A Monster's Expedition

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A Monster's Expedition
Developer(s)Draknek & Friends
Publisher(s)Draknek & Friends
Producer(s)Syrenne McNulty
Designer(s)Alan Hazelden
Programmer(s)Benjamin Davis
Artist(s)Adam deGrandis
Writer(s)Philippa Warr
Composer(s)Eli Rainsberry
EngineUnity
Platform(s)
Release
10 September 2020
  • iOS, macOS, Win
  • 10 September 2020
  • Linux
  • 20 November 2020
  • Nintendo Switch
  • 5 August 2021
  • PS4, PS5
  • 19 May 2022
Genre(s)Puzzle
Mode(s)Single-player

A Monster's Expedition (Through Puzzling Exhibitions) is a 2020 puzzle video game developed and published by Draknek & Friends. Gameplay involves exploring a series of islands by solving Sokoban-based puzzles. The player navigates a two-dimensional grid, rolling logs to create bridges and rafts to traverse between islands. The islands comprise a museum of human civilization, featuring exhibits of everyday objects, accompanied by humorous descriptions written from the perspective of an outsider. The game incorporates open world elements, having a nonlinear, branching path of levels, but is primarily a puzzle game. Developed over more than three years, the game was first released in September 2020 for iOS, macOS, and Windows, and later for Linux, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5.

The game received positive reviews, especially on Nintendo Switch. Reviewers praised the puzzle design, describing the puzzles as elegant and conducive to being played in short sessions. They also complimented the game's method of introducing puzzle mechanics, and the general atmosphere, which they described as relaxing. The open world aspects of the game received mixed feedback, with some feeling that the player choice encouraged experimentation and avoided frustration, but others commenting that the game felt aimless or the difficulty arbitrary. Multiple publications listed A Monster's Expedition as one of the best games of 2020. The game received an honorable mention for the Seumas McNally Grand Prize at the 2021 Independent Games Festival, and was a finalist for several other awards.

Gameplay[edit]

The player character is depicted pushing a log on an island. Other islands and a tree can be seen, and fog covers unexplored islands.[1]

A Monster's Expedition is a puzzle video game where the player explores a series of islands.[1] The islands are initially disconnected,[1] and the player must solve Sokoban-based puzzles to bridge the gaps between them.[2] Islands have trees which can be knocked over and moved as logs: small logs can be rolled as well as flipped end-to-end, and larger logs can be rolled but do not flip.[2] Logs continue rolling until they are blocked by an obstacle or roll into the water.[2] Logs rolled into the water can create bridges—and, later in the game, rafts—that allow the player to cross between islands.[3][4] The game is based on a two-dimensional grid,[1] and has a minimal set of controls: the player can move in four directions, undo their last move, or reset the current island.[2] Interacting with objects, such as knocking down trees or rolling logs, is performed by walking into them.[2]

The game incorporates open world elements, having a nonlinear, branching path of islands.[1] There is no overt guidance for the player on where to go: the game does not indicate which island to proceed to next, or even if an island is reachable from the current one.[5] There are hundreds of islands in total,[4] divided into areas that, while not mechanically separate, are visually distinct, each featuring a distinct biome and aesthetic.[2][6] Post boxes serve as fast travel points, allowing the player to quickly teleport between them.[2]

The monster from A Good Snowman Is Hard to Build returns as the player character, who is exploring a museum of human civilization.[7] Museum exhibits are scattered around the islands, and interpret everyday objects as they might look through the perspective of monsters, with the descriptions being humorous and often incorrect.[5] For example, a zoetrope is described as "the earliest known perfectly looping gif format".[8]

Development and release[edit]

A Monster's Expedition was developed and published by Draknek & Friends, an independent game developer that had previously released A Good Snowman Is Hard to Build (2015) and Cosmic Express (2017).[9] Development took more than three years.[7] The development team consisted of creative director and lead puzzle designer Alan Hazelden, art director Adam deGrandis, lead programmer Benjamin Davis, composer and sound artist Eli Rainsberry, narrative designer Philippa Warr, and producer Syrenne McNulty.[10] The game was prototyped with PuzzleScript, an HTML5-based engine for puzzle games, and the final game was written with Unity.[10][11]

The development team attempted to make an open world game. The world's island-based structure was present from early in development,[7] and early versions of the game focused more on adventure and exploration. The team felt this effort was ultimately unsuccessful, and described A Monster's Expedition as primarily a puzzle game, though the branching structure of the final game reflected its initial direction.[10] With the design goal of creating a meditative game that could be played in short sessions, the team created a dynamic sound system that played parts of segments of the score that reflected the player's actions, and designed the art and text to create a calm atmosphere.[10] Hazelden described the game as intentionally more accessible than his previous titles, which were noted for their difficulty.[7]

Draknek & Friends first announced the game in March 2020 under the title A Monster's Expedition (Through Human Exhibitions),[12][13] and showcased it at virtual game show Rezzed Digital in August 2020.[14] The game was released on 10 September 2020 for Windows,[2] and via subscription service Apple Arcade for iOS and macOS the same day.[9] Native Linux support was added on 20 November 2020.[15][16] The game was ported to Nintendo Switch, where it was released on 5 August 2021,[17] alongside a content update titled "The Museum Update" for all platforms.[18] It was later released for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on 19 May 2022.[19] In June 2023, the game was removed from Apple Arcade,[20] but later received a standalone release on iOS on 26 July 2023.[21]

Reception[edit]

A Monster's Expedition received "universal acclaim" on Nintendo Switch, according to review aggregator Metacritic.[22] 100% of critics recommended the game according to OpenCritic.[23]

Reviewers complimented the puzzle design. Push Square's Stephen Tailby called them simple and elegant.[4] Joel Dewitte of Nintendo World Report described the puzzles as "airtight", and enjoyed that the small puzzles led to many small victories for the players.[24] The undo and reset buttons were specifically highlighted by Chris Tapsell of Eurogamer as removing pressure from the puzzle-solving process and freeing the player to experiment.[2] Writing for Vandal, Manu Delgado criticized the limited solutions to puzzles despite the game's presentation as open world.[6]

The progression of the game drew mixed responses from reviewers. Edge found the game's introduction of its mechanics subtle, teaching the player to use advanced techniques without them realizing it.[8] PC Gamer's Phil Savage opined that A Monster's Expedition's biggest strength was making players feel they had discovered mechanics themselves.[3] Others found the puzzles' nonlinearity a major strength: Nadia Oxford of USgamer described the game as "free and open",[13] and multiple critics cited its branching paths as helping to avoid player frustration by allowing them to solve different puzzles when stuck.[13][26][1] Conversely, Angharad Yeo of Good Game: Spawn Point felt this contributed to a lack of direction, which she found frustrating,[5] and Oxford criticized the game feeling aimless due to its lack of any journal or achievements.[13] Some believed the difficulty was arbitrary: Tailby felt there were some puzzles with large spikes in difficulty,[4] Edge commented that players could inadvertently encounter puzzles earlier than they would be prepared to solve them,[8] and Delgado felt that the game did not progress in difficulty, but only became more overwhelming.[6]

Reviewers praised the Nintendo Switch version. Tapsell commented that the game's laid-back nature was well suited to the platform,[27] and Shaun Musgrave of Touch Arcade felt that the game's structure was well suited to portable play, praising the touch controls and expanded content.[25] Dewitte cited the "bite-sized" puzzles as creating small, incremental goals, creating a game that could be put down and picked up in small time increments.[24]

Reviewers complimented the overall atmosphere of the game. Eurogamer found the game charming in its audiovisual design and mechanics, owing to a perceived lack of tension and an appeal to curiosity.[2] Writing for Rock Paper Shotgun, Natalie Clayton complimented the craft of the game, citing the ability of the player to "wander as you please", the feeling which they described as "a sunny April morning", and the responsive soundtrack.[26] Dewitte found that, while simple, the colorful world drew the player's focus to the game's puzzles, and especially liked that the music was synchronized to the player's actions.[24] PC Gamer's Jonathan Bolding described the game as relaxing despite the level of challenge in the puzzles, owing to its "simple joy" and explorable world.[28] Jupiter Hadley of Pocket Gamer found the game's writing style "hilarious".[1] Clayton called the writing "both funny and critical", commenting that it built the game's world while poking fun at the difficulty of real-world archaeology.[26]

Accolades[edit]

Some reviewers listed the game among the best of 2020, including Kotaku's Mike Fahey,[29] PC Gamer editor-in-chief Phil Savage,[3] and The New Yorker's Simon Parkin.[30] It was ranked among the best mobile games by Campbell Bird writing for 148Apps in 2020,[31] and Keza McDonald for The Guardian in 2021.[32] At the 2021 Independent Games Festival awards, A Monster's Expedition was a finalist for Excellence in Design and Excellence in Audio, and was an honorable mention for the Seumas McNally Grand Prize.[33] The game was nominated for Mobile Game of the Year at the 2020 Golden Joystick Awards,[34] and was a finalist for Inclusivity at the 2021 Apple Design Awards.[35]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Hadley, Jupiter (9 September 2020). "A Monster's Expedition review - 'A new type of museum exploration'". Pocket Gamer. Archived from the original on 12 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Tapsell, Chris (10 September 2020). "A Monster's Expedition review - true charm through puzzle perfection". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 12 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  3. ^ a b c Savage, Phil (23 December 2020). "A Monster's Expedition deserves a place alongside the puzzle game greats". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 12 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e Tailby, Stephen (23 May 2022). "Review: A Monster's Expedition (PS5) - Chill Out with This Relaxing and Intelligent Puzzler". Push Square. Archived from the original on 12 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  5. ^ a b c d Yeo, Angharad (2 October 2020). "Review: A Monster's Expedition". Good Game: Spawn Point. Archived from the original on 12 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  6. ^ a b c d Delgado, Manu (1 October 2020). "Análisis de A Monster's Expedition, puzles clásicos en un mundo no tan abierto" [Analysis of A Monster's Expedition, classic puzzles in a not so open world]. Vandal (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 26 February 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d "A Monster's Expedition". Edge. No. 346. July 2020. p. 46.
  8. ^ a b c d "A Monster's Expedition (Through Puzzling Exhibitions)". Edge. No. 351. 8 October 2020. p. 104.
  9. ^ a b Madnani, Mikhail (10 September 2020). "A Monster's Expedition from Draknek (A Good Snowman and Cosmic Express) is Out Now on Apple Arcade alongside Big Updates to What the Golf? and Grindstone". TouchArcade. Archived from the original on 12 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  10. ^ a b c d Couture, Joel (7 July 2021). "The relaxing, open-world puzzle design of A Monster's Expedition". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on 13 February 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  11. ^ Polson, John; Rose, Mike (6 October 2013). "Open-source HTML5 puzzle game engine PuzzleScript now available". Gamasutra. Archived from the original on 19 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  12. ^ Clayton, Natalie (12 March 2020). "A Monster's Expedition is a tree-pushing puzzler from the creators of Cosmic Express". Rock Paper Shotgun. Archived from the original on 14 February 2024. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  13. ^ a b c d Oxford, Nadia (26 March 2020). "A Monster's Expedition Through Human Exhibitions is a Gentle Tour of Humanity's Foibles Through a Monster's Eyes". USgamer. Archived from the original on 1 July 2022.
  14. ^ Skrebels, Joe; Purslow, Matt (17 August 2020). "Liberated, Scourgebringer and More: The Best Games That Should Have Been at Rezzed 2020". IGN. Archived from the original on 14 February 2024. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  15. ^ Dawe, Liam (21 November 2020). "A Monster's Expedition, one of 2020's best puzzle games is now on Linux". GamingOnLinux. Archived from the original on 26 February 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  16. ^ Hazelden, Alan [@Draknek] (November 20, 2020). "FAO people who want native Linux builds of games: there is now a native Linux build of A Monster's Expedition available on Steam and itch. Enjoy!" (Tweet). Retrieved 27 February 2024 – via Twitter.
  17. ^ Gray, Kate (27 July 2021). "Cutie Puzzle Game A Monster's Expedition is Coming to Switch with New DLC". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 12 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  18. ^ Nelson, Jared (27 July 2021). "Huge Museum Expansion Heading to A Monster's Expedition on Apple Arcade and Sokobond Coming to Mobile in 2022". TouchArcade. Archived from the original on 13 February 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  19. ^ Hazelden, Alan (19 May 2022). "Puzzle-adventure game A Monster's Expedition hits PS5 & PS4 today". PlayStation Blog. Archived from the original on 22 October 2023. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  20. ^ Madnani, Mikhail (28 June 2023). "A Monster's Expedition From Draknek Is Leaving Apple Arcade Soon, Standalone App Store Release Coming in the Future". TouchArcade. Archived from the original on 13 February 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  21. ^ Madnani, Mikhail (26 July 2023). "A Monster's Expedition from Draknek is Out Now as a Standalone Game on the App Store Following its Removal from Apple Arcade". TouchArcade. Archived from the original on 12 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  22. ^ a b "A Monster's Expedition Critic Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 12 February 2024. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  23. ^ a b "A Monster's Expedition". OpenCritic. Archived from the original on 13 February 2024. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  24. ^ a b c d DeWitte, Joel A. (26 August 2021). "A Monster's Expedition Review". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on 12 February 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  25. ^ a b Musgrave, Shaun (17 August 2021). "SwitchArcade Round-Up: Reviews Featuring A Monster's Expedition and More, Plus the Latest New Releases and Sales". TouchArcade. Archived from the original on 14 February 2024. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  26. ^ a b c Castello, Jay (16 September 2020). "A Monster's Expedition review". Rock Paper Shotgun. Archived from the original on 12 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  27. ^ Tapsell, Chris (9 August 2021). "A Monster's Expedition on Switch is Sunday morning heaven". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 13 February 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  28. ^ Bolding, Jonathan (12 September 2020). "A Monster's Expedition is a delightfully twee puzzle game". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 14 February 2024. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  29. ^ Fahey, Mike (30 December 2020). "Fahey's Top 10 Games of 2020". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 12 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  30. ^ Parkin, Simon (18 December 2020). "The Best Video Games of 2020". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on 12 October 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  31. ^ Bird, Campbell (31 December 2020). "148Apps Game of the Year 2020". 148Apps. Archived from the original on 13 February 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  32. ^ MacDonald, Keza (12 March 2021). "From Monument Valley to Minecraft: 10 of the best mobile games". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 12 February 2024. Retrieved 12 February 2024.
  33. ^ Knoop, Joseph (7 May 2021). "Genesis Noir, Spiritfarer, and Paradise Killer Lead IGF Award Nominations". IGN. Archived from the original on 7 September 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  34. ^ Wald, Heather (24 November 2020). "Lego Builder's Journey wins Mobile Game of the Year at the Golden Joystick Awards 2020". GamesRadar. Archived from the original on 24 October 2022. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
  35. ^ Rossignol, Joe (June 2021). "Apple Design Award Finalists Revealed Ahead of WWDC 2021". MacRumors. Archived from the original on 13 February 2024. Retrieved 13 February 2024.
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