Posted on: September 16, 2019
KungFuEwok
Verified ownerGames: 318 Reviews: 2
Distinctive and fun!
This is an example of why I love indie games: a pinball and Zelda-style action adventure just doesn't sound like it would work on paper, and maybe if it had to sustain a larger game, the concept might be stretched a little thin. But clocking in at around 5 hours, Creature in the Well is a fascinating exploration of the concept that doesn't outstay its welcome. Each new area introduces a new variant on the "pinbrawler" mechanic to keep things fresh, and they did a really good job of refining the feel of the core of charging and striking mechanics so that the basic gameplay loop is pretty satisfying. I found myself playing the whole thing through in one sitting without meaning to, just interested in seeing what else they could do with the conceit, and I was not disappointed. A couple of minor caveats: this game is definitely on a budget. There are very few assets, liberally reused with palette swaps, and if you care about things like voice acting, then you're going to be disappointed. The game does have a nice art style and the credits/lore at least hint at a larger world, but most of it comes across as just interesting set dressing - don't go in expecting exploration or world building. The difficulty curve can be a little off as well, since the emphasis on different mechanics can come down to how well you take to each of them. (That ball-catching boss fight ... oof.) In balance though, definitely a game worth experiencing, and I hope to see more from Flight School P/S: additional props to the designers for making the game 100% completable without having to start a new game. I was pleasantly surprised when I figured out I could wander back out into the desert.
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