Animal Well Released

[jonhohle]

This has got to be one of the biggest marketing pushes for an “indie” game I’ve every seen. Having not heard of the game prior to yesterday and now seeing it on a twitch stream I subscribe to, YouTube channels I subscribe to, and now HN is way too coordinated to be organic. Seeing Dan Adelman attached to marketing further confirms that (not a knock, but that’s kind of like attaching Wes Anderson to an “indie” movie).

The game looks awesome, is getting a lot of positive reviews from people I generally agree with, but it’s starting to feel like a lot of astroturf, which turns me off.

[jitl]

Game made by one dude - art, programming, sound - is an indie game. Pretty different than a Wes Anderson flick.

This is also the first game from the game’s publisher Bigmode Games. However Bigmode is started by dunkey, a very popular and influential video game YouTuber.

[happytoexplain]

I get it, but I absolutely hate that this question has to come up every time anything gets "too much" attention. I wish we could just put off the out-loud doubt a little more, even if it often turns out to be validated. It usually doesn't feel like the negativity is a good trade-off for the benefit of potentially rightfully calling out astroturfing.

For what it's worth, this one is published by Dunkey, a popular comedic (i.e. memeable) video game YouTuber, so I'm not surprised to see it get a lot of talk.

[smegsicle]

bigmode games is sometimes referred to as the kgb of videogame publishers for their over the top stealth marketing campaigns

[theogravity]

Tried it out for 15 mins. It's more of a puzzle platformer than it is a metroidvania. The environment and SFX are really gorgeous, and has this air of mystery about it.

The game is free for PS plus members (which is how I got it). Not sure if it is free for gamepass members or not.

[mercer]

I've played it for a few hours and it's the most fun I've had in a sense that games like Outer Worlds were fun in a toyboxy, novel way (or perhaps Baba is You, which I found to hard?)

I'm usually not a big fan of what are apparently called MetroidBrainia games (metroidvania, but more puzzles, less combat), but it's special enough to keep me hooked so far. Tunic was the last game that (almost) pulled that off.

One small example: there are no typical power ups like a double jump, or a rocket launcher, staples of almost every metroidvania game.

[theogravity]

https://www.metacritic.com/game/animal-well/

[icapybara]

This game is excellent.

[PurpleRamen]

What is so excellent about this game?

[mrbluecoat]

Nice artwork, like Mario Bros. glow bowling.

Seizure strobe warning on the fireworks scene, though (timestamp 0.58s).

[johnchristopher]

Trailer reminds me of knytt and a cave story and the goonies II.

Is it a hard platformer ? Doesn't look like it.

[theogravity]

> goonies II

Now I'm interested. Loved Goonies II on the NES.