''Sometimes Always Monsters'' is a 2020

role-playing video game Role-playing video games, also known as CRPG (computer/console role-playing games), comprise a broad video game genre generally defined by a detailed story and character advancement (often through increasing characters' levels or other skills) ...

developed and published by Canadian studio Vagabond Dog for

Windows Windows is a Product lining, product line of Proprietary software, proprietary graphical user interface, graphical operating systems developed and marketed by Microsoft. It is grouped into families and subfamilies that cater to particular sec ...

. It is the sequel to the well-received 2014 video game '' Always Sometimes Monsters''. Following events from ''Always Sometimes Monsters'', the player is a recently married author who joins a cross-country bus tour to promote their next novel. Along the way, there are vicious rumours claiming that the author is a total fraud. Players journey through five unique cities, meet fans and critics alike, and make friends with fellow busmates. Player choices help to unravel the conspiracy laid against the player character.

Gameplay and features

Players can either import a complete save file from the first game to continue their story or can start a fresh new game that follows a unique plotline able to be played standalone. Nearly all of the game's content is optional, including the entirety of the primary narrative giving players great freedom to shape their story.

Development

During the development cycle it was presented at some events. In 2015, it was presented at the

PAX Prime PAX (originally known as Penny Arcade Expo) is a series of gaming culture festivals involving tabletop, arcade, and video gaming. PAX is held annually in Seattle, Boston, Philadelphia, and Melbourne. Previously, it was also held in San Anton ...

Indie Megabooth. It was shown at

PAX East PAX (originally known as Penny Arcade Expo) is a series of gaming culture festivals involving tabletop, arcade, and video gaming. PAX is held annually in Seattle, Boston, Philadelphia, and Melbourne. Previously, it was also held in San Anton ...

in 2020. The game was made using

RPG Maker ''RPG Maker'', known in Japan as , is a series of programs for the development of role-playing video games (RPGs) with genre-driven varieties as well as machinima, originally created by the Japanese group ASCII. The Japanese name, ''Tsukūru'', ...

. The game was set for release in 2016, though it was delayed until April 2020. In 2017, the "Patience Test" preview was released to a small group of fans. It included the entire beginning of the game. On the long development time ''Vagabond Dog'' stated on the fourth anniversary of the launch of the previous game, "The project has turned into something far larger than we ever realized it could be, advancing almost every aspect of our formula with more depth and complexity." Initially to be published by

Devolver Digital Devolver Digital, Inc. is an American video game publisher based in Austin, Texas, specializing in the publishing of indie games. The company was founded in June 2009 by Nigel Lowrie, Harry Miller, Graeme Struthers, Rick Stults, and Mike Wil ...

the developer-publisher relationship was ended amicably in February 2020 citing overhead costs and launch concerns.

References

External links

* {{Official website, http://www.vagabonddog.com/sam/ 2020 video games Indie games Role-playing video games RPG Maker games Single-player video games Video game sequels Video games developed in Canada Windows games Windows-only games