“Animal Well”: is this the “indie surprise” of the year? | Babelia

To the list of games that, despite being created by one person (or a very small group), achieve perfection, a few days ago one more name must be added: Animal well. Developed over seven years by Billy Basso and published by youtuber Videogamedunkey (Jason Gastraw) is making headlines with its 91 rating on review aggregator Metacritic, making it one of the most valuable games of the year. Stilted headlines and genuine surprise aside, does it really matter?

Let’s start from the very beginning. Animal well This is a good game with some sparkles of genius. Strange animals drawn in a very impressive way, visual (and especially sound) design that can seduce us, moments that can plant in our minds the ghostly presence that the game speaks of for days. Besides the atmosphere, the game, of course, has other advantages. For example, a list of items with objects such as bubble wand; an object that brings variations to a genre very worthy of celebration. Not to mention the most obvious: the design of the levels, puzzles and platforms is clearly good.

This is good, yes, but a far cry from the formal perfection, progress and sophistication achieved by e.g. Blue sky, another platform and pixel art game that reached new heights in 2018 (never been better, the game is based on climbing a mountain). If you climb the mountain Blue sky used the mystical concept of the ascension (there is St. John with his Mount Carmel and many others) to offer a kind of spiritual cleansing, in Animal well It is the descent that reflects the final attitude of the creator of the work. so good metroidvania

The map’s vertical layout reflects the deep pits of the mental landscape it suggests, with winged creatures in the upper layers of the pit and amphibious creatures in the submerged chasms below.

This is from the point of view of form, because from the point of view of content, in addition, Animal well This title is a far cry from the conceptual depth of its most direct mention: Hollow Knight. The caras that this game exuded in every sense (from quality to mechanical complexity) put it at the top of the podium not only among independent games, but among games in general. Those who compare it with Animal well, because no matter how many bombastic headlines you’ve read these days, this comparison won’t hold up for long. Those who want to compare the hidden folklore that Hollow Knight

spread throughout his world (a lesson learned so well from the saga Souls) with traces, narrative shadows, to which Animal well strives, but does not achieve.

It’s a good game, no doubt about it. But let’s think about it. There are deeper wells, and there are more terrible animals.

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