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Phogs!

Topic: Software

 From HandWiki - Reading time: 5 min
Short description: 2020 video game
Phogs!
PHOGS! cover.jpg
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

Phogs! is a puzzle-platform 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

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, 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] Phogs! was featured at EGX Rezzed 2018 and EGX 2018.[8][9] Phogs! was available again at PAX East 2019.[10] In August 2019, Phogs! was featured in Nintendo's Indie World event.[11][12] The game was given a release window of early 2020.[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 Edition and the Steam Game Festival: Autumn Edition.[16][17][15] In November, Coatsink release three videos showing off the game's worlds.[18][19][20] On December 3, 2020, Phogs! was released on Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Google Stadia.[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

Reception
Aggregate score
AggregatorScore
MetacriticPC: 75/100[lower-alpha 1][25]
PS4: 79/100[lower-alpha 2][26]
XONE: 81/100[lower-alpha 3][27]
NS: 78/100[lower-alpha 4][28]
Review scores
PublicationScore
EurogamerRecommended[29]
Gamezebo4.5/5 stars[1]
Nintendo Life8/10 stars[30]
Nintendo World Report8/10[3]
PC Gamer (US)75/100[2]
Push Square7/10 stars[31]

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

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

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. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Alexander, Maria (3 December 2020). "Phogs! [Switch Review - Pup-ferction"]. https://www.gamezebo.com/reviews/phogs-switch-review-pup-ferction/. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Kemp, Luke (9 December 2020). "PHOGS! review" (in en). https://www.pcgamer.com/phogs-review/. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Green, Steven (3 December 2020). "PHOGS! (Switch) Review". https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/55666/phogs-switch-review. 
  4. ↑ Grayson, Nathan (9 October 2017). "Five Cool Games From Indiecade 2017" (in en-us). https://kotaku.com/five-cool-games-from-indiecade-2017-1819296932. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Ronaghan, Neal (2 December 2020). "Is Phogs the Dark Souls of Funny Physics-Based Dog Puzzle Games? - Interview". https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/interview/55657/is-phogs-the-dark-souls-of-funny-physics-based-dog-puzzle-games. 
  6. ↑ Batchelor, James (24 September 2017). "Dare Academy winners revealed at EGX 2017" (in en). https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-09-23-dare-academy-winners-revealed-at-egx-2017. 
  7. ↑ Sheehan, Gavin (14 April 2018). "Trying to Figure Out Which is the Head in Phogs at PAX East" (in en). https://bleedingcool.com/games/figure-head-phogs-pax-east/. 
  8. ↑ Eurogamer staff (16 April 2018). "EGX Rezzed 2018: The best games from this year's show" (in en-gb). https://www.eurogamer.net/rezzed-2018-best-games-from-the-show-floor. 
  9. ↑ Watson, Paul (14 September 2018). "Eurogamer Q&A: Our EGX recommendations" (in en-gb). https://www.eurogamer.net/eurogamer-q-and-a-egx. 
  10. ↑ Chiodini, Johnny (3 April 2019). "The five best things we played at PAX East" (in en-gb). https://www.eurogamer.net/the-five-best-things-we-played-at-pax-east. 
  11. ↑ Lane, Gavin (19 August 2019). "Nintendo Indie World Showcase August 2019 - All Announcements And Game Trailers". https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/08/guide_nintendo_indie_world_showcase_august_2019_-_all_announcements_and_game_trailers. 
  12. ↑ Ronaghan, Neal (17 August 2020). "Catching Up With Nintendo's Nindie Showcases and Indie World - Feature". https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/feature/54623/catching-up-with-nintendos-nindie-showcases-and-indie-world. 
  13. ↑ Beckhelling, Imogen (19 August 2019). "Every game announced in Nintendo's Indie World presentation" (in en-gb). https://www.eurogamer.net/nintendo-indie-world-roundup-every-game-announced-at-the-indie-world-presentation. 
  14. ↑ Ronaghan, Neal (5 November 2020). "Floppy Physics Dog Game PHOGS! Dated for December - News". https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/news/55428/floppy-physics-dog-game-phogs-dated-for-december. 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Romano, Sal (3 June 2020). "PHOGS! delayed to later in 2020". https://www.gematsu.com/2020/06/phogs-delayed-to-later-in-2020. 
  16. ↑ Morton, Lauren (7 October 2020). "Steam Game Festival: Autumn Edition begins now with hundreds more demos" (in en). https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/steam-game-festival-autumn-edition-begins-now-with-hundreds-more-demos. 
  17. ↑ Sheehan, Gavin (3 June 2020). "PHOGS Has Been Delayed But A Demo Will Be Available" (in en). https://bleedingcool.com/games/phogs-has-been-delayed-but-a-demo-will-be-available/. 
  18. ↑ Tailby, Stephen (9 November 2020). "Canine Co-Op Game Phogs Satisfies Your Hunger in Food World". https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2020/11/canine_co-op_game_phogs_satisfies_your_hunger_in_food_world. 
  19. ↑ Gilber, Fraser (11 November 2020). "Sleep World Brings Bedtime To Puzzle Adventure Phogs! This December". https://www.purexbox.com/news/2020/11/sleep_world_brings_bedtime_to_puzzle_adventure_phogs_this_december. 
  20. ↑ Craddock, Ryan (16 November 2020). "Cutesy Co-Op Game Phogs! Introduces Its Play World Ahead Of Next Month's Launch". https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2020/11/cutesy_co-op_game_phogs_introduces_its_play_world_ahead_of_next_months_launch. 
  21. ↑ Phillips, Tom (5 November 2020). "Two-headed dog puzzler Phogs! uncovers December date" (in en-gb). https://www.eurogamer.net/two-headed-dog-puzzler-phogs-uncovers-december-date. 
  22. ↑ Romano, Sal (5 November 2020). "PHOGS! launches December 3". https://www.gematsu.com/2020/11/phogs-launches-december-3. 
  23. ↑ Gilbert, Fraser (5 November 2020). "Puzzle Adventure Phogs! Barks Its Way To Xbox Game Pass In December". https://www.purexbox.com/news/2020/11/puzzle_adventure_phogs_barks_its_way_to_xbox_game_pass_in_december. 
  24. ↑ (in en) New on Luna: PHOGS!, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4lOXTk3GCQ, retrieved 2022-12-18 
  25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 "PHOGS! for PC Reviews" (in en). https://www.metacritic.com/game/phogs/critic-reviews/?platform=pc. 
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 "PHOGS! for PlayStation 4 Reviews" (in en). https://www.metacritic.com/game/phogs/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4. 
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 "PHOGS! for Xbox One Reviews" (in en). https://www.metacritic.com/game/phogs/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-one. 
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 "PHOGS! for Switch Reviews" (in en). https://www.metacritic.com/game/phogs/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch. 
  29. ↑ 29.0 29.1 Blake, Vikki (3 December 2020). "Phogs! review - Phantastic stuff" (in en-gb). https://www.eurogamer.net/phogs-review-phantastic-stuff. 
  30. ↑ 30.0 30.1 Gray, Kate (5 December 2020). "Review: Phogs! - Utterly Cute And Charming Co-Op Fun". https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/switch-eshop/phogs. 
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 Tailby, Stephen (2 December 2020). "Mini Review: Phogs (PS4) - Two Heads Are Better Than One in Cute Puzzle Platformer". https://www.pushsquare.com/reviews/ps4/phogs. 
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 "BAFTA Scotland Awards 2021: Winners Announced" (in en). 20 November 2021. https://www.bafta.org/media-centre/press-releases/bafta-scotland-awards-2021-winners-announced. 

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