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Sights & Sounds

Through the screen door

Usually, when playing a game built by a sole developer, you expect a corner or two to be cut. It's sort of the payoff: one aspect of the game suffers from lack of expertise (e.g. gameplay, artwork, stability, optimization, etc), but the dev doesn't have to compromise their vision for the concerns of others
Well, except the publisher, in most cases
I think that's why the pixel art feels all the more appealing in Animal Well. The "Lite Brite" visuals with their bright palettes against black backgrounds aren't unique in the platforming space, but some rooms sport incredibly impressive backgrounds. I would have accepted less eye candy from a single dev, but didn't have to
I usually turn off CRT filters. I distinctly remember playing Yoshi's Island in the glow of 19" RCA and thinking about how much better life would be if it didn't always feel like I was playing games through a window screen
And yet, this game actually looks worse without it. It almost feels naked. Shading doesn't look right, animations feel wrong, and the overall brighter look kinda kills the mood. Wound up leaving it on the whole time
While not the best soundtrack I've heard all year, the music is serviceable. I'm fairly certain there's some additional puzzle clues in the OST that are flying right over my head due to my lack of musical training


Story & Vibes

No story, no problem

Of all the things I appreciate about Animal Well, the choice not to shoehorn a clumsy narrative into the mystery is chief among them
Don't get me wrong; I love a good narrative. Most of my favorite games are story-focused. But after delving into this title's multilayred mystery mille feuille, I don't really know that it would benefit
Sure, some games like Outer Wilds manage to do both aspects well, with the story and secrets working hand-in-hand. But Animal Well is cut from a different cloth. That is to say, the mysteries and secrets are the entire point of the game
You've heard enough people say "go into this game knowing nothing and just experience it for yourself", but after going into this game blind, I actually think that's terrible advice
That doesn't mean I'm about to spoil everything; that would be rude. But here are three pieces of actual advice. 1) This game is best played in a group all tackling the game at the same time, and 2) There's more content after the credits than before it 3) After seeing the credits roll again, ask yourself how much fun you're actually having
I played this solo (I was late to the party again), so I couldn't follow my own advice. And because of that, I think my experience was cheapened somewhat. Do your best to see the credits roll on your own abilities, but don't feel bad about cracking open a guide afterwards if you don't have a bunch of friends also delving into the game
I wasn't only being pretentious with the pastry reference earlier. There are actually layers to this game. I got through the first 2, but after seeing the challenge of the remaining ones, I decided enough was enough
I love the mysterious vibes and the fact that the world demands so much of your powers of observation and dedication to exploration. But if you don't know anyone who's playing it and don't want to make new friends who are, just know that your enjoyment of this game has a ceiling


Playability & Replayability

Search action, emphasis on searching

If you somehow fail to stumble upon or willfully ignore all of Animal Well's secrets and hidden depths, you still have a competent metroidvania/search action title left over
By that token, you sort of know what to expect from the moment-to-moment gameplay. You start off with no abilities and several inaccessible locations on a large map, then chip away at it by progressively beating bosses and finding hidden locations to make yourself more powerful and mobile
Mechanically, it's a fine enough platformer with tight controls and good jump physics, but the mobility options offered by the tools/abilities you locate are how you really make progress
The bubble wand (especially after you upgrade it) and the disc were personal favorites. They're intuitive to use and can be combined early-game to help you get into some places you're not supposed to be yet
Beyond items, you're also likely to stumble upon a chest here or there containing a unique egg. Finding enough of them can unlock some great abilities like fast travel that will make exploring much simpler
Some of them are particularly devious to find. By the time the credits rolled the first time, I had found 40 of them on my own and certainly don't feel bad about using a guide to find the rest afterwards
It's true that there's no combat in this game, but that doesn't mean that everything isn't out to kill you. Especially that dog. He's a jerk. Be clever, be evasive, and be quick to stay alive
As far as replayability goes, I think I'm done with the game. I didn't see all of the secrets and mysteries, but that's mostly because some of the most interesting ones are best left to amateur cryptographers


Overall Impressions & Performance

Time, effort, and friends

I always found calling a game "demanding" to be a little silly because you're always free to put it down and do literally anything else with your time. But I think this is a game that a lot of people would call demanding
I think it's because it's not merely a difficult multilayered puzzle in a vacuum; this isn't Baba Is You. You play a game like that on your own time and your own pace and learn to twist the game's rules on itself to find new stuff. Animal Well asks more of you
Beyond the second credits sequence, you'll need a sharp pair of eyes, a few clever friends (or at least some friendly strangers) who are playing concurrently, and a lot of time to devote to finding bunnies
It's kind of a high barrier to entry for all but the biggest of fans. It's nice to know it's there for those who want it. For my own part, it makes me respect the game far more than I enjoy it
Great game for a handheld format. Not like you're going to lose anything by playing it on a larger screen, but you won't gain much either. Perfect Steam Deck experience


Final Verdict

- 8.5/10. If you're a devoted puzzle fiend and have a few friends of the same ilk, this may be your new favorite game. If you're a devoted puzzle fiend with friends who just want to keep playing Helldivers, your solo experience may feel similar to mine