Software:Always Sometimes Monsters

From HandWiki
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
EngineRPG 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.

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

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
Metacritic(PS4) 80/100[8]
(PC) 73/100[9]
(iOS) 60/100[10]
Review scores
PublicationScore
Eurogamer(PC) 9/10[11]
GameRevolution(PC) 9/10[12]
GameSpot(PC) 5/10[13]
Gamezebo(PC) 3.5/5 stars[7]
GameZone(PC) 7/10[14]
Hardcore Gamer(PC) 3/5[15]
Joystiq(PC) 4/5 stars[16]
PC Gamer (UK)80%[17]
Polygon(PC) 8/10[18]
RPGamer(PC) 3/5[19]
TouchArcade(iOS) 3/5 stars[20]

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]

References

  1. Fischer, Tyler (5 October 2017). "Always Sometimes Monsters Coming to PS4 Next Week". https://www.dualshockers.com/always-sometimes-monsters-coming-ps4/. 
  2. Birnbaum, Ian (30 August 2015). "Always Sometimes Monsters explores the most terrifying setting—the real world". Future plc. https://www.pcgamer.com/always-sometimes-monsters-explores-the-most-terrifying-setting-the-real-world/. 
  3. Campbell, Colin (18 December 2013). "The Hard Road To Always Sometimes Monster". Vox Media. https://www.polygon.com/features/2013/12/18/5195130/always-sometimes-monsters. 
  4. Cooper, Lee (19 April 2014). "A Journey Through Always Sometimes Monsters". https://hardcoregamer.com/previews/pax-east-14-my-journey-through-always-sometimes-monsters/81690/. 
  5. Davison, Pete (29 August 2013). "Always Sometimes Monsters: A Different Take on Grinding". Gamer Network. https://www.usgamer.net/articles/always-sometimes-monsters-a-different-take-on-grinding. 
  6. Matulef, Jeffery (4 April 2014). "Realistic role-playing drama Always Sometimes Monsters dated for May [date mislabeled as "9 April 2014""]. Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/realistic-role-playing-drama-always-sometimes-monsters-dated-for-may. 
  7. 7.0 7.1 Werner, Jillian (26 May 2014). "Always Sometimes Monsters Review (PC)". https://www.gamezebo.com/reviews/always-sometimes-monsters-review/. 
  8. 8.0 8.1 "Always Sometimes Monsters for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/always-sometimes-monsters/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4. 
  9. 9.0 9.1 "Always Sometimes Monsters for PC Reviews". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/always-sometimes-monsters/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. 
  10. 10.0 10.1 "Always Sometimes Monsters for iPhone/iPad Reviews". Fandom. https://www.metacritic.com/game/always-sometimes-monsters/critic-reviews/?platform=ios-iphoneipad. 
  11. Starkey, Daniel (21 May 2014). "Always Sometimes Monsters review (PC) [date mislabeled as "9 February 2015""]. Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/always-sometimes-monsters-review. 
  12. Almogi, Gil (28 May 2014). "Always Sometimes Monsters Review (PC)". CraveOnline. https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/64242-always-sometimes-monsters-review. 
  13. Capozzoli, Nick (16 June 2014). "Always Sometimes Monsters Review (PC)". Fandom. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/always-sometimes-monsters-review/1900-6415789/. 
  14. Donato, Joe (1 June 2014). "Always Sometimes Monsters Review: Always interesting, sometimes annoying (PC)". https://www.gamezone.com/reviews/always-sometimes-monsters-review-always-interesting-sometimes-annoying/. 
  15. Thew, Geoff (29 May 2014). "Review: Always Sometimes Monsters (PC)". https://hardcoregamer.com/reviews/review-always-sometimes-monsters/86597/. 
  16. Conditt, Jessica (3 June 2014). "Always Sometimes Monsters review: Being human (PC)". Yahoo. https://www.engadget.com/2014-06-03-always-sometimes-monsters-review-being-human.html. 
  17. Webber, Jordan Erica (3 June 2014). "Always Sometimes Monsters review". Future plc. https://www.pcgamer.com/always-sometimes-monsters-review-2/. 
  18. Riendeau, Danielle (5 June 2014). "Always Sometimes Monsters review: working class hero (PC)". Vox Media. https://www.polygon.com/2014/6/5/5765838/always-sometimes-monsters-review-working-class-hero. 
  19. Welhouse, Zach (27 June 2014). "Always Sometimes Monsters - Staff Review (PC)". CraveOnline. https://archive.rpgamer.com/games/indie/asm/reviews/asmstrev1.html. 
  20. Musgrave, Shaun (17 July 2015). "'Always Sometimes Monsters' Review – Deeply Unpleasant". TouchArcade.com, LLC. https://toucharcade.com/2015/07/17/always-sometimes-monsters-review/. 
  21. Parlock, Joe (13 August 2015). "Sometimes Always Monsters is the follow-up to Always Sometimes Monsters". Gamurs. https://www.destructoid.com/sometimes-always-monsters-is-the-follow-up-to-always-sometimes-monsters/. 
  22. "Sometimes Always Monsters". Valve Corporation. https://store.steampowered.com/app/441440/Sometimes_Always_Monsters/. 

External links