Advancing felt more about stumbling into the tool needed to complete the task, not actually utilizing said tools to improve my skills.
#CREATURE IN THE WELL HOW TO#
NintendoĬreature In The Well was a game I very badly wanted to get better at, but could never quite figure out how I was failing and how to improve. It never felt like I was getting the hang of it all, just stumbling into the solutions that had little to do with me for reasons I never quite understood. Unless you’re a dungeon pinball pro, that makes for a lot of backtracking and feeling silly about trying to beat a difficult room with your current arsenal that a single tool could easily crush. The truth is you basically have to play parts of each to find the upgraded tools you need, then circle back to the parts you got frustrated with in order to clear them. Without the orbs and items in there, the game is basically impossible to beat. It’s also not clear that the secret paths are not optional. Once you get through the game’s first two levels, there are multiple machine parts to tackle, with no clear indication which one is easier than the other. The level map itself also has a learning curve as it twists and turns, and the way forward to progress in the game is murky as well. They’re little things, but it’s enough to make you wonder exactly what’s going on pretty much all the time, especially as the puzzles get harder and the game gets more frustrating. And many players were unaware that the white pools were actually good for you because they recharge your health bar, despite the deceptive vibrations from your controller. For the longest time I couldn’t tell if energy orbs were hurting my robot or not - until enemy-fired orbs absolutely were hurting my robot. Controller vibrations, for example, are both good and bad. Nintendoįor a game so beautifully stylized, it’s surprisingly unintuitive in a number of ways. But as the game gets harder, the frustrations with the mechanics themselves grow and not everything is nearly as intuitive as the minimalist design should be. Some of the features and set pieces build upon themselves over time, with new bumpers and electrical gizmos to make things a bit more complicated. It all takes part in the same factory, after all. It’s tough to criticize because it should be the same. But as the levels go on, the chromatic satisfaction wears off and the basic set pieces all look the same, because they are. The puzzles are unique and the visuals are stunning, with each level getting its own unique color palate and features. The combination works: It’s refreshing that a game that often feels so chaotic rewards precision and timing in certain circumstances.
![creature in the well creature in the well](https://www.onrpg.com/wp-content/gallery/Creature-in-the-Well/Creature-in-the-Well-Screenshot-7.jpg)
![creature in the well creature in the well](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/creature_in_the_well_keyart.png)
It’s a visually satisfying puzzle game that’s often far more dungeon crawler than shooter. There’s a lot to like about the game at first blush.
![creature in the well creature in the well](https://cdn2.whatoplay.com/150x/41591-1566280214.jpg)
Each level ends in a boss battle as certain portions of the machine are reactivated and the story unfolds. It is, essentially, pinball in a dungeon crawler. You work your way up from there with new tools and, as a result, abilities.
![creature in the well creature in the well](https://www.gamepitt.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Creature-in-the-Well-fi-1.jpg)
One tool charges the energy orbs up, the other strikes it to move said ball in a certain direction. The company describes Creature In The Well as pinball with swords, but it starts as pinball with a stick and frying pan. And as the game goes on and the frustrations mount, you’ll wonder a lot more about the why than anything else about what’s a beautiful and oftentimes exciting title from Flight School. It’s actually, well, a really good question.