Interesting article, especially since I'm a huge fan of the other goose (a Belgian electronic band). Totally different genre, but funny how both seemingly have a passionate fanbase!
It's been a while, but here is another "Let's discuss" post! I hope everybody is doing fine and these posts are still appreciated :).
I haven't played this myself, but I know so many people who are extremely passionate about it that it felt like a good candidate! Looking forward to all of your musings!
The format of these posts is simple: let's discuss a specific game or series!
Let's discuss Stardew Valley. What aspects do you like about it? What doesn't work for you? Are there other games that gave you similar feelings? Feel free to share any thoughts that come up, or react to other peoples comments. Let's get the conversation going!
If you have any recommendations for games or series for the next post(s), please feel free to DM me or add it in a comment here (no guarantees of course).
Previous entries: The Sims, Half-Life, Earthbound / Mother, Mass Effect, Metroid, Journey, Resident Evil, Polybius, Tetris, Telltale Games, Kirby, LEGO Games, DOOM, Ori, Metal Gear, Slay the Spire
I think the issue is not wether it's sentient or not, it's how much agency you give it to control stuff.
Even before the AI craze this was an issue. Imagine if you were to create an automatic turret that kills living beings on sight, you would have to make sure you add a kill switch or you yourself wouldn't be able to turn it off anymore without getting shot.
The scary part is that the more complex and adaptive these systems become, the more difficult it can be to stop them once they are in autonomous mode. I think large language models are just another step in that complexity.
An atomic bomb doesn't pass a Turing test, but it's a fucking scary thing nonetheless.
I think they were joking. As in actually submitting bugs (adding bugs to the code).
This might be my first PC gaming experience. My niece had this game and when I came to visit we would play it together and build houses and stuff. I have really fond memories of the first game and some of its expansions (vacation and night-life, also pets if I remember correctly?).
I somehow completely skipped The Sims 2, but by the time The Sims 3 released, I was extremely hyped. It is the only time in my life I bought a collector's edition. It had a USB key chain in the shape of the green diamond! I remember really enjoying it and especially loving the music and the vibes it brought.
I also had a Sims game on Game Boy Advance (with cats and dogs) and one on Nintendo DS (on a lost island). Both were really fun!
The format of these posts is simple: let's discuss a specific game or series!
Let's discuss The Sims. What is your favorite game in the series? What aspects do you like about it? What doesn't work for you? Are there other games that gave you similar feelings? Feel free to share any thoughts that come up, or react to other peoples comments. Let's get the conversation going!
If you have any recommendations for games or series for the next post(s), please feel free to DM me or add it in a comment here (no guarantees of course).
Previous entries: Half-Life, Earthbound / Mother, Mass Effect, Metroid, Journey, Resident Evil, Polybius, Tetris, Telltale Games, Kirby, LEGO Games, DOOM, Ori, Metal Gear, Slay the Spire
I can't really pinpoint why, but I barfed a little after seeing that video.
Damn. I tried getting into it as a child but it was too difficult for me. The constant clicking and micromanaging gave me stress :P.
I adore this series. I especially have very fond memories of the original. I did not play it on release (I was still a toddler then), but I got it through the Valve Bundle on Steam and played it through at least 5 times. I've had multiple times in my life were I didn't have access to a powerful computer, but similar to DOOM, Half-Life will run on about anything. I remember one of my playtroughs being on a horrible windows 8 tablet, and still it looked and played amazingly :).
Half-Life 2 then just perfected an already strong original. There is something just so satisfying about the environmental design and linearity of the levels. You just push through and know that you will find enough in your surroundings to make it. I find it strange that there haven't been that many clones since (first person exploration action games). Most games either are to linear (COD) or completely open world or become a full-on immersive sim.
If you have any recommendations, please share them. Dishonored gave me similar vibes, but I miss the simplicity of Half-Life.
The format of these posts is simple: let's discuss a specific game or series!
Let's discuss the Half-Life series. What is your favorite game in the series? What aspects do you like about it? What doesn't work for you? Are there other games that gave you similar feelings? Feel free to share any thoughts that come up, or react to other peoples comments. Let's get the conversation going!
If you have any recommendations for games or series for the next post(s), please feel free to DM me or add it in a comment here (no guarantees of course).
Previous entries: Earthbound / Mother, Mass Effect, Metroid, Journey, Resident Evil, Polybius, Tetris, Telltale Games, Kirby, LEGO Games, DOOM, Ori, Metal Gear, Slay the Spire
I agreed with you up until your last paragraph: that is some serious exaggerating. Never did the original commenter say that the solution was to kill all Palestinians.
I don't agree with their view that eradicating Hamas followed by a temporary occupation by Israël will magically help the Palestinian people, but reducing an opposing viewpoint to a literal Nazi isn't going to help or convince anyone.
Maybe give it a go if you haven't yet? I'm also not a fan of web apps and prefer native applications, but it runs really well and is super impressive!
This looks insanely cool!
Game Information --------------------
Game Title: Animal Well
Platforms:
- PlayStation 5 (May 9, 2024)
- Nintendo Switch (May 9, 2024)
- PC (May 9, 2024)
Trailer:
Developer: Billy Basso
Publisher: Bigmode
Review Aggregator:
OpenCritic - 89 average - 100% recommended - 26 reviews
Critic Reviews -------------
But Why Tho? - Charles Hartford - 9 / 10
>Animal Well delivers a gorgeous art style paired with unique gameplay and an uncompromising vision
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CGMagazine - Jordan Biordi - 9 / 10
>Animal Well kept me captivated from start to finish and long after. Fans of Metroid-likes NEED to play this.
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COGconnected - Jaz Sagoo - 80 / 100
>Animal Well is a refreshing twist on the Metroidvania formula. Its tight platforming and clever puzzles make each exhilarating trek to distinct regions a blast. Although the retro-inspired art direction and odd presentation may not resonate with everyone, the originality and charm that imbues the game make this trip to the absurd a must for fans of the genre.
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Checkpoint Gaming - Omi Koulas - 8.5 / 10
>Uncover secrets, evade dangers, and embark on an eerie journey in ANIMAL WELL. Billy Basso has crafted a dark neon aesthetic and enigmatic gameplay that delivers a Metroidvania unlike many others. The mystery and cryptic puzzles won't be for everyone, but those who enjoy a challenge and a good platformer will be rewarded with a haunting adventure.
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Destructoid - Jamie Sharp - 10 / 10
>It’s one I’m grateful I experienced knowing so little, and urge anyone else sitting on the fence to wholeheartedly embrace until the darkness and biologically fueled light sources of its world envelop you in your beautiful, if slightly chilly, new home.
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Digital Trends - Giovanni Colantonio - 4 / 5
>Animal Well's deep secrets and arresting atmosphere will suck you down the rabbit hole.
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DualShockers - Sam Woods - 9.2 / 10
>Animal Well is sure to be one of 2024's surprise hits. It's Metroidvania gameplay plays second fiddle to a seemingly endless mystery
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Eurogamer - Christian Donlan - 5 / 5
>Explore a bright vision of subterranean nature in this astonishingly rich Metroidvania.
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Game Informer - Charlie Wacholz - 9 / 10
>Teeming with life, secrets, and charm that surprise and delight, Animal Well held my full, undivided attention
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GameSpot - Richard Wakeling - 9 / 10
>Animal Well delights with its non-traditional approach to Metroidvanias, combining unique items with a reactive and surreal world that's full of surprises.
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GamesRadar+ - Jon Bailes - 4.5 / 5
>Without giving anything away, it suffices to say that this rabbit hole goes a long way down, and if Animal Well is a Metroidvania, it's so much more besides.
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Hardcore Gamer - James Cunningham - 4.5 / 5
>Animal Well is a stunner of a metroidvania, usually charming but frequently creepy, mysterious but by no means unapproachable, and filled from top to bottom with secrets that are always satisfying to uncover.
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Hobby Consolas - Alberto Lloret - Spanish - 92 / 100
>Animal Well is one of the most interesting indie games that has been released so far in 2024.
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IGN - Rebekah Valentine - 9 / 10
>Animal Well is a beautiful, multi-layered puzzle box that’s both fun to simply play around with, and an utter delight to slowly crack open, secret by secret.
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Nintendo Life - Nile Bowie - 10 / 10
>Developer Shared Memory's stated goal is "to craft complete experiences that will be playable long after the world loses its internet connection," and screen after screen, Animal Well excels in delighting your eyes and giving your brain something to stew on. It's a riposte against a culture of post-launch updates in favour of a meticulously crafted, singular vision with potentially years' worth of discoveries baked in. By all indications, Animal Well delivers on that long-term promise and does so with a one-of-a-kind elegance.
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NintendoWorldReport - Willem Hilhorst - 8.5 / 10
>Even though it drops a few balls while juggling all these mechanics together, such as the boss battles. Still, ANIMAL WELL is a brilliantly put together game that I'd highly recommend to anyone who wants to get lost in a small but intricately designed game. I am quite convinced that both designers and players will be delving down deeper into this well over the coming years.
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PC Gamer - Shaun Prescott - 90 / 100
>A sleep-destroying puzzle metroidvania of baffling depth, Animal Well may go down in history as one of the genre's best.
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PCGamesN - Lauren Bergin - 8 / 10
>Despite its confusing fast travel system and misbehaving yo-yo, Animal Well is a bizarre yet brilliant neon-bathed adventure, characterized by tricky puzzles, intense platforming, and a host of cute animals - almost all of which are out to kill you.
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PSX Brasil - Victor Vitório - Portuguese - 85 / 100
>Animal Well is stunning and mysterious, a visual treat that offers open-ended and thought-provoking exploration. The total lack of explanations may put off part of the audience, but those who are willing to see how deep the iceberg, or rather the pit, goes, will have a lot to enjoy in this surrealist metroidvania.
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Push Square - Stephen Tailby - 8 / 10
>Animal Well is an extremely rewarding game — if you're willing to lose yourself in it. The sort of mysteries it's hiding go well beyond finding collectibles, giving you a rich and detailed world to unpack. If you have the patience and the curiosity, it's absolutely worth plumbing its depths.
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Rock, Paper, Shotgun - Edwin Evans-Thirlwell - Unscored
>A gorgeous and immensely absorbing metroidvania platformer that is both easy to get into and dense with secrets.
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Shacknews - TJ Denzer - 8 / 10
>Animal Well is one of the strangest metroidvanias I’ve played in a lot of very good ways. It’s pretty, funny, and scary in its atmospheric visuals and audio. Its platforming is also very satisfying and makes you feel good when you figure out how to use your tools properly to solve a puzzle. There are also secrets a plenty and a post-game to explore, as well. It's also just interesting to me that you don't directly fight with enemies and instead use your tools to work around them. The main double-edged sword here is the complete lack of context and hand-holding, which makes Animal Well charming and mysterious, but can make it difficult to keep track of what you were doing or where you should be going next. Nonetheless, if you want a solid and quirky adventure that will put your reflexes and puzzle-solving to the test, Animal Well is an absolutely fascinating journey.
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Skill Up - Ralph Panebianco - Unscored
>Video Review - Quote not available -------------
TechRaptor - Andrew Stretch - 10 / 10
>Animal Well is a game that promised platforming and puzzles and has managed to absolutely nail both in execution. Platforming fans will have an enjoyable time reaching the credits and will be content to set it down while puzzle gamers will be enamored by the depth that Animal Well has been able to achieve. You won't get more satisfied by a game solving puzzles like these.
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TheGamer - Eric Switzer - 5 / 5
>This is a game best played alongside friends who can go in without any expectations and work through obstacles together. Don’t expect to be able to solve everything on your own, but at the same time, do everything you can not to ask for help. If you can be comfortable with contradictions like that, you’ll find a lot to love in Animal Well.
-------------
Wccftech - Kai Tatsumoto - 8.6 / 10
>Animal Well is a fantastic breakout title from both a new developer and publishing studio. Fans of Fez and Tunic will feel right at home jumping into this well.
-------------
The format of these posts is simple: let's discuss a specific game or series!
Let's discuss the Mother series. What is your favorite game in the series? What aspects do you like about it? What doesn't work for you? Are there other games that gave you similar feelings? Feel free to share any thoughts that come up, or react to other peoples comments. Let's get the conversation going!
If you have any recommendations for games or series for the next post(s), please feel free to DM me or add it in a comment here (no guarantees of course).
Previous entries: Mass Effect, Metroid, Journey, Resident Evil, Polybius, Tetris, Telltale Games, Kirby, LEGO Games, DOOM, Ori, Metal Gear, Slay the Spire
Portable: my black Gameboy Advance SP, playing my original Gameboy games on it (Donkey Kong Country and pokemon Blue)
TV: this is gonna sound weird, but I absolutely love my PS5, it's just so sleek and I love the controller haptics and finally having most games running at 60 fps. Again I mostly play older games on it, but a lot of them got PS5 updates like Death Stranding, Ghost of Tsushima, Horizon, Spider Man, Days Gone...
I think they are in their right to give their opinion on something no? Telling someone that their kid is ugly is such a wrong comparison to make. You're directly offending them as it is their child, plus talking about something that neither parent nor child can do anything about (their looks).
I love talking to people who despise stuff I adore, this can give very interesting conversations. It also broadens my perspective on things. I love Mass Effect and still found the original comment very interesting.
You're not saying the other person is wrong to love it, you're just saying that you yourself hate it. I think this is an important distinction to make? Especially on a discussion thread, it would be rather boring to only hear the same voice?
Please correct me if I'm wrong, we're all learning.
Even though I agree with you and feel that you did nothing wrong with your original comment, I believe that there are less combative ways to point this out.
Did you buy the original games or the legendary edition? I played ME1 vanilla and enjoyed it a lot!
I've only played mass effect 1. I completed it around five years ago and absolutely loved it. I always have difficulty completing games, but for this one I read all the codex entries, completed all the quests I could find and really absorbed it all.
The opening is so memorable, it immediately gave me this epic sense of scale and importance and this lasted throughout the game.
I'm thinking of maybe playing it again as femshep and then continuing on with 2 and 3, although I'm not sure if it will match my original experience.
The format of these posts is simple: let's discuss a specific game or series!
Let's discuss the Mass Effect series. What is your favorite game in the series? What aspects do you like about it? What doesn't work for you? Are there other games that gave you similar feelings? Feel free to share any thoughts that come up, or react to other peoples comments. Let's get the conversation going!
If you have any recommendations for games or series for the next post(s), please feel free to DM me or add it in a comment here (no guarantees of course).
Previous entries: Metroid, Journey, Resident Evil, Polybius, Tetris, Telltale Games, Kirby, LEGO Games, DOOM, Ori, Metal Gear, Slay the Spire
Most anticipated release of the year for me, and I truly love it! What are your thoughts?
The Wolf Among Us 2 developers aren't ready to show off the game just yet, but they have released some screenshots to tide us over.
The format of these posts is simple: let's discuss a specific game or series!
Let's discuss the Metroid series. What are you're favorite games in the series? What aspects do you like about it? What doesn't work for you? Are there other games that gave you similar feelings? Feel free to share any thoughts that come up, or react to other peoples comments. Let's get the conversation going!
If you have any recommendations for games or series for the next post(s), please feel free to DM me or add it in a comment here (no guarantees of course).
Previous entries: Journey, Resident Evil, Polybius, Tetris, Telltale Games, Kirby, LEGO Games, DOOM, Ori, Metal Gear, Slay the Spire
The format of these posts is simple: let's discuss a specific game or series!
Today (16th of April) is my birthday! So we're discussing my favorite game of all time (tied with Outer Wilds): Journey
What aspects do you like about it? What doesn't work for you? What are your favorite experiences in the game? Are there other games that gave you similar feelings? Feel free to share any thoughts that come up, or react to other peoples comments. Let's get the conversation going!
If you have any recommendations for games or series for the next post(s), please feel free to DM me or add it in a comment here (no guarantees of course).
Previous entries: Resident Evil, Polybius, Tetris, Telltale Games, Kirby, LEGO Games, DOOM, Ori, Metal Gear, Slay the Spire
The format of these posts is simple: let's discuss a specific game or series!
Let’s discuss the Resident Evil series. What is your favorite game in the series? What is the first entry you ever played? What aspects do you adore about it? What doesn't work for you? Feel free to share any thoughts that come up, or react to other peoples comments. Let's get the conversation going!
If you have any recommendations for games or series for the next post(s), please feel free to DM me or add it in a comment here (no guarantees of course).
Previous entries: Polybius, Tetris, Telltale Games, Kirby, LEGO Games, DOOM, Ori, Metal Gear, Slay the Spire
The format of these posts is simple: let's discuss a specific game or series!
Let’s discuss Polybius. What was the first time you played this timeless classic? What version of the game do you like most? Feel free to share any thoughts that come up, or react to other peoples comments. Let's get the conversation going!
If you have any recommendations for games or series for the next post(s), please feel free to DM me or add it in a comment here (no guarantees of course).
Previous entries: Tetris, Telltale Games, Kirby, LEGO Games, DOOM, Ori, Metal Gear, Slay the Spire
The format of these posts is simple: let's discuss a specific game or series!
Let’s discuss Tetris. What was the first time you played this timeless classic? What version of the game do you like most? Feel free to share any thoughts that come up, or react to other peoples comments. Let's get the conversation going!
If you have any recommendations for games or series for the next post(s), please feel free to DM me or add it in a comment here (no guarantees of course).
Previous entries: Telltale Games, Kirby, LEGO Games, DOOM, Ori, Metal Gear, Slay the Spire
The format of these posts is simple: let's discuss a specific game or series!
Let’s discuss the Telltale games. What is your favorite one? What are your fondest memories and hardest decisions? What are areas that could be improved or don't work for you? Feel free to share any thoughts that come up, or react to other peoples comments. Let's get the conversation going!
If you have any recommendations for games or series for the next post(s), please feel free to DM me or add it in a comment here (no guarantees of course).
Previous entries: Kirby, LEGO Games, DOOM, Ori, Metal Gear, Slay the Spire
The format of these posts is simple: let's discuss a specific game or series!
Let’s discuss the Kirby series. This is quite a broad topic, with some amazing recent entries as well as several nostalgic masterpieces. What is your favorite one? What are your favorite aspects? What are areas that could be improved or don't work for you? Feel free to share any thoughts that come up, or react to other peoples comments. Let's get the conversation going!
If you have any recommendations for games or series for the next post(s), please feel free to DM me or add it in a comment here (no guarantees of course).
Previous entries: LEGO Games, DOOM, Ori, Metal Gear, Slay the Spire
The format of these posts is simple: let's discuss a specific game or series!
Let’s discuss all games that are LEGO themed. This is quite a broad topic, with some amazing recent entries as well as several nostalgic masterpieces. What is your favorite one? Which one allowed you to be most creative? What are areas that could be improved or don't work for you? Feel free to share any thoughts that come up, or react to other peoples comments. Let's get the conversation going!
If you have any recommendations for games or series for the next post(s), please feel free to DM me or add it in a comment here (no guarantees of course).
Previous entries: DOOM, Ori, Metal Gear, Slay the Spire
The format of these posts is simple: let's discuss a specific game or series!
Let’s discuss the DOOM series. What is your favorite entry? Are there any moments or mechanics that stand out to you? What aspects of the games do you like most? What are areas that could be improved or don't work for you? Feel free to share any thoughts that come up, or react to other peoples comments. Let's get the conversation going!
If you have any recommendations for games or series for the next post(s), please feel free to DM me or add it in a comment here (no guarantees of course).
Previous entries: Ori, Metal Gear, Slay the Spire
The format of these posts is simple: let's discuss a specific game or series!
Let’s discuss the Ori series. What is your favorite entry? Are there any moments or mechanics that stand out to you? What aspects of the games do you like most? What are areas that could be improved or don't work for you? Feel free to share any thoughts that come up, or react to other peoples comments. Let's get the conversation going!
If you have any recommendations for games or series for the next post(s), please feel free to DM me or add it in a comment here (no guarantees of course).
Previous entries: Metal Gear, Slay the Spire
Hello all! I would like to know what games give you that cozy, fuzzy feeling of simple happiness.
I'm currently experiencing this with Tchia, a wholesome game about a girl doing fun stuff on an island.
Weirdly enough I have a similar thing going with Doom (2016) at the moment. Something about the intensity of the levels and the interesting map design make me feel really satisfied and immersed.
Lastly, Super Mario 3D World really has a similar effect to Tchia, we're I immediately get a happy feeling just by booting it up and looking at the wonderful colors en design.
What is your go-to game for feeling relaxes or happy?
As the previous post of this type was quite successful here, I would like to continue.
Let's discuss the Metal Gear series. What is your favorite entry? What are your most beloved moments, characters, boss fights? Do you have any fun strategies you'd like to share? Are there things you absolutely don't like? Please feel free to share any thoughts you have on Metal Gear or react to other comments. Let's get the conversation going!
If you have any recommendations for games or series for the next post(s), please feel free to DM me or add it in a comment here (no guarantees of course).