Always Sometimes Monsters

Last updated

Always Sometimes Monsters
Always Sometimes Monsters logo.png
Developer(s) Vagabond Dog
Publisher(s) Devolver Digital
Designer(s) Justin Amirkhani
Programmer(s) Jake Reardon
Artist(s)
  • Sarah Dario
  • Kelvin Put
  • Jessica Alves
  • Victor Cueva Rodriguez
  • Donovan Liu
  • Luis Emilio Aceves Amaya
Writer(s) Justin Amirkhani
Composer(s) Laser Destroyer Team
Engine RPG Maker VX Ace
Platform(s)
ReleaseWindows
21 May 2014
OS X, Linux
8 January 2015
iOS, Android
28 May 2015
PlayStation 4
10 October 2017 [1]
Nintendo Switch
8 April 2021
Genre(s) Role-playing
Mode(s) Single-player

Always Sometimes Monsters is a role-playing video game created by Canadian indie developers Justin Amirkhani and Jake Reardon, developed by Vagabond Dog and published by Devolver Digital. The game was released on 21 May 2014 for Microsoft Windows. A later update using the MonoGame framework brought the game to OS X and Linux on 8 January 2015 and to iOS and Android on 28 May 2015.

Contents

The game puts players in the role of an author who receives notice that the love of their life is marrying someone else across the country within a month. After being evicted from their apartment on the east coast, players then head to the west coast in order to intercept the wedding and win back the love they lost. [2]

Gameplay

As the game starts, players are introduced to their character through a narrative sequence that allows the selection of their character and love interest. The player's relationship with their love interest can be both straight or gay, depending on their choice. [3] From there, the game begins its narrative, told through text windows supported by character portraits. Players make choices in dialogue and in action to alter the course of the story and change the fate of their protagonist. [4]

Players can walk around to explore city environments, interact with NPCs, and find the means to earn money so they may progress to the next location. This often means taking repetitive odd jobs for low pay, or compromising a concept of morality. [5]

The game plays out over a span of 30 in-game days, [6] with time progressing through morning, day, and night as activities and events are completed. Choosing how to spend time during the journey is a key component of the game, as some options disable others. [7]

Reception

The PlayStation 4 version received "favourable" reviews, while the PC and iOS versions received "mixed or average reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic. [8] [9] [10]

Sequel

A sequel, Sometimes Always Monsters , was announced on 13 August 2015. [21] Although announced for 2016, it was eventually released on April 2, 2020. [22]

Related Research Articles

<i>Starlancer</i> 2000 video game

Starlancer is a space-based science fiction flight simulator computer game, created by Erin and Chris Roberts, and developed by Warthog Games under the auspices of Digital Anvil.

<i>Monsters, Inc. Scream Team</i> 2001 video game

Monsters, Inc. Scream Team is a 2001 platform game developed by Artificial Mind and Movement and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation and PlayStation 2 and Disney Interactive for Microsoft Windows. The game is based on the 2001 film Monsters, Inc.. In 2011, the game was made available on the PlayStation Store.

<i>Terraria</i> 2011 video game

Terraria is an action-adventure sandbox game developed by Re-Logic. The game was first released for Windows on May 16, 2011, and has since been ported to several other platforms. The game features exploration, crafting, building, painting, and combat with a variety of creatures in a procedurally generated 2D world. Terraria received generally positive reviews and sold over 44 million copies by 2022, making it one of the best-selling video games.

<i>Divinity: Original Sin</i> 2014 video game

Divinity: Original Sin is a role-playing video game developed and published by Larian Studios. The fourth main entry in the Divinity game series, it is a prequel to the original game Divine Divinity, and to the other main games in the series. It was first released on Microsoft Windows on 30 June 2014.

<i>Where Is My Heart?</i> 2011 video game

Where is My Heart? is a platform video game developed by Danish studios Schulenburg Software and Die Gute Fabrik. It was released as a PlayStation mini on the PlayStation Network in North America on November 8, 2011 and Europe on November 16, 2011.

<i>Zeno Clash 2</i> 2013 video game

Zeno Clash 2 is a first-person action role-playing and beat 'em up video game developed by ACE Team as the follow-up to 2009's Zeno Clash. It was published by Atlus for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360 in 2013. The game is a direct sequel and features the same characters and setting as the first. It continues the story of Ghat, Rimat, and Father-Mother.

<i>Sportsfriends</i> 2014 party video game

Sportsfriends is a party video game created by the Danish independent developer collective Die Gute Fabrik. It consists of four games: Johann Sebastian Joust, Super Pole Riders, BaraBariBall, and Hokra. Planned for release on the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Windows, Mac, and Linux, the game was funded through Kickstarter and received over US$150,000 from backers.

<i>Dokuro</i> (video game) 2012 video game

Dokuro is a video game developed by Game Arts and published by GungHo Online Entertainment originally for the PlayStation Vita with later ports to iOS, Android, Microsoft Windows and Nintendo Switch. The player controls Dokuro, who must save a princess after the Dark Lord wants to marry her.

<i>Hell Yeah! Wrath of the Dead Rabbit</i> 2012 video game

Hell Yeah! Wrath of the Dead Rabbit is a platform game for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3 through PlayStation Network, Xbox 360 through Xbox Live Arcade, and iOS through App Store. It was developed by French developer Arkedo Studio and published by Sega. The game has an ESRB rating of Teen.

<i>Trials Fusion</i> 2014 video game

Trials Fusion is a platform racing video game developed by Ubisoft RedLynx in collaboration with Ubisoft Shanghai and Ubisoft Kyiv. A follow-up to Trials Evolution, it is the fifth game in the Trials series and is the first one to be released on a PlayStation platform. The game was released on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360 and Xbox One in April 2014. A companion game, Trials Frontier, was released on iOS and Android devices and designed to accompany the console and PC title. Ubisoft released six paid DLC packs, as well as several free content updates. Online multiplayer was added in an update on January 24, 2015.

<i>Space Hulk</i> (2013 video game) 2013 video game

Space Hulk is a turn-based tactics video game developed by Danish studio Full Control. It is based on the tabletop game of the same name by Games Workshop. It features the Blood Angels Chapter of the Space Marines battling grotesque aliens known as Genestealers. A follow-up game, Space Hulk: Ascension, was released in 2014.

<i>Foul Play</i> (video game) 2013 video game

Foul Play is a 2013 brawler action-adventure developed by UK-based indie studio Mediatonic and published by Devolver Digital. It was released for Microsoft Windows and Xbox 360 on 18 September 2013 and for Mac OS X and Linux on 28 October 2013. After a port to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita was announced in mid-2014, the PlayStation 4 received its early version of the game on 1 September 2015 in North America as part of the PlayStation Heroes charity campaign, while both the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation Vita versions were actually released on 23 February 2016.

Dropsy is a 2015 point-and-click adventure video game developed by US-based indie developer Tendershoot and indie development studio A Jolly Corpse, and published by Devolver Digital. The game was released on September 10, 2015 for Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux. The iOS port of Dropsy was released on December 17, 2015. The Nintendo Switch version was released on September 29, 2022.

<i>Luftrausers</i> 2014 video game

Luftrausers is a shoot 'em up video game developed by Netherlands-based indie developer studio Vlambeer and published by Devolver Digital for Microsoft Windows, OS X, Linux, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita. It was released in March 2014 and ported to Android by General Arcade on May 28, 2015. A demake of the game, titled LuftrauserZ, was developed by Paul Koller for Commodore 64, Commodore 128 and Commodore 64 Games System, and released by RGCD and Vlambeer on December 8, 2017.

<i>Not a Hero</i> 2015 video game

Not a Hero is a cover system 2D shooter video game developed by the British indie development studio Roll7 and published by Devolver Digital. The game released on 14 May 2015 for Microsoft Windows. A later update, which was built using the Chowdren runtime for Clickteam Fusion 2.5, introduced builds for OS X and Linux, on 1 October 2015. The PlayStation 4 version of the game released on 2 February 2016, with the PlayStation Vita version being cancelled. A Super Snazzy Edition, including a new extra campaign, was released on Xbox One by Team17 in May 2016, and on Nintendo Switch by Devolver Digital in August 2018.

Gauntlet is a hack and slash dungeon crawl video game developed by Arrowhead Game Studios and published by Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment. A reboot of the Gauntlet series, it was released for Microsoft Windows in September 2014. Gauntlet was re-released for both Windows and PlayStation 4 as Gauntlet: Slayer Edition in August 2015.

<i>Life Is Strange</i> (video game) 2015 episodic video game

Life Is Strange is an episodic adventure game developed by Dontnod Entertainment and published by Square Enix. The first installment of the Life Is Strange series, the game was released in five episodes periodically throughout 2015 for PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox 360, and Xbox One. It was ported to OS X and Linux in 2016 and iOS and Android in 2017–2018. A remastered version of the game was released as part of the Life Is Strange Remastered Collection in February 2022.

<i>The Deadly Tower of Monsters</i> 2016 video game

The Deadly Tower of Monsters is an action-adventure game developed by ACE Team and published by Atlus USA for Microsoft Windows and PlayStation 4 in January 2016. The game is a metafictional parody of science fiction midnight B movie from its golden age, with caricatural action heroes.

<i>Knights of Pen & Paper</i> 2012 role-playing video game

Knights of Pen & Paper is a role-playing video game developed by Behold Studios and published by Paradox Interactive and Seaven Studio. It was released on October 30, 2012, for iOS and Android, and on June 18, 2013, for Windows, OS X and Linux. A Nintendo Switch version, entitled Knights of Pen & Paper: +1 Deluxier Edition, was released on May 29, 2018, in North America and Europe and on November 21, 2019, in Japan. Similar versions for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One were released on May 29 and May 30, 2018, respectively.

<i>Leviathan: Warships</i> 2013 video game developed by Pieces Interactive

Leviathan: Warships is a video game developed by Pieces Interactive and published by Paradox Interactive in 2013.

References

  1. ↑ Fischer, Tyler (5 October 2017). "Always Sometimes Monsters Coming to PS4 Next Week". DualShockers.
  2. ↑ Birnbaum, Ian (30 August 2015). "Always Sometimes Monsters explores the most terrifying setting—the real world". PC Gamer . Future plc . Retrieved 5 December 2015.
  3. ↑ Campbell, Colin (18 December 2013). "The Hard Road To Always Sometimes Monster". Polygon . Vox Media . Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  4. ↑ Cooper, Lee (19 April 2014). "A Journey Through Always Sometimes Monsters". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  5. ↑ Davison, Pete (29 August 2013). "Always Sometimes Monsters: A Different Take on Grinding". USgamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 9 September 2015. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  6. ↑ Matulef, Jeffery (4 April 2014). "Realistic role-playing drama Always Sometimes Monsters dated for May [date mislabeled as "9 April 2014"]". Eurogamer . Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  7. 1 2 Werner, Jillian (26 May 2014). "Always Sometimes Monsters Review (PC)". Gamezebo . Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  8. 1 2 "Always Sometimes Monsters for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic . Fandom . Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  9. 1 2 "Always Sometimes Monsters for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  10. 1 2 "Always Sometimes Monsters for iPhone/iPad Reviews". Metacritic. Fandom. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  11. ↑ Starkey, Daniel (21 May 2014). "Always Sometimes Monsters review (PC) [date mislabeled as "9 February 2015"]". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 24 May 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  12. ↑ Almogi, Gil (28 May 2014). "Always Sometimes Monsters Review (PC)". GameRevolution . CraveOnline . Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  13. ↑ Capozzoli, Nick (16 June 2014). "Always Sometimes Monsters Review (PC)". GameSpot . Fandom. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  14. ↑ Donato, Joe (1 June 2014). "Always Sometimes Monsters Review: Always interesting, sometimes annoying (PC)". GameZone. Archived from the original on 25 June 2014. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  15. ↑ Thew, Geoff (29 May 2014). "Review: Always Sometimes Monsters (PC)". Hardcore Gamer. Retrieved 1 December 2022.
  16. ↑ Conditt, Jessica (3 June 2014). "Always Sometimes Monsters review: Being human (PC)". Engadget (Joystiq). Yahoo. Archived from the original on 5 June 2014. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  17. ↑ Webber, Jordan Erica (3 June 2014). "Always Sometimes Monsters review". PC Gamer. Future plc. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  18. ↑ Riendeau, Danielle (5 June 2014). "Always Sometimes Monsters review: working class hero (PC)". Polygon. Vox Media. Retrieved 15 January 2021.
  19. ↑ Welhouse, Zach (27 June 2014). "Always Sometimes Monsters - Staff Review (PC)". RPGamer. CraveOnline. Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  20. ↑ Musgrave, Shaun (17 July 2015). "'Always Sometimes Monsters' Review – Deeply Unpleasant". TouchArcade . TouchArcade.com, LLC. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  21. ↑ Parlock, Joe (13 August 2015). "Sometimes Always Monsters is the follow-up to Always Sometimes Monsters". Destructoid . Gamurs . Retrieved 30 November 2022.
  22. ↑ "Sometimes Always Monsters". Steam . Valve Corporation.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.