From the moment we caught a glimpse of Animal Well during an Indie World Showcase last April, it sent tongues wagging with its unique premise and visual identity. Developed by solo creator Billy Basso of Shared Memory, this 2D side-scrolling puzzle platformer for the Nintendo Switch eschews combat in favor of exploration and cryptic puzzles.
The Premise
In Animal Well, you hatch into a dark and mysterious underground maze as a small, bioluminescent-like blob. The game doesn’t hold your hand; instead, it invites you to intuit, infer, and explore the world around you. With haunting sound design and polished controls, it keeps players continually excited to discover what lies around the next bend.
Discoverable Items and Clever Uses
The game’s lack of explicit instructions leads to delightful moments of discovery. You’ll stumble upon new uses or mechanics involving items you already have, leaving you with your jaws dropped. Unlike traditional power-ups, Animal Well features items with multiple, highly clever uses. These secrets are best uncovered through trial and error, adding to the game’s allure.
Nonlinear Exploration
The world of Animal Well is a dense puzzle box of temple-like edifices inspired by the animal kingdom. You can approach it nonlinearly, marking locations of interest and intrigue on your map. Light candles to ward off enemies, find multicolored collectible eggs hidden in chests, and use a pencil for route planning. It’s a perfect game for those who relish finding secrets throughout vast Metroidvania anthills without being hindered by hyper-demanding combat encounters.
Brilliant Bosses as Environmental Puzzles
Animal Well does feature several brilliant bosses, but they function more as environmental puzzles to be solved than foes to be conquered. These encounters test your wits and creativity rather than your combat skills.
Conclusion
In summary, Animal Well is a delightful and unconventional take on the puzzle platformer genre. Its seven years of development by a single person were undoubtedly worth the wait. If you’re willing to lose yourself in its secrets, you’ll find a rich and detailed world waiting to be unpacked.
