Animal Well

Animal Well is a metroidvania game without any combat in it. There are enemies, but you have to outsmart them rather than fight head to head. Both the visuals and music are great. It feels exactly like a retro game would if the technology had been better back then. At the same time, it doesn't copy anything from other games, and the gameplay feels unique and fresh. If you're not a 100% completionist, the time to beat will be about 8 hours, which feels just right for Animal Well. My complaints about the game: * The game doesn't explain the bubble jump chaining mechanic, even though I would say it's the main mechanic of the game and it's hard to figure out on your own that this is possible. * The Ghost Dog chase is an absolute disaster because you have to go through an area with 4 elevators where getting the timings right is important, and Ghost Dog with its doglings is very distracting both visually and audibly. * There's a platforming sequence where you have to do everything with the right timing, otherwise you get reset to the start of it. Since this sequence is the only way into the next location, and I had to visit that location three times, the resets become especially frustrating. * Animal Well starts as a metroidvania built around puzzles and secrets, but later in the game platforming plays a much bigger role and the game becomes mechanically demanding. This is a low blow for many people who just wanted a chill experience solving some puzzles. * Fast travel is not very generous, so you still have to walk quite a lot. But since the game is small, it's fine, as there aren't that many objectives. It's also hard to figure out the flute sequence for the fast travel hub on your own, even if you see the hint for it. * Later in the game you get so many usable tools that cycling through them becomes quite annoying. I'd prefer to be able to select a tool directly instead.

Trying to remember playing Animal Well is like trying to remember an acid trip: You can intellectually recall things happening, but those things evoke feelings you can't quite comprehend anymore. Truly a unique experience, with a frightening degree of freedom. The game also does an amazing job of not teaching you anything, whilst nudging you to learn. A masterclass in games as an art form. (But I so wish I could rebind controls on KB)

I've played this entire game blind. Whenever I thought "Yeah, this must be it, there shouldnt be much more after this", BOOM another thing i would not have seen coming! Every time i finish the game, another layer of secrets and mysteries gets added and i can start looking across the entire map again! I just obtained my second-last achievement, thus only one remains. I have a suspicion what the last achievement is for based on where i am in the game, but like... it's getting ridiculous lol (in a good way!) Overall, as somebody who loves games with secrets, this was an amazing experience!