Love this video! The music is used to such good effect throughout the game, even when you’re barely aware it’s playing. I also wouldn’t be surprised if there’s more ambient motifs that can be played on your flute that will unlock further secrets.
This game is very artistically unique, which is just the kind of quality I seek in games constantly. Always looking for that perfect hidden gem that touches my heart in a new and inspiring way. My thoughts on the soundtrack are that even though it's so simplistic, subtle, and quiet, those exact traits are what set the ominous tone of its beautiful world. A deep well untouched by the universe outside. Its very own universe hidden away in a dark and quiet place, full of shadow and wonder. It's like looking into a stark black forest at night with a sky of stars that rotate at a slowness that makes it SEEM still. But there's so much more than what meets the eye. Exactly the game's message right there. I truly honestly wish there were more games like this one. The ability to expand one's perspective on reality in a video game is astounding and worth every experience.
I watched this thinking you had perhaps discovered secret music notation in the artwork (I wouldn't be surprised if that is still the case!) and yet I was not disappointed you didn't. The music and other audio in this game are stunning. Everything fits so perfectly. My favourites are the beat of the chameleon as it feeds, and the rhythm of the yellow and green platforms that raise you up by different amounts, especially the staircases that you glide upwards on instead of jumping from step to step. There's unexpected musicality in other areas too, like the dog's barks or the firecracker bursts for example. I feel there could easily be some flute sequences in things like this that are yet to be found. Edit: I just remembered another favourite musical motif. There is a piece of background music near the end of the game (or between endings might be more accurate) that reminds me of the underwater music in Jaws. Not the scary Dum-Dum theme, but the slightly suspenseful, bad feeling, theme. It fits the mood really well.
@@CultnatiseThey have a lot of similarities too tho. I was really drawn to Rain World but couldnt get far, Animal Well scratches the itch I was looking for.
The other reply is incorrect. This track is not known to play anywhere in-game, however it is still in the files. It was used in promotional videos and in older versions of the game, as the credits theme. The time capsule song is completely different.
@MasterRocking one is the flames, two is the eggs, three is the bunniesand BDTP (check the whiteboard in the office), foru is the wingdings. Edit: changed to what is actually layer 4
Absolutely beautiful video. Would love to hear more thoughts about the game from your perspective. I came here searching for a breakdown of the title theme and I got exactly that! I was wondering if it sounded like a certain... flute song that we get to learn but I don't think there's enough similarities. Love the little nod to Mother 1 though. This game was a blast from start to finish.
This game reminds me of Tunic where the game has been showing you things the entire time but it's at a certain point where you start finding clues that make you retrace your steps and consider anything as a possible (music) puzzle
I'm assuming the disc-hitting-the-cave-spike-sound is not random but dictated like the spinning ghost mouse heads make sounds. the mice have 8 directions that have 8 sounds depending on when they hit an area, and make a sound accordingly. like the flute. I think it's the same with the frisbee-disc. it spins, and whenever it hits something it makes a sound according to where on the 8 areas it hits as it's spinning.
Billy Basso and others involved were definitely sneaky about a lot of things, and the soundtrack was interesting at times, but also quite dull. The boss/ semi-boss room music is not what I'd call engaging, its rather monotonous actually and I don't know what tone it was going for. In fact a lot of the music has a generally atmospheric quality like dog ghost land mostly being howling, barking, and other odd background noise all swept up in sort of a windy fluttering. Its nice that a lot the music is so understated, but Axiom Verge, Environmental Station Alpha, Cave Story and *Super Metroid* kind of already did a lot this sort of experimentation with discordant notes, weird time signatures, etc.. Its nice that it was thought out clearly by the team that worked on Animal Well, but I'm not sure where the line between "all of the background sounds animals make counts as music too" and having to listen to the terrible Town music that played in King's Quest V due to a lack of good midi support on anything post Windows 98se being branded as "experimental and quirky" if you didn't know why it wasn't supposed to sound like that. I personally love Mother 2's soundtrack, its fun, engaging, mysterious and is very memorable. Animal Well is dialed way back and can actually get annoying when a lot of the music is actually recycled. Save room music was pretty good though. When you do get "the flute" a lot of things in the game change and open up for the player, but if you aren't particularly that interested in the music, then you won't get much of anything out of it- which is how I felt. I felt limited like it was 1997 and I was playing the Ocarina on an N64, but without any of the C-buttons. Speaking of which, Link's Awakening has a much better soundtrack than the sort of 8-bit style that Animal Well is going for. Then when I started seeing some of the secrets that were bound just to music I actually stopped playing because it seemed sort of tedious and almost ridiculous.
Tunic also has a lot of the "music that speaks to you subliminally"
The more time that passes the more I feel like animal well is a masterpiece
Love this video! The music is used to such good effect throughout the game, even when you’re barely aware it’s playing. I also wouldn’t be surprised if there’s more ambient motifs that can be played on your flute that will unlock further secrets.
A word that kept arising for me while listening to the various tracks: atmospheric. Nice job, man!
This game is very artistically unique, which is just the kind of quality I seek in games constantly. Always looking for that perfect hidden gem that touches my heart in a new and inspiring way. My thoughts on the soundtrack are that even though it's so simplistic, subtle, and quiet, those exact traits are what set the ominous tone of its beautiful world. A deep well untouched by the universe outside. Its very own universe hidden away in a dark and quiet place, full of shadow and wonder. It's like looking into a stark black forest at night with a sky of stars that rotate at a slowness that makes it SEEM still. But there's so much more than what meets the eye. Exactly the game's message right there.
I truly honestly wish there were more games like this one. The ability to expand one's perspective on reality in a video game is astounding and worth every experience.
I watched this thinking you had perhaps discovered secret music notation in the artwork (I wouldn't be surprised if that is still the case!) and yet I was not disappointed you didn't. The music and other audio in this game are stunning. Everything fits so perfectly. My favourites are the beat of the chameleon as it feeds, and the rhythm of the yellow and green platforms that raise you up by different amounts, especially the staircases that you glide upwards on instead of jumping from step to step.
There's unexpected musicality in other areas too, like the dog's barks or the firecracker bursts for example. I feel there could easily be some flute sequences in things like this that are yet to be found.
Edit: I just remembered another favourite musical motif. There is a piece of background music near the end of the game (or between endings might be more accurate) that reminds me of the underwater music in Jaws. Not the scary Dum-Dum theme, but the slightly suspenseful, bad feeling, theme. It fits the mood really well.
I was reminded a lot of Portal 2, which also has a lot of "emergent music" gradually appearing as you interact with objects in the world.
I love that this video exists. Thank you kind sir.
awesome video for an awesome game! how i wish i knew what vst / midi instruments they used to make the music, its so sick
For me Animal Well is a smaller, easier and more casual brother of Rain World.
I understand what you mean but I think that they are different experiences and not the same in many ways.
@@Cultnatise noita+celeste+rw
Me when I’ve only played indie platformers
@@CultnatiseThey have a lot of similarities too tho. I was really drawn to Rain World but couldnt get far, Animal Well scratches the itch I was looking for.
@@thalianTutor poor soul
3:55 I've gotten through all 4 layers (with internet help ofc). Where does the secret track play?
it plays while listening to the time capsule
The other reply is incorrect. This track is not known to play anywhere in-game, however it is still in the files. It was used in promotional videos and in older versions of the game, as the credits theme. The time capsule song is completely different.
@@zuperman13 my bad
Wait.... FOUR??? Shit, I thought I was done with THREE!!!
@MasterRocking one is the flames, two is the eggs, three is the bunniesand BDTP (check the whiteboard in the office), foru is the wingdings.
Edit: changed to what is actually layer 4
Appreciation where its deserved ¦3
great video !
The boss music comes to mind as a feat of sound design, its so simple musically but the sound choice/mixing really sells it
Thank you for showing it and making it visually understandable
Absolutely beautiful video. Would love to hear more thoughts about the game from your perspective. I came here searching for a breakdown of the title theme and I got exactly that! I was wondering if it sounded like a certain... flute song that we get to learn but I don't think there's enough similarities. Love the little nod to Mother 1 though. This game was a blast from start to finish.
This game reminds me of Tunic where the game has been showing you things the entire time but it's at a certain point where you start finding clues that make you retrace your steps and consider anything as a possible (music) puzzle
I'm assuming the disc-hitting-the-cave-spike-sound is not random but dictated like the spinning ghost mouse heads make sounds. the mice have 8 directions that have 8 sounds depending on when they hit an area, and make a sound accordingly. like the flute. I think it's the same with the frisbee-disc. it spins, and whenever it hits something it makes a sound according to where on the 8 areas it hits as it's spinning.
Very happy this made it to my recommended, what a cool game and cool video as well
im going to pretend i understood most of that😅
Nods to the Twin Peaks soundtrack
I want to see someone doing something amazing with the flute
Very nice video
Where is the fun hidden tho. I never came across it in the whole run
4:04 sounds almost like Cave Story 🥺
Billy Basso and others involved were definitely sneaky about a lot of things, and the soundtrack was interesting at times, but also quite dull. The boss/ semi-boss room music is not what I'd call engaging, its rather monotonous actually and I don't know what tone it was going for. In fact a lot of the music has a generally atmospheric quality like dog ghost land mostly being howling, barking, and other odd background noise all swept up in sort of a windy fluttering. Its nice that a lot the music is so understated, but Axiom Verge, Environmental Station Alpha, Cave Story and *Super Metroid* kind of already did a lot this sort of experimentation with discordant notes, weird time signatures, etc.. Its nice that it was thought out clearly by the team that worked on Animal Well, but I'm not sure where the line between "all of the background sounds animals make counts as music too" and having to listen to the terrible Town music that played in King's Quest V due to a lack of good midi support on anything post Windows 98se being branded as "experimental and quirky" if you didn't know why it wasn't supposed to sound like that. I personally love Mother 2's soundtrack, its fun, engaging, mysterious and is very memorable. Animal Well is dialed way back and can actually get annoying when a lot of the music is actually recycled. Save room music was pretty good though. When you do get "the flute" a lot of things in the game change and open up for the player, but if you aren't particularly that interested in the music, then you won't get much of anything out of it- which is how I felt. I felt limited like it was 1997 and I was playing the Ocarina on an N64, but without any of the C-buttons. Speaking of which, Link's Awakening has a much better soundtrack than the sort of 8-bit style that Animal Well is going for. Then when I started seeing some of the secrets that were bound just to music I actually stopped playing because it seemed sort of tedious and almost ridiculous.