Review: Always Sometimes Monsters

Written by Nicholas Espinosa Illustrated and Designed by Cato Winkler

What if you were given a second chance? A second chance to rectify wrongs and make things right with the one that got away? What if you could have everything you ever wanted if you simply made a few choices?

PROS The story is well-written

CONS You will cry; have a box of tissues near you

The mechanics are simple The choices you can make are limited You can relate to just about everything that happens in the story

The number of endings are limited

You’ll wish you could play this game for the first time, every time, after your first time

Still waiting on Vagabond Dog to release SAM, the sequel

GENRE:

Indie/RPG/Story Rich

RATING (out of 5-stars): Would RECOMMEND?:

Yes, Without A Doubt

Always Sometimes Monsters, or ASM for short, is a game developed and published

by Vagabond Dog. The main story revolves around the main character, a writer, down and out of his luck. He’s on his last ropes when suddenly, an invitation, to an event, by someone he most definitely can’t ignore.

The saying goes something like, “If you want something bad enough, you’ll move heaven and earth to get it.” And through twists and turns, through helping one person to taking advantage of another, eventually, the main character makes it to the event.

And depending on what decisions the player made, you’ll get one of three endings.

But there’s only one, at least in my opinion, which would bring you to tears.

The story is fairly easy to follow. And throughout it, the choices you make are ubiquitously linked to the ending you’ll get. The supporting cast is fairly rounded. And if you’re persistent, you’ll find two little easter eggs in almost every area the main character visits.

The art style is retro-esque. It’s reminiscent of games like the early Pokemon games, Metroid Fusion, or even Mario Kart: Super Circuit.

The non diegetic soundtrack matches the art style and story really well. It’s basic, simple in nature, and has a quirky bit to it that helps to amplify the 2-bit retro vibe of the game.

Together, the art style, soundtrack, and story, come together to create an amazing atmosphere centered around the theme of magically getting that second chance to win it all.

Recently, the trailer for the sequel, Sometimes Always Monsters or SAM, just released on the 3rd of February. Watching the trailer for the first time, after years of waiting with anticipation, it seems like a lot of work has gone into the next part to an awardwinning narrative. If ASM was a story about winning it all, then ASM will about losing it all in the most astonishing ways possible.

That being said, if you have played ASM, or want to play the sequel, Steam is currently doing a pre-order for SAM at a price of $14.99 at the time of this article’s writing. SAM releases on April 2nd, 2020. You can buy ASM for $9.99.