square was mine. As far as I know though, it's the only thing in the game you can't complete by itself.

Refusing to look anything else up online though, because the joy of discovery in the game is incredible.

gneel

I'm convinced you can do something with the rabbit that appears in your dreams as you sleep when you stay still for too long

johnny_ultimate

The game is exceptionally detailed and thoroughly designed - if there’s something notably odd or out of place it’d be a very safe bet to assume it’s odd or out of place on purpose.

Also found a cat code in somewhere totally random that I wasn’t expecting at all, so thinking the others could be bloody anywhere 😅

Zero-Cool

Went on an absolute tear with this, went to every room, using every tool I had and when I found a new tool, repeated the process. Currently have 35 eggs, all candles lit and all 10 tools. Some of the new tools are very handy, some not so much but I don't think I've found their use yet. I had to look up a guide on the last tool as it was taking me too long, still not sure if I would have figured it out. I need to do another round trip of the whole map now with all the tools I have, I have still found a couple of chests I can't figure out how to get to even with all tools but man, another 30 eggs left, they are rightly hidden!

Spoiler below the tools I found. I'm all ears if anyone wants to give hints or advise on how/where to use them. I'm at the stage now where I might look up guides to go for the platinum.

Definitely easier finding secrets with more tools on hand but I'm on the verge of getting burnt out with the repeated trips around the map.

Spoiler Warning

The UV Wand, I had to google what to do with the skeleton fish. And then the tool itself, it seems to be showing me hidden murals around the map, some telling the back story, found a very interesting mural of me on the back of the manticore looking at a rabbit trapped inside the outline of a house, hhmmm.

Ball to throw around to break things but nothing my disk or yoyo can't do.

Remote which is very handy, let me activate switches and dynamite, control certain animals and making these things light up red but I don't know why.

Top which breaks destructible walls and floors, I'm setting it off in every room, found a good few secrets with it.

Upgraded bubble wand which lets me create multiple bubbles at once which allows me to use them as steps to get to high places.

Grumpypants

It's very enjoyable. I like the pace of it the most, you are not ever stressed playing it. Even though it is challenging it gets you thinking. You always feel like you learned something even when you fail.

But I think I like the most the way there is no tutorial. It gives you a new tool in an area where using that tool is intuitive and then off with you. It is clever design.

This is exactly what PS+ is great for. I'm not sure I'd have bought this if for €25.

gneel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122132716#Comment_122132716

You want to use the

Spoiler Warning

remote a lot more. It will show you chests behind walls. It will light them up red. This is your main device for finding chests. UV is good when you see a blank wall in the background.

There is one chest just north of the egg room that I can't for the life of me figure out how to get. It's just by a giant pot with grass and two dog statues.

johnny_ultimate

Also, frisbee mechanic spoiler:

Spoiler Warning

It’s possible to hop on the frisbee immediately after throwing it against a wall, rather than waiting to jump a second time. It’s fairly exact timing but it has gotten me over to one or two chests I don’t think I’d have made it over to otherwise.

Zero-Cool

Can anyone help me get to this room circled please? I got there early on my playthrough and can't figure out how to get back there. Since the mall is spherical in a very clever way, i tried the other side of the map but nothing. I have a feeling i need to get there to get the chest above as in that room, i can't figure out how to use the floor plates that move the boxes with enough time to get through.

Althooooughh now what Johnny has said about the frisbee trick, i think that would do it!

gneel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122133790#Comment_122133790

I'm also trying to figure out how to get into that half discovered room. I have the chest in the room above. I bounced the frisbee off the wall and dropped the slinky. Takes a few attempts to get the timing right

Zero-Cool

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122133874#Comment_122133874

Aw that must have been serious luck/skill with the timing. I tried doing the bounce off the wall trick but figured the window was way too small to line up the frisbee with the slinky.

gneel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122133998#Comment_122133998

Trial and error 😊

Zero-Cool

The absolute state of this, game cleared in under 7 minutes. Up until the 6:30 mark, i was fairly impressed and then it was like WTF is that!!!

https://youtu.be/JlCBucBz6N0?si=0ewTCsgluVQCHUxD

johnny_ultimate

Up to around 45 eggs now, and in full on goblin mode trying to go through every nook and cranny of the map. Evening just disappeared searching for them.

Penn

Lost my evening to it too. Up to either 50 or 51 eggs. Still know I'm going to need another tool or two, but ones I found last night have been insanely helpful. I know where about 5 of the other chests are, just have no way of getting to them.

Without giving too much away can anyone answer; is there a tool or method to break the glass blocks? At least if I know there is, I can work towards that. Otherwise I'm going to have to try find other ways into some of these rooms/paths, and maybe I'm approaching them from the wrong side.

gneel

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122135720#Comment_122135720

I think there's specific glass blocks that can broken at the end boss but I don't think the regular ones can. I think the regular ones are used to tease you and give you a hint of where to go.

I got 64 eggs last night. I looked up where the last ones were at 60 as I had no more leads on my map and life's too short to randomly wander the map. One of the eggs is just.... I had to look up the solution too. I would have never ever figured this one out. I think it's fair enough to look up answers eventually imo as the game is designed to be crowd sourced eventually. Could you imagie this game came out 30 years ago on the snes. It would have taken forever to be solved.

Although in hindsight, if you don't want to look up locations, checking any black spots on the map is the way to go. Even small black spots. Still I think there's two I would have never found.

Penn

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122135758#Comment_122135758

"I think there's specific glass blocks that can broken at the end boss but I don't think the regular ones can. I think the regular ones are used to tease you and give you a hint of where to go."

johnny_ultimate

I do have to say, the area where you unlock

Spoiler Warning

The UV light

is an exceptionally cool area and video game sleight of hand.