Always Sometimes Monsters Reviews

Always Sometimes Monsters is ranked in the 51st percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
9 / 10
May 20, 2014

Always Sometimes Monsters isn't the first game to get clever with morality. It's not the first game that's had a few grey areas. It also isn't about either of those. It's about perspective. It's about empathy. It's about who we are and why we do what we do. That narrative is one of contradiction and hypocrisy, because that's what real people are about.

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May 27, 2014

If you're inclined to play a mature game with mature decision-making, I do highly recommend Always Sometimes Monsters. The game smartly tests how effectively you choices play out in the final act, something I don't wish to spoil but Vagabond Dogs deserves praise for.

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9 / 10.0
May 27, 2014

As Johnny Cash once said, "I'll try to carry off a little darkness on my back." In Always Sometimes Monsters, you're already carrying that darkness. It's just a matter of how far you can go with that much weight on your shoulders.

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May 21, 2014

Always Sometimes Monsters is a fascinating, utterly engrossing morality play, delivered as a Game Maker adventure that constantly asks questions of the player. There have been games that deal with difficult decisions before, but perhaps none so deftly as this. Always Sometimes Monsters is a marvel.

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86 / 100
Aug 18, 2014

Always Sometimes Monsters is as real as it gets, which is impressive for a traditional pixel RPG presentation. Many situational scenes can both be larger than life and still reflect it perfectly, all in an overall goal that can be befuddled by personal interests or sudden needs.

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85 / 100
May 22, 2014

Always Sometimes Monsters is one of those independent, cult-classic-to-be, games that fans of narrative storytelling should really give a chance. Whatever flaws it may have are obvious and avoidable, and at no point did I encounter something game-breaking that soured my time. There are plenty of paths to choose from, feelings to explore, and surprise consequences that will make you give yourself a high-five or scream at you monitor. The Vagabond Dog boys have made a solid start.

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PS4Blog.net
ThaRaven403
9 / 10
Oct 27, 2017

If you've played Vagabond Dog's hit on PC before, you won't find any new material in this release of Always Sometimes Monsters, as it's the exact same thing. But if you haven't played it , or if you want to give it another shot with maybe another way of tackling your decisions, it's the kind of game that gives a lot more to you than just “playing a game – it might even help someone if they're going through a similar situation. One thing's for sure, it's a game that's definitley worth playing.

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80 / 100
Jun 3, 2014

A convincing examination of player choice set in an all-too-realistic modern world.

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8 / 10.0
Jun 4, 2014

It's an earnest look at life under tough economic pressure, at love when things don't go according to plan and at a creative career during its shittiest lows. It has a lot to say, and importantly, it speaks from the heart.

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Mar 21, 2015

'Always Sometimes Monsters' is an RPG-maker game that impresses with its choice-based narrative and effective writing, despite some tedious grinding sections and basic pixel art.

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80%
May 21, 2018

Always Sometimes Monsters is a hefty adventure in which you will spend around 10-12 hours before you can get to one of its endings. The good news for trophy hunters is that all trophies are unmissable and are awarded through story progression, so be sure to enjoy your time with the game since you don't have to worry at all about the trophy list. The bad news for trophy hunters is that this one does not have a Platinum trophy, but hopefully that is not a deal-breaker for you since you'd be missing out on a great journey.

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Digitally Downloaded
Matt S.
Top Critic
May 29, 2014

After a while these more awkward moments fall into the background, and Devolver Digital's broader vision and tale of humanity is one that truly works. This is a game that will make you care about what's going on, and I've got high hopes that this team will continue to refine this style with future games.

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Ofisil
Top Critic
8 / 10
Sep 30, 2014

The road to the final scene is filled with hundreds of crossroads where there usually isn't a right or wrong choice, with morality usually being in the eye of the beholder. The lack of modern visuals and extremely minimal sound might discourage people from trying it out, but those perceptive enough to do so will discover a game with a great replay value, especially when compared to its low price.

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7.5 / 10.0
Jun 17, 2014

For now we will say that Always Sometimes Monsters is best described more as an interactive story rather than a video game. There simply isn't very much video game about it. Instead you try to guide your character forward during the strangest and often darkest point of their entire life.

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7.5 / 10.0
Jun 1, 2014

What Always Sometimes Monsters occasionally lacks in breadth and polish, it makes up for in concept and the way it challenges minds used common gaming formulas and tropes. It's a fascinating experiment, and whilst it might not be to everyone's taste, it's great to see games that are happy to challenge the status quo and dare to take us to task on our pre-conceptions.

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7.2 / 10.0
Jul 8, 2014

Always sometimes monsters is a peculiar title. It manages to tell an interesting story, which is lucky considering it is little more than an interactive novel.

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70 / 100
Jun 2, 2014

Overall this game will find an audience, but to tell you the truth it's going to be a hit and miss affair if you will be the one that the game is meant for.

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GameZone
Top Critic
7 / 10.0
Jun 1, 2014

The game is long enough -- clocking in at around ten hours -- that trimming some of the fat doesn't seem like a bad idea. It's a game brimming with potential, and I'd still recommend it if you don't mind some rough edges for the sake of fresh storytelling. It may be a pain sometimes, but my urge to see it through a second time despite that speaks volumes.

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7 / 10.0
May 23, 2014

Vagabond Dog has developed a title that, despite its rough edges, ends up offering an interesting look at a character coming to grips with themselves and their place in the world.

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70 / 100
Jun 3, 2014

But the game's reliance on establishing such a personal connection in order to meet its noble goal of self-discovery does breed fragility. This becomes apparent in the game's multifaceted ending, which sees the game's creators striving to draw attention to the game's artificiality. Attention is drawn to the puppetry in order to take you out of the narrative and to reveal that your choices were futile.

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