Animal Gods
- October 11, 2015
- Still Games
While Animal Gods is beautiful and charming to look at, the gameplay is simple and feels extremely generic.
Get on SteamAnimal Gods is an old-school, top / down action game. Play as Thistle, a bounty hunter from 1500 BC Europe. Discover a lost world. Stop an occult leader. Defeat the cursed gods.
Mac OS
PC
Windows
Linux
Wii
Wii U
Reviews
- The art style is absolutely beautiful and unique, making it visually appealing.
- The soundtrack is evocative and fits well with the game's atmosphere, providing a relaxing experience.
- The game has an interesting story theme, with diary entries that add depth to the narrative.
- Gameplay is repetitive and lacks depth, often feeling tedious and unengaging.
- The game is very short, clocking in at around 2 hours, which many players feel does not justify its price.
- Controls can feel unresponsive, and the mechanics are often frustrating, leading to a lack of enjoyment.
- story28 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The game's story is presented through diary entries, offering a puzzling and poetic narrative reminiscent of classic 90's JRPGs, but many players find it disjointed and lacking depth. While some appreciate the intriguing backstory and art style, the overall execution feels watered down and unimpactful, with minimal character interaction and a gameplay experience that detracts from the storytelling. Despite glimpses of interesting ideas, the narrative often fails to engage, leaving players wanting a more cohesive and compelling experience.
“Kickstarted this game after reading the description: 'the game pairs the tight and polished action of The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds with a cast of characters and touching story moments that might remind you of classic 90's JRPGs.'”
“It has a puzzling story told by diary entries, something that reminds me of Braid's storytelling, with a bit of poetry in its writing.”
“The story and setting are intriguing.”
“So yeah, overall, I hope the dev makes something better in the future, because this game just isn't fun or even that interesting. There are glimpses of neat ideas in its story, but drops them off almost immediately.”
“The story is a little too light, and told in a disjointed style that makes it unclear what it is even about.”
“The enemies are merely boxes; the story suggests they are more, but it doesn't come through in the gameplay.”
- gameplay28 mentions
- 11 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious, repetitive, and lacking in variation. While some appreciate the art and sound design, they feel the mechanics are uninspired and fail to provide a genuine challenge, often leading to frustration. Overall, the gameplay is seen as a secondary element to the game's artistic intentions, leaving players wanting more depth and engagement.
“Gameplay is good; in one temple, you learn how to use the sword, in another, the bow, and by the last, you gain the ability to dash.”
“I'm having a blast with the flame cloak, and I enjoy that it's challenging without relying on panic and twitch mechanics, especially since I'm no longer in my teens.”
“Each dungeon provides you with a singular mechanic to play with; the snake dungeon gives you a sword, the spider dungeon gives you a bow, and the lion dungeon gives you a 'flame cloak' that will teleport you forward a short distance.”
“I played through one dungeon which had a tedious and boring mechanic and couldn't bring myself to play any more.”
“The artsy feeling of the game doesn't go well with the little gameplay content, annoying pacing, and achievement frustration, making it too expensive for the experience it provides.”
“Animal gods ultimately promises more than it can deliver on; the graphics will draw you in but the gameplay will let you down.”
- graphics22 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their beautiful and intriguing art style, creating a magical atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. However, some reviewers note inconsistencies and a lack of polish, suggesting that while the visuals are captivating, they may not fully compensate for shortcomings in gameplay. Overall, the graphics are seen as a standout feature, appealing to those who prioritize artistic expression over gameplay mechanics.
“First off, the art style is absolutely beautiful; I really hope the devs continue using this style in their future games.”
“Graphics: beautiful and intriguing, the core of this game.”
“The audio, graphics, and fluid controls make this an adventure worth taking.”
“Could use a graphical retouch here and there, because you can see a lot of hasty stitches.”
“The most immediately upsetting factor is the way the game appears to try and disguise the cheapness of its graphics as a stylistic choice.”
“Animal gods ultimately promises more than it can deliver on; the graphics will draw you in but the gameplay will let you down.”
- music13 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players finding it beautiful and evocative, enhancing the overall atmosphere, while others describe it as repetitive and grating, especially during prolonged gameplay. Despite its enchanting qualities, many users noted that the soundtrack can become tiresome, detracting from the experience. Overall, while the music complements the stunning visuals, its repetitiveness may hinder enjoyment for some players.
“The art is beautiful and unique, which pleases the eyes of a 2D lover, and the soundtrack is very unusual.”
“Normally I mute sound very quickly, but this game contains a variety of musical themes that are very evocative.”
“Great visuals, music, and atmosphere.”
“Not to mention that the soundtrack gets grating after a while, really grating. I thought I was going insane as I died over and over again to the platforming.”
“Aside from the two hours it takes to complete, the minimal story elements, and the mostly irritating music, Animal Gods reminds me of the tutorial section of a Zelda game.”
“The music, which was immediately striking, was set on loop for the entirety of my playtime, such that I truly had no motivation to keep hitting boxes.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unengaging, often describing it as a boring slog with repetitive mechanics that lack excitement or reward. The gameplay involves monotonous strategies that do not encourage variation, leading to frustration and a lack of motivation to continue.
“I played through one dungeon which had a tedious and boring mechanic and couldn't bring myself to play any more.”
“The gameplay is a tedious and unrewarding slog with no heart.”
“Additionally, the gameplay is quite tedious when trying to overcome the enemy obstacles; you'll find yourself standing slightly away from a box's path to slash at them with the sword, or waiting for the appropriate time to shoot your bow, and you never have to deviate your strategy.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its stunning visuals and captivating music, creating a unique and engaging experience for players.
“Great visuals, music, and atmosphere.”
“The art and atmosphere are unique and engaging.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the game's ability to blend polished action with a heartfelt narrative, drawing comparisons to classic 90's JRPGs. The emotional depth of the characters and story moments resonates strongly, enhancing the overall gaming experience.
“Kickstarted this game after reading the description: 'the game pairs the tight and polished action of The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds with a cast of characters and touching story moments that might remind you of classic 90's JRPGs.'”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is somewhat limited due to frustrating bugs that prevent players from unlocking specific achievements. However, it does offer a new mode called "9-lives" after completion, which provides an additional challenge, albeit with a slow pacing that may deter some players.
“There are reports that the game is bugging and not giving a specific achievement, which will frustrate completionists. The game unlocks a new mode called '9-lives' after you beat it, which offers a bit of replayability, but you'll have to endure the ultra-slow pacing again.”
