May 9, 2024<\/time> <\/p>\nAnimal Well pleased, surprised, or scared me with something new at every turn as it confidently jumped from one idea to the next up until its conclusion. That novelty lost its luster near the end of its 8-to-10-hour runtime as I treaded the fresh sheen off familiar ground, but it never lost its lively, naturalistically wild heart \u2013 even when occasional difficulty spikes compounded that staleness. Still, its tense atmosphere is inherently compelling. Illuminated by dangling lanterns and brought to life with lovingly animated animals and Rube Goldberg-like puzzles but dimmed by an ominous synth tone reminiscent of Twin Peaks\u2019 haunting score, Animal Well establishes itself with a rare, masterful sense of place without missing a beat.<\/p>\n
In Animal Well, you play as a little blob who must get home. Similar to other Metroidvania games like Super Metroid or Hollow Knight, your path is anything but linear; you must collect items and powerups that unlock new abilities, which will \u2013 sometimes literally \u2013 open up new doors.<\/p>\n
Starting as a powerless, adorable little blob became a distant memory as I added to my menagerie of movement-enhancing and puzzle-solving tools. These playful tools like a frisbee, bubble wand, yo-yo, or Slinky highlight Animal Well\u2019s madcap nature. Each tool has clever alternate uses that encouraged me to brush up against what I previously thought its barriers were in stimulating ways. Instead of awkwardly rubbing up against the seams of this Swiss Watch of a world, it felt like I was pulling a fast one on the creator Billy Basso \u2013 even though he was probably in on my scheme.<\/p>\n\n <\/p>\n
I first realized the multifaceted power these tools hold when I was fighting off one of Animal Well\u2019s ghosts after setting off some firecrackers to scare one out of a dark room. Normally, you can\u2019t check your map in the dark. But setting off these firecrackers suddenly lit up the room enough for me to check my map. These kinds of immersive touches add layers of flavor and liveliness to its world.<\/p>\n
Stretching and going beyond what you thought was possible in Animal Well reveals a wealth of secrets and surprises, like the collectible Secret Eggs. Expanding your ovate arsenal opens up fast travel options and even more game-expanding trinkets. Basso\u2019s love for museums and architecture shines through in Animal Well\u2019s richly realized world. Furnished by bespoke landmarks like tile art murals of rabbits, statuettes of capybaras, and rats running in hamster wheels that power The Well\u2019s mystic mechanisms, these flourishes (sometimes literally) electrify each room.<\/p>\n
It subtly balances the right amount of cheek into its surreal vibe, too. At one point, I found myself looking for the next corridor to spelunk. Assuming I\u2019d at least find an egg, I hopped down a large pit. Hitting the ground with an unceremonious \u201cthunk,\u201d I landed near three penguin-shaped shrubs I\u2019d walked past minutes before. Landing at the decoration again after a fall, with the only way back up being a grueling climb, gave it meaning and life. I could feel its developers poking fun at my flightless avatar.<\/p>\n
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