Always Sometimes Monsters
{{short description|2014 video game}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Always Sometimes Monsters
| image = Always Sometimes Monsters logo.png
| developer = Vagabond Dog
| publisher = Devolver Digital
Vagabond Dog (Switch)
| engine = RPG Maker VX Ace
| platforms = {{ubl|Android|iOS|Linux|Microsoft Windows|OS X|PlayStation 4|Nintendo Switch}}
| released = Windows
21 May 2014
OS X, Linux
8 January 2015
iOS, Android
28 May 2015
PlayStation 4
10 October 2017{{cite web|url=https://www.dualshockers.com/always-sometimes-monsters-coming-ps4/|title=Always Sometimes Monsters Coming to PS4 Next Week|last=Fischer|first=Tyler|date=5 October 2017|website=DualShockers}}
Nintendo Switch
8 April 2021
| genre = Role-playing
| modes = Single-player
| designer = Justin Amirkhani
| programmer = Jake Reardon
| artist = {{ubl|Sarah Dario|Kelvin Put|Jessica Alves|Victor Cueva Rodriguez|Donovan Liu|Luis Emilio Aceves Amaya}}
| writer = Justin Amirkhani
| composer = Laser Destroyer Team
}}
Always Sometimes Monsters is a 2014 role-playing video game developed by Canadian studio Vagabond Dog and published by Devolver Digital for Microsoft Windows. A later update using the MonoGame framework brought the game to OS X and Linux on 8 January 2015, iOS and Android on 28 May 2015 and PlayStation 4 on 10 October 2017. After Vagabond Dog acquired the publishing rights to the game, a port to the Nintendo Switch were released.
The game puts players in the role of an author who receives notice that the love of their life is marrying someone else across the country within a month. After being evicted from their apartment on the east coast, players then head to the west coast in order to intercept the wedding and win back the love they lost.{{cite web|url=https://www.pcgamer.com/always-sometimes-monsters-explores-the-most-terrifying-setting-the-real-world/|title=Always Sometimes Monsters explores the most terrifying setting—the real world|last=Birnbaum|first=Ian|date=30 August 2015|website=PC Gamer|publisher=Future plc|access-date=5 December 2015}}
Gameplay
As the game starts, players are introduced to their character through a narrative sequence that allows the selection of their character and love interest. The player's relationship with their love interest can be both straight or gay, depending on their choice.{{cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/features/2013/12/18/5195130/always-sometimes-monsters|title=The Hard Road To Always Sometimes Monster|last=Campbell|first=Colin|date=18 December 2013|website=Polygon|publisher=Vox Media|access-date=5 January 2015}} From there, the game begins its narrative, told through text windows supported by character portraits. Players make choices in dialogue and in action to alter the course of the story and change the fate of their protagonist.{{cite web|url=https://hardcoregamer.com/previews/pax-east-14-my-journey-through-always-sometimes-monsters/81690/|title=A Journey Through Always Sometimes Monsters|last=Cooper|first=Lee|date=19 April 2014|website=Hardcore Gamer|access-date=30 November 2022}}
Players can walk around to explore city environments, interact with NPCs, and find the means to earn money so they may progress to the next location. This often means taking repetitive odd jobs for low pay, or compromising a concept of morality.{{cite web|url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/always-sometimes-monsters-a-different-take-on-grinding|title=Always Sometimes Monsters: A Different Take on Grinding|last=Davison|first=Pete|date=29 August 2013|website=USgamer|publisher=Gamer Network|access-date=5 January 2015|archive-date=9 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909042833/http://www.usgamer.net/articles/always-sometimes-monsters-a-different-take-on-grinding|url-status=dead}}
The game plays out over a span of 30 in-game days,{{cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/realistic-role-playing-drama-always-sometimes-monsters-dated-for-may|title=Realistic role-playing drama Always Sometimes Monsters dated for May [date mislabeled as "9 April 2014"]|last=Matulef|first=Jeffery|date=4 April 2014|website=Eurogamer|publisher=Gamer Network|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407224931/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-04-04-realistic-role-playing-drama-always-sometimes-monsters-dated-for-may|archive-date=7 April 2014|url-status=live|access-date=30 November 2022}} with time progressing through morning, day, and night as activities and events are completed. Choosing how to spend time during the journey is a key component of the game, as some options disable others.{{cite web|url=https://www.gamezebo.com/reviews/always-sometimes-monsters-review/|title=Always Sometimes Monsters Review (PC)|last=Werner|first=Jillian|date=26 May 2014|website=Gamezebo|access-date=30 November 2022}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| align = left
| MC = (PS4) 80/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/always-sometimes-monsters/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4|title=Always Sometimes Monsters for PlayStation 4 Reviews|website=Metacritic|publisher=Fandom|access-date=30 November 2022}}
(PC) 73/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/always-sometimes-monsters/critic-reviews/?platform=pc|title=Always Sometimes Monsters for PC Reviews|website=Metacritic|publisher=Fandom|access-date=27 November 2018}}
(iOS) 60/100{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/always-sometimes-monsters/critic-reviews/?platform=ios-iphoneipad|title=Always Sometimes Monsters for iPhone/iPad Reviews|website=Metacritic|publisher=Fandom|access-date=30 November 2022}}
| GameRev = (PC) 9/10{{cite web|url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/review/64242-always-sometimes-monsters-review|title=Always Sometimes Monsters Review (PC)|last=Almogi|first=Gil|date=28 May 2014|website=GameRevolution|publisher=CraveOnline|access-date=30 November 2022}}
| GSpot = (PC) 5/10{{cite web|url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/always-sometimes-monsters-review/1900-6415789/|title=Always Sometimes Monsters Review (PC)|last=Capozzoli|first=Nick|date=16 June 2014|website=GameSpot|publisher=Fandom|access-date=15 January 2021}}
| Gamezebo = (PC) {{Rating|3.5|5}}
| Joystiq = (PC) {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2014-06-03-always-sometimes-monsters-review-being-human.html|title=Always Sometimes Monsters review: Being human (PC)|last=Conditt|first=Jessica|date=3 June 2014|website=Engadget (Joystiq)|publisher=Yahoo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140605141643/http://www.joystiq.com/2014/06/03/always-sometimes-monsters-review-being-human/|archive-date=5 June 2014|url-status=live|access-date=30 November 2022}}
| TA = (iOS) {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite web|url=https://toucharcade.com/2015/07/17/always-sometimes-monsters-review/|title='Always Sometimes Monsters' Review – Deeply Unpleasant|last=Musgrave|first=Shaun|date=17 July 2015|website=TouchArcade|publisher=TouchArcade.com, LLC|access-date=27 November 2018}}
}}
The PlayStation 4 version received "favourable" reviews, while the PC and iOS versions received "mixed or average reviews" according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.
{{clear}}
Sequel
A sequel, Sometimes Always Monsters, was announced on 13 August 2015.{{cite web|url=https://www.destructoid.com/sometimes-always-monsters-is-the-follow-up-to-always-sometimes-monsters/|title=Sometimes Always Monsters is the follow-up to Always Sometimes Monsters|last=Parlock|first=Joe|date=13 August 2015|website=Destructoid|publisher=Gamurs|access-date=30 November 2022}} Although announced for 2016, it was eventually released on 2 April 2020 for Windows.{{cite web|url=https://store.steampowered.com/app/441440/Sometimes_Always_Monsters/|title=Sometimes Always Monsters|website=Steam|publisher=Valve Corporation}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://vagabonddog.com/asm}}
- {{moby game|id=/always-sometimes-monsters}}
{{Portal bar|Video games}}
Category:Android (operating system) games
Category:Devolver Digital games
Category:LGBTQ-related video games
Category:Nintendo Switch games
Category:Role-playing video games
Category:Single-player video games
Category:Video games about homelessness
Category:Video games developed in Canada