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Phogs!

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Phogs!
Developer(s)Bit Loom Games
Publisher(s)Coatsink
Programmer(s)Henry Pullan
James Morwood
Artist(s)Douglas Flinders
Composer(s)Henry Pullan
Platform(s)
ReleaseWindows, Switch, PS4, Xbox One, Stadia
December 3, 2020
Amazon Luna
November 18, 2021
Genre(s)Puzzle, platform
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer

Phogs! (stylized as PHOGS!) is a puzzle-platform video game developed by Bit Loom Games and published by Coatsink. The game was released for Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Google Stadia on December 3, 2020, and for Amazon Luna on November 18, 2021. In Phogs!, players control a two-headed dog called Red and Blue. Phogs! received generally favorable reviews from critics.

Gameplay

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Phogs! is a puzzle-platformer game where players control a dog called Red and Blue.[1] The game can be played in local and online multiplayer. Each dog is controlled by an individual player.[2] It can also be played in single-player, which allows a player to fully control the dog.[2] The game's levels are split into three worlds: Food, Play, and Sleep. Each world contains six stages, and ends with a boss battle.[3][2] The dog can be stretched, and can use its mouths to grab objects.[4] Some objects can be transmitted through the dog. If one side of the dog bites onto a water pipe, the water will come out of the other mouth.[2] Hats are purchased with golden bones, which can be found in the game's levels.[2] Non-player characters can be found in the game. Some may ask for items in exchange for golden bones.[2]

Development and release

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Phogs! was developed by Bit Loom, a studio consisting of Douglas Flinders, Henry Pullan, and James Morwood.[5] The concept that the team had was based around competitive multiplayer. The concept involved dogs playing sports, and an early version of the game included a golfer dog.[5] However, Bit Loom saw competitive multiplayer as a "well-worn territory", leading the team to switch to a co-op puzzle focus.[5] Phogs! was originally supposed to contain nine worlds, but the team settled on three worlds.[5] Bit Loom took inspiration from games such as Hohokum, Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker, and Super Mario 3D World.[5]

Bit Loom won the Dare Academy competition at EGX 2017. They received a fully paid trip to the 2017 IndieCade festival in Los Angeles, and also received a business support package from Lindsays.[6] The game was playable at PAX East 2018[7] and was featured at EGX Rezzed and EGX expos during that year.[8][9] Phogs! was available again at PAX East 2019[10] and Nintendo's Indie World event in August.[11][12][13]

Phogs! was set to release in June 2020, but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[14][15] The game took part in the Steam Game Festival: Summer and Autumn Edition.[16][17][15] In November, Coatsink released three videos showing off the game's worlds.[18][19][20] Phogs! was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Google Stadia on December 3.[21][22] Phogs! was added to the Xbox Game Pass library on the same day.[23] The game was released for Amazon Luna on November 18, 2021.[24]

Reception

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Phogs! received generally favorable reviews, according to review aggregator Metacritic.[25][26][28][27]

Push Square's Stephen Tailby praised the accessibility and "neat" puzzles, but criticized the lack of challenge and the length of the game.[31] Luke Kemp from PC Gamer described Phogs! as a mix of "gentle puzzling" and "body horror". Kemp wrote that Phogs! was a "great" choice, calling the game a "guaranteed source of fun".[2] Gamezebo's Maria Alexander praised the controls and presentation, but felt that it could be "a bit twee for some".[1] Alexander recommended the game for everyone, describing Phogs! as an "experience like no other".[1]

Vikki Blake from Eurogamer praised the accessibility of the game, and called it "playful", "wholesome", and "phantastic".[29] Kate Gray from Nintendo Life commended the "fun" puzzles. She called the level theming "detailed" and "clever". Gray criticized the technical issues of the Switch version.[30] Steven Green, writing for Nintendo World Report, described the game as "delightful" and "unique". Green called the art style and world "charming and enjoyable", but felt the controls were "a little tough". Green also believed that the "inclusive" difficulty could have had more "variety".[3]

Nominations

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Phogs! was nominated for Best Game at the 2021 British Academy Scotland Awards.[32]

Year Award Category Result Ref
2021 2021 British Academy Scotland Awards Best Game Nominated [32]

References

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Notes
  1. ^ Score based on 8 reviews.
  2. ^ Score based on 10 reviews.
  3. ^ Score based on 8 reviews.
  4. ^ Score based on 14 reviews.
References
  1. ^ a b c d Alexander, Maria (3 December 2020). "Phogs! [Switch] Review - Pup-ferction". Gamezebo. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Kemp, Luke (9 December 2020). "PHOGS! review". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on 3 December 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  3. ^ a b c Green, Steven (3 December 2020). "PHOGS! (Switch) Review". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on 26 February 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  4. ^ Grayson, Nathan (9 October 2017). "Five Cool Games From Indiecade 2017". Kotaku. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d e Ronaghan, Neal (2 December 2020). "Is Phogs the Dark Souls of Funny Physics-Based Dog Puzzle Games? - Interview". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  6. ^ Batchelor, James (24 September 2017). "Dare Academy winners revealed at EGX 2017". GamesIndustry.biz. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  7. ^ Sheehan, Gavin (14 April 2018). "Trying to Figure Out Which is the Head in Phogs at PAX East". Bleeding Cool. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  8. ^ Eurogamer staff (16 April 2018). "EGX Rezzed 2018: The best games from this year's show". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  9. ^ Watson, Paul (14 September 2018). "Eurogamer Q&A: Our EGX recommendations". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  10. ^ Chiodini, Johnny (3 April 2019). "The five best things we played at PAX East". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  11. ^ Lane, Gavin (19 August 2019). "Nintendo Indie World Showcase August 2019 - All Announcements And Game Trailers". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  12. ^ Ronaghan, Neal (17 August 2020). "Catching Up With Nintendo's Nindie Showcases and Indie World - Feature". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on 8 July 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  13. ^ Beckhelling, Imogen (19 August 2019). "Every game announced in Nintendo's Indie World presentation". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  14. ^ Ronaghan, Neal (5 November 2020). "Floppy Physics Dog Game PHOGS! Dated for December - News". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on 7 July 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  15. ^ a b Romano, Sal (3 June 2020). "PHOGS! delayed to later in 2020". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 22 May 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  16. ^ Morton, Lauren (7 October 2020). "Steam Game Festival: Autumn Edition begins now with hundreds more demos". Rock Paper Shotgun. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  17. ^ Sheehan, Gavin (3 June 2020). "PHOGS Has Been Delayed But A Demo Will Be Available". Bleeding Cool. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  18. ^ Tailby, Stephen (9 November 2020). "Canine Co-Op Game Phogs Satisfies Your Hunger in Food World". Push Square. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  19. ^ Gilber, Fraser (11 November 2020). "Sleep World Brings Bedtime To Puzzle Adventure Phogs! This December". Pure Xbox. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  20. ^ Craddock, Ryan (16 November 2020). "Cutesy Co-Op Game Phogs! Introduces Its Play World Ahead Of Next Month's Launch". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  21. ^ Phillips, Tom (5 November 2020). "Two-headed dog puzzler Phogs! uncovers December date". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  22. ^ Romano, Sal (5 November 2020). "PHOGS! launches December 3". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 5 November 2020. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  23. ^ Gilbert, Fraser (5 November 2020). "Puzzle Adventure Phogs! Barks Its Way To Xbox Game Pass In December". Pure Xbox. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  24. ^ New on Luna: PHOGS!, archived from the original on 2022-12-18, retrieved 2022-12-18
  25. ^ a b "PHOGS! for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  26. ^ a b "PHOGS! for PlayStation 4 Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  27. ^ a b "PHOGS! for Xbox One Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  28. ^ a b "PHOGS! for Switch Reviews". Metacritic. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  29. ^ a b Blake, Vikki (3 December 2020). "Phogs! review - Phantastic stuff". Eurogamer. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  30. ^ a b Gray, Kate (5 December 2020). "Review: Phogs! - Utterly Cute And Charming Co-Op Fun". Nintendo Life. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  31. ^ a b Tailby, Stephen (2 December 2020). "Mini Review: Phogs (PS4) - Two Heads Are Better Than One in Cute Puzzle Platformer". Push Square. Archived from the original on 17 June 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
  32. ^ a b "BAFTA Scotland Awards 2021: Winners Announced". BAFTA. 20 November 2021. Archived from the original on 22 September 2022. Retrieved 17 June 2022.
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