The hype machine is at an all-time for the latest indie sensation, ANIMAL WELL. And for the most part, that hype is real. However, I’d lower your METROID-fandom expectations a notch before diving into this thoughtful adventure’s “well” of secrets.
ANIMAL WELL is a 2D side-scrolling adventure where the less you know about the environmental puzzles and platforming, the better. The game reminded me of 2D games like CELESTE, SUPER MEAT BOY, BRAID, and HORACE. Yet, the main differentiator from those was the lack of clear direction. I wandered around for at least five hours before I beat my first boss. And even after that exhilarating “battle,” I wasn’t clear about the goal of this uniquely designed game. Hell, after eleven hours on my first playthrough, I’m still discovering mysteries and meanings of things I’ve found.
I could tell you what all the other reviews have said, and that’s to pay attention to every screen in this game. No screen goes by without an easter egg or element that means something. And that easter egg hunt makes this game so much fun. The best indie video games are the ones that utilize mechanics that gamers know and love yet somehow make them feel new again. By taking all that gamers love about Metroidvania-style games and placing them in a unique world, ANIMAL WELL becomes the must-play game of the summer.
ANIMAL WELL is something you play, and you immediately want to talk to someone else about and learn how they solved some of the most perplexing puzzles or even the order in which they beat the bosses. The biggest compliment I can pay the game is that I’m still very much stuck in its “well,” despite being “well” past my first playthrough. I know I won’t discover every secret within this game. Yet, just like a “yo-yo,” I go down the well, come back up, and want to go down again for another round of fun. I’d just be careful when you’re close to walking the “dog.”
It’s available on most gaming platforms, while I played it on the Nintendo Switch.
