The charming metroidvania Animal Well released earlier this month, its fantastic pixel art and sound are a delight, harkening back to games of old. But, much like the games of yesteryear, Animal Well just drops you in the world and leaves you to it — there is zero hand holding whatsoever. While this is great for some, it can be frustrating for others.
Here are my top 5 tips for navigating the Animal Well:
1. Learn to Bubble Jump
Once you find the bubble wand, your exploration/puzzle solving options sky-rocket. Previously inaccessible heights are now open to you, with a couple of well-timed hops.
Bubble jumping isn’t easy at first, as bubbles pop when you jump off them or create a new bubble. You’ll have to simultaneously hop and create a new bubble, and if timed correctly, land on the newly created bubble. Repeat as needed.
You can find the bubble wand in the southwestern part of the map. Keep heading west from the room with the seahorse, wolf, chameleon and ostrich statues and you’ll be on the right path.
2. Go on an Egg Hunt
As you play you’ll come across multiple eggs in chests, which get stored in a central ‘egg chamber’. More than just collectibles, gathering enough eggs opens doors within the chamber, granting treasures such as the animal flute and the fast travel hub.
You can find the egg chamber close to the room with the four statues mentioned in tip 1. Head left one screen, up one screen, and then left one more screen.
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3. Take a Frisbee Ride
Not only can you hit switches and distract dogs with your frisbee, but you can also hop on board and go for a ride! Great for traveling across wide open spaces quickly or teasing those pesky mutts.
The frisbee can be found in the area north of the egg room… though figuring out how to keep it once you’ve found it is another matter!
4. Fast Travel via Flute
Once you obtain the animal flute you can blast some sweet tunes, distracting animals and unlocking secrets. But most usefully, you can use it to fast travel.
Belting out what I’ll call the ‘Animal Code’ (right, right, left, left, down, down, up, up) will transport you to a hub room, where previously unlocked portals can be accessed to quickly get around the map.
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5. Try Everything!
Animal Well is a game of exploration, with puzzles layered upon puzzles. Don’t be afraid to try something stupid, throw your yoyo at a stalactite, investigate dubious looking vines, heck, even play your flute to an empty pool of water… You never know what might pop up!
Animal Well is out on PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch and PC, and is also available as part of the PlayStation Plus Extra catalogue.
