Rock Paper Shotgun Animal Well Feed

enSat, 14 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000The RPS Advent Calendar 2024, December 14thhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-rps-advent-calendar-2024-december-14thRPSSat, 14 Dec 2024 12:00:00 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-rps-advent-calendar-2024-december-14thPS5PuzzleSingle PlayerMetroidvaniaSide viewPlatformerThe RPS Advent Calendar 2024Nintendo SwitchAnimal WellShared MemoryBigmodeIndiePC

Squeezing through the advent calendar window into a sodden glade of flower and coral, you spy a curious organism on a ledge in the shadows. It’s a video game of some description, though it looks like a squirrel, with frantic white eyes. What’s it doing? Ah, whoops, you’ve startled it. Better follow it offscreen.

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Animal Well creator plans to follow the superb Metroidvania with a game that shares its world but “may not be a direct sequel”https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/animal-well-creator-plans-to-follow-the-superb-metroidvania-with-a-game-that-shares-its-world-but-may-not-be-a-direct-sequelMatt JarvisFri, 24 May 2024 16:16:11 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/animal-well-creator-plans-to-follow-the-superb-metroidvania-with-a-game-that-shares-its-world-but-may-not-be-a-direct-sequelPuzzleSingle PlayerSide viewAction AdventurePlatformerAnimal WellShared MemoryBigmodeIndiePC

In a year already stacking up plates of delicious indie game dishes so fast they’re toppling over and crashing onto the floor, spilling splattered food over the carpet to be hoovered up by waiting dogs/cats/raccoons/mice, Animal Well is one of the most generous helpings yet. The captivating, combat-free Metroidvania is rich with a delectable buffet of challenges, puzzles and secrets to find even once you’ve seen the credits roll. Still, players have chewed their way through its more-ish platforming and puzzle-solving much faster than its solo developer intended, it turns out. Luckily for us all, creator Billy Basso is already looking ahead to a new game set in the moody zoo-niverse - even if that’s not a complete sequel.

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Animal Well review: an unmissable creature featurehttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/animal-well-reviewEdwin Evans-ThirlwellThu, 09 May 2024 13:00:00 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/animal-well-reviewPuzzleWot I ThinkSingle PlayerSide viewAction AdventurePlatformerAnimal WellShared MemoryBigmodeBestest BestsIndiePC

Computers have always been animal wells, in a sense. They're havens for creatures of many shapes and degrees of literalness, all the way down to the metal. As in ecologies at large, the most abundant and widespread are probably the bugs, beginning with the moth that flew into that Harvard Mark II in 1947 and ending with the teeming contents of the average free-to-play changelog. A little further up the food chain we find "worms", like the Creeper that once invaded the ARPANET, and "gophers", a directory/client system written in 1991 for the University of Minnesota. There are computer animals spawned by branding - foxes of fire and twittering birds and the anonymous beasts that haunt the margins of Google documents. There are computer animals that are implied by the verbs we use in computing - take "browser", derived from the old French word for nibbling at buds and sprouts, which suggests that all modern internet searches are innately herbivorous.

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Spooky Metroidvania Animal Well gets May 9th release datehttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/spooky-metroidvania-animal-well-gets-may-9th-release-dateKatharine CastleMon, 18 Mar 2024 12:58:08 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/spooky-metroidvania-animal-well-gets-may-9th-release-dateBilly BassoPuzzleSingle PlayerSide viewAction AdventurePlatformerAnimal WellShared MemoryBigmodeIndiePC

Solo developer Billy Basso's enigmatic Metroidvania Animal Well has been dated for May 9th, publishers Bigmode announced yesterday. In it, you'll explore a vast labyrinth of tunnels, solve puzzles and escape its many mammalian-based horrors, all of whom are out to gobble you up in one fell swoop - though as a strange, tiny little blob creature the size of a chicken nugget, it's unclear both what you are, and why exactly you're so appetising to them. Well, it probably has something to do with looking like a sentient chicken nugget, I suppose. Come and watch the release date trailer below.

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Our 75 most anticipated PC games of 2024https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/our-75-most-anticipated-pc-games-of-2024Katharine CastleThu, 04 Jan 2024 15:30:00 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/our-75-most-anticipated-pc-games-of-2024Final Fantasy XVINarrative / Story DrivenDragon's Dogma 2Guerrilla GamesLeximanHakababunkoAce Attorney: Apollo Justice TrilogyWarhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2Baby StepsAra: History UntoldReplaced2D BoyElectronic ArtsPS5Single PlayerStormgateDevolver DigitalPlatformerVisions Of ManaXbox Series X/SFlockFromSoftwareNo Rest For The WickedPCCapcomNightingaleHorizon Forbidden WestFrost Giant StudiosThe ThaumaturgeEdmund McMillenAnnapurna InteractiveArcadeLoco MotiveHydravision EntertainmentWorld of Goo 2PlaystackHomeworld 3Life SimulationVisual Novel & DatingVampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2Serenity ForgePlatinumGamesAvowedMysteryEarthbladeAction AdventureAmplifier Game InvestSegaPhoenix SpringsShueisha GamesSurvival & CraftingBigmodeBlackbird InteractiveInfogramesUbisoft EntertainmentLeague of GeeksLife by YouGranblue Fantasy: RelinkIsles of Sea and SkyPounce LightAll Possible FuturesTextShapez 2Hollow PondsSide viewXbox OnePacific DriveBlack Myth: WukongRoguelikeSlavic MagicGearbox PublishingRoman Sands RE:BuildSupergiant GamesIronwood StudiosSorry We're ClosedConscriptLike a Dragon: Infinite WealthPostmodern AdventuresShared MemoryDragon Age: The VeilguardNintendo WiiCygamesStory RichEmbark StudiosThird personFocus EntertainmentThe Mermaid's TongueMetroidvaniaGugamesUbisoft MontpellierRPGRPG: Turn-basedDread PilotsNightmare OperatorExtremely OK GamesHades 2Square EnixHack & SlashMassive EntertainmentAnimal WellAn English HauntingMultiplayer CompetitiveTiny BookshopMacThank Goodness You're Here!Coal SupperMesshofFantasyKlei EntertainmentXbox Game StudiosGhost Ship GamesPS4Funday GamesGSC Game WorldStrategy: Turn-Based StrategyAlone in the DarkManor LordsFocus Home InteractiveParadox TectonicNixxes Software B.V.Arc RaidersThe AltersXbox 360Crow CountryGrunnEden StudiosMetaphor: ReFantazioStrategy: Real-Time StrategyThe Plucky SquireFrostpunk 2Elden RingTomorrow CorporationFrame BreakSaber InteractiveRoots Of YggdrasilInflexion GamesInterplayBird view / IsometricHistoricalThrasherPanicShooterDeep Rock Galactic: SurvivorIndieGarden Life: A Cozy SimulatorPS2Solium InfernumSelacoCreatureSenua's Saga: Hellblade IIUltrosAtariKnights Of BorriaSimulationBiowareColor Gray Games11 Bit StudiosMultiplayer CooperativeOpen WorldPuddleMythwrecked: Ambrosia IslandTiny GladeWheel WorldCoatsink SoftwarePuzzleAtlusHorrorParadox InteractiveStar Wars OutlawsMoonloop GamesHauntiiAkupara GamesArcoUbisoftSandboxPepper GrinderNinja TheoryGrinding Gear GamesObsidian EntertainmentLightyear FrontierBandai Namco EntertainmentMewgenicsSonyZakonHardsuit LabsArbitrary MetricThe Chinese RoomKepler InteractiveSad Cat StudiosNintendo SwitchThe Rise Of The Golden IdolUrban Myth Dissolution CenterPrince Of Persia: The Lost CrownPath Of Exile 2CrimePoint and ClickScience FictionSportsRhythmS.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2: Heart of ChornobylKung Fu FactoryPersona 3 ReloadHadoqueWhitethorn GamesRacingFirst personStrategy

Happy New Year, folks! Have you recovered from the all the 100+ hour RPGs that came out last year? Well, I have good news and bad news for you. The good news is that everyone seems to be taking a bit of a breather in 2024, because (at time of writing at least) the official "big'uns" calendar is looking remarkably slim at the moment. There are still some heavy-hitters coming our way this year, such as Avowed, Star Wars Outlaws and Path Of Exile 2, but 2024 looks like another year where it will be the smaller, independent games that shine the brightest. They certainly make up the bulk of our most anticipated games list for 2024, which the RPS Treehouse has been feverishly putting together over the last few days. The bad news is that there are still loads of great games coming out. So come, join us, and see what's on our personal wishlists for 2024.

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Indiescovery Episode 7: the best indies we played at PAX East 2023https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/indiescovery-episode-7-the-best-indies-we-played-at-pax-east-2023Rachel WattsWed, 05 Apr 2023 11:00:00 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/indiescovery-episode-7-the-best-indies-we-played-at-pax-east-2023WrestleQuestDemonschoolTunicCobalt CorePizza PossumPAX EastWrestle StoryPacific DriveWrestling With Emotions: New Kid On The BlockStrayPowerWash SimulatorGoodbye Volcano HighRPS@PAXIndiescoveryIndiescovery PodcastCitizen SleeperRollerdromeVampire SurvivorsAnimal Well

It's episode seven of Indiescovery and this week, wow, the gang is tired. With a busy four days in Boston for PAX East, mine and Liam's brains were basically mush last week, so Rebecca - an absolute angel - graciously said she could host a special PAX East episode where she chats with Liam and me about the indies we saw on the show floor and try desperately to string together a coherent sentence. She also made bulletpoints of our entire chat so writing up the shownotes would be easier; we do not deserve her.

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RPS@PAX 2023: Animal Well's subterranean world is both beautiful and unsettlinghttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/rpspax-2023-animal-wellRachel WattsSun, 26 Mar 2023 15:58:46 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/rpspax-2023-animal-wellSupporters onlyPuzzleSingle PlayerRPS@PAXIndiescoverySide viewAction AdventurePlatformerAnimal WellShared MemoryBigmodePAX EastIndiePC

Earlier in the week, Liam and I had the opportunity to chat with Animal Well's solo developer and publisher Bigmode about creating their eerie subterranean world. We then had a chance to go hands on with the PAX East demo, and wow, we were both incredibly impressed. Watch the video below for our enthusiastic impressions:

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RPS@PAX 2023: We chat with the dev behind upcoming moody metroidvania Animal Wellhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/rpspax-2023-animal-well-interviewRachel WattsSat, 25 Mar 2023 18:23:14 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/rpspax-2023-animal-well-interviewSupporters onlyPuzzleSingle PlayerRPS@PAXIndiescoveryMetroidvaniaSide viewAction AdventureExplorationPlatformerAnimal WellShared MemoryBigmodePAX EastIndiePC

Out of all the game demos Liam and I have played at PAX East, we both agree that Animal Well is something special. It's a 2D metriodvania where you play as a little blob trying to navigate a subtterranean labyrinth filled with creatures - some cute, some not so cute.

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Intriguing pixel Metroidvania Animal Well has found a publisherhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/intriguing-pixel-metroidvania-animal-well-has-found-a-publisherCJ WheelerMon, 09 Jan 2023 17:07:07 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/intriguing-pixel-metroidvania-animal-well-has-found-a-publisherMetroidvaniaIndieAnimal WellPlatformer

Platforming adventure Animal Well has been picked up by Bigmode, the indie publishing company set up last year by YouTuber Videogamedunkey. The Metroidvania is being developed by Shared Memories, another name for solo dev Billy Basso. Basso is crafting a multi-layered puzzle horror platformer that he hopes will keep people playing the game for years, and collaborating to solve its mysteries. You can see a bit more of what to expect from Animal Well in the preview video below.

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The best indies from the Summer Games Fest show floor in LAhttps://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-best-indies-from-the-summer-games-fest-show-floor-in-laEd ThornThu, 23 Jun 2022 11:02:14 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/the-best-indies-from-the-summer-games-fest-show-floor-in-laday of the devsA Little To The LeftTime FliesIndiescoverySchimSummer Game FestSummer Game Fest 2022E3 2022IndieAnimal WellBirthVice NDRCVRDesta: The Memories Between

I was in LA for Summer Geoff Fest and I played a whole bunch of games. No, not lots of blockbusters – mainly because there weren't too many of those about - but lots of indies, instead. In fact, out of all the games I saw or played or glanced at while I dashed between appointments, it was the indies that really stood out.

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Everything that happened at Day Of The Devs 2022https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/everything-that-happened-at-day-of-the-devs-2022CJ WheelerThu, 09 Jun 2022 20:57:22 +0000https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/everything-that-happened-at-day-of-the-devs-2022Bear And BreakfastA Little To The LeftFox And Frog Travelers: The Demon Of Adashino IslandFantasyHow To Say GoodbyeSimulationDesta: The Memories BetweenPuzzleHorrorRoguelikePlanet Of LanaE3 2022PlatformerBirthDouble Fine ProductionsEscape AcademyStory RichTime FliesGoodbye WorldIndiescoveryMetroidvaniaSummer Game FestRPGManagementLittle Nemo And The Guardians Of SlumberlandRomanceVisual Novel & DatingChoo-Choo CharlesNaiadday of the devsPoint and ClickScience FictionRoots of PachaMysterySchimAction AdventureSummer Game Fest 2022Animal WellIndieStrategy

Day Of The Devs is probably my favourite part of the summer games jamboree every year because it does wonders for the visibility of indie games and their developers. Slotting in snugly right after Geoff regaled us with the Summer Game Fest stream, this year’s Day Of The Devs showcase marked the tenth anniversary. Tim Schafer and friends revealed more about some stonking looking indies from places as far apart as the Netherlands, Japan and Argentina. It was lovely to see some solo devs featured too, such as Madison Karrh with Birth, a point-and-click puzzler about loneliness, and Billy Basso’s beautiful pixel-art Metroidvania Animal Well.

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