Animal Well delights with its non-traditional approach to Metroidvanias, combining unique items with a reactive and surreal world that’s full of surprises.
By Richard Wakeling on May 9, 2024 at 6:00AM PDT
It’s usually pretty easy to predict how a 2D Metroidvania is going to play out. At some point, you’ll probably unlock a double or even triple jump to reach previously inaccessible areas, obtain an air dash that helps you traverse large gaps and pass through specific blockades, and acquire a weapon upgrade that functions as both a killing tool and a way to progress past certain obstacles. Animal Well contains most of these things, but never in ways that are expected. Created by solo developer Billy Basso and published by Bigmode, Animal Well is a surrealist puzzle platformer that’s delightfully surprising. Even if its pixelated art style and genre trappings make it seem familiar on the surface, it is a game that often eschews conventional wisdom and stands out because of it.
You play as a nondescript blob who emerges from a blossoming flower into a strange vibrant world filled with creatures big and small. You can move and jump, but that’s about the extent of your physical prowess. Upon awakening, you’re free to explore in any direction you choose. Animal Well doesn’t hold your hand and is exceedingly non-linear, letting you unlock items and abilities in whichever order you find them. There is an end goal that’s revealed once you discover a map and get a lay of the land, as each corner of the map contains a flame you need to fetch in order to light the four beacons at its center. Why, you might ask? There isn’t an explicit explanation for anything you do, but that sense of mystery is part of what drives the adventure forward.
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Now Playing: Animal Well – Gameplay Trailer | PS5 Games
The other part is the world of Animal Well itself. At first glance, its pixelated art style looks simple, yet each screen holds a deceptive layer of detail beyond its neon-drenched exterior. Whether it’s the cascading background elements, reflections on the water’s surface, the sway of bushes and vines as you move past them, or the realistic smoke that billows into the air after igniting a firecracker, there’s more to the visuals that it may seem on first blush. There are also physics, lighting, and particle systems at play that modernize the game’s Commodore 64-inspired visuals, creating a world that feels very much alive, and that’s without mentioning the abundance of wildlife.
From giant technicolor swans to iguanas with elongated tongues capable of snatching up other animals, Animal Well’s creature designs possess an enticing, dreamlike quality. Music is used sparingly, with the sounds of nature–of chirping birds and the pitter-patter of falling water–dominating the soundscape. When music does enter the fray, it’s usually done to ratchet up the tension, introducing ominous synth tones that wouldn’t feel out of place in an ’80s thriller.
Animal Well, unlike many other Metroidvanias, doesn’t include combat; the primary focus is on solving puzzles and platforming. However, this doesn’t imply there aren’t any dangers. Anxiety-inducing instances such as encounters with aggressive animals and other threats are coupled with tense music. Being pursued by a ghostly demonic cat apparition or hiding below ground as an ostrich’s long neck sways towards you is thrilling and suspenseful. Some creatures can be frightened off with consumable firecrackers, while others require you to flee. The developing assortment of tools at your disposal, nonetheless, makes a significant difference.
Animal Well, like any good Metroidvania, offers a range of items that serve as progression keys and introduce new gameplay elements. The options you get are pleasantly surprising due to their break from the typical. Rather than a usual double jump, for instance, you get a magic wand that creates bubbles for leaping onto floating spheres to reach elevated platforms. Though it might seem unimpressive, when you consider how the environment and certain enemies can interact with these bubbles, their effect is far more varied than a standard double jump could be.
You can use the frisbee as a temporary dash between two surfaces where it can bounce. Launch it to flip distant levers or distract animals like dogs, allowing you to pass safely. This emphasis on bypassing combat gives enemy encounters a puzzle-solving feel, which blends seamlessly with the rest of the game’s intriguing puzzle design.
I was rarely stumped by any of Animal Well’s puzzles for long, their creativity left me feeling constantly satisfied whenever I solved one. Most puzzles involve opening the pathway forward by activating various switches. This could involve dropping a slinky, moving blocks to direct it down the right path, or instigating animals to step on switches beyond your reach. At times, you might operate a yo-yo to flip a switch below you, ricochet the frisbee off two levers to activate and de-activate platforms – creating a timed-platforming segment, or use a crank to rotate platforms and divert a water fountain’s spray into a bowl. These earlier puzzle examples give you a good sense of the game’s varied challenges while leaving the joy of uncovering Animal Well’s various puzzles to you.
There are also secrets to be found in the nooks and crannies of Animal Well’s densely packed map. These secrets appear as various eggs, which are stored in a hub area that houses several locked doors. As one collects a specific number of eggs, these doors start to unlock, leading to new territories and items. These items, while not integral to the game’s ending, are mainly about unlocking more hidden treasures. After the final credits, you’re free to continue your exploration in search of these mysteries. It seems to be a task too complex for a single player, similar to Fez, where internet communities are required to uncover everything. This is quite an intriguing prospect.
For the most part, Animal Well’s platforming is not overly challenging, but it does offer a sense of precision that allows you to halt in mid-air when necessary. The map, being small and interlinked, makes backtracking less tedious. However, there were instances when I wished for a way to instantly teleport between areas, especially during uncertain moments of where to head next. There are a few segments where repeated deaths are possible, and backtracking can become bothersome due to the respawn mechanism. After death, you respawn at your last save point, which can be a considerable distance away. Although this isn’t usually a problem, during challenging sections, such as navigating through moving platforms, the long journey back can be discouraging.
Notwithstanding, this minor flaw doesn’t overshadow what is an excellent addition to the magnificent world of Metroidvanias. This is a game overflowing with delightful surprises, from its unconventional approach to items to its visually appealing, neon-drenched world that breeds a unique ambiance. While Animal Well may seem old-school and recognizable at first glance, it turns out to be a vast and unpredictable well.
