Super Animal Royale is an indie battle royale video game developed and published by Pixile Studios. The game features 64-player matches starring anthropomorphic animals who use a variety of weapons and firearms from a 2D overhead perspective and was built using the Unity game engine. An early version debuted on Steam Early Access on December 12, 2018, with a free-to-play demo version released the following month in January 2019. An Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S version appeared on Xbox Game Pass in game preview on June 1, 2021.[2] The game left early access on Steam and was released for macOS, Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on August 26, 2021, and for Google Stadia on December 14, 2021.[1][3]
| Super Animal Royale - A 2D Multiplayer Battle Royale Experience | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Developer(s) | Pixile Studios |
| Publisher(s) | Pixile Studios |
| Designer(s) | Michael Silverwood Chris Clogg |
| Composer(s) | Jake Butineau |
| Engine | Unity |
| Platform(s) | |
| Release | macOS, Windows, Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S August 26, 2021[1] Stadia December 14, 2021 |
| Genre(s) | Battle royale |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer |
Gameplay
editSuper Animal Royale is a 2D, top-down, third-person battle royale shooter where up to 64 players compete to be the last person standing using a variety of weapons which include weapons from simple and easy to use SMG's and Shotguns to complex ones such as Miniguns and the Legendary Dogna's Dartfly Gun. After spending some time in the lobby players are teleported to the Giant Eagle and choose somewhere to drop from the large selection of biomes and POI's Players create a character from one of several "Super Animals", including different breeds and colors of various species, which are unlocked by collecting animal DNA awarded after each match along with Carl Coins which are used to purchase cosmetic accessories which provide no in game advantage. Experience points are granted based on the player's performance at the end of each game, which allow them to level up and gain access to new potential species. Cosmetic items can also be obtained that can be used to customize an animal's appearance such as shirts, hats, mustaches, and glasses.
After joining a lobby, players mingle in a non-combat area until the match begins, with non-player bots joining the queue if less than 64 human players are present a few seconds before the start of the game.[4] Each combatant parachutes from a large eagle onto a battlefield containing weapons, protective armor, and Health Juice which can be stocked to restore health when needed. Initially wielding a katana, players can find automatic and semi-automatic guns and ammunition along with grenades used to defeat other players. Hamster balls can also be entered for protection as well as running over opponents.[5] Super skunk gas will creep in from the outer edges of the map as the match progresses, forcing players into progressively smaller areas until the end of the game. Each game can be joined solo, as a duo, or as a squad. The game has complex and violent lore, plus a youtube series called SAR tonight. It has seasons which are used as the games main update, and the seasons are for special cosmetics.
Past Seasons
The current season is Season 11, known as the Popular Request Pass, and is free to everyone. This followed Season 10's Dragon's Loot Pass and Season 9's Party Animal Pass. Season 8 was known as the Sea Legs Pass and came after the Season 7 Super Healthy Pass and Season 6's Slow Jam Pass.
Development
editSuper Animal Royale began development in October 2017 by members of Pixile Studios. The game was inspired by similar shooter games such as H1Z1 and PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds,[6] with its 2D aesthetic taken from "classic top-down adventure games."[7] Lead designer Michael Silverwood and lead developer Chris Clogg built the game in Unity, and created the line-of-sight mechanic of hiding players in object's shadows by modifying an existing Unity plugin to aid with performance.[6] Silverwood stated that his decision to have the game feature cartoon animals was that he liked the absurd humor of juxtaposing whimsical, colorful characters with surprisingly angry and violent personalities.[6]
Sign-ups for the alpha version began in March 2018, where players could register on the title's official website.[8] A later version of the title was released on Steam Early Access on December 12, 2018, which launched with a "Free Weekend" promotion for the following four days.[9] On January 3, 2019, a permanent free-to-play demo version was released which allows players to transfer their progress and unlocked content to the full, paid version of the game when purchased.[10]
On May 8, 2024, Michael Silverwood announced Super Animal Royale would be going independent, no longer having Modus Games as the game's publisher, with Pixile Studios self-publishing Super Animal Royale on all platforms.[11]
Reception
editThis section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (January 2022) |
As of May 2022, Super Animal Royale has 30,000 reviews on Steam, with 92% of the reviews being positive.[12]
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Nintendo Life |   [13] |
References
edit- ^ a b "Super Animal Royale v1.0 Has Arrived On All Major Consoles". Modus Games. August 26, 2021. Archived from the original on August 27, 2021. Retrieved August 26, 2021.
- ^ Capel, Chris (June 7, 2021). "Super Animal Royale's crossplay support is backwards". GameRevolution. GameRevolution. Archived from the original on June 7, 2021. Retrieved June 7, 2021.
- ^ Schoon, Ben (2021-12-10). "Stadia Changelog: Super Animal Royale finally gets a release date, PUBG is going free-to-play". 9to5Google. Archived from the original on 2022-08-10. Retrieved 2022-07-11.
- ^ VettevAiper5 (December 13, 2018). "Super Animal Royale: Shaking Up The Food Chain". Gamer Nation. Archived from the original on October 25, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Livingston, Christopher (2018-09-24). "Cute animals murder each other adorably in this battle royale game". PC Gamer. Retrieved 2019-04-18.
- ^ a b c Lambie, Ryan (December 2018). "Super Animal Royal preview: it's PUBG meets furry critters". Wireframe. Archived from the original on January 17, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
- ^ cinderboy (December 13, 2018). "Super Animal Royale – Battle royale with cuddly animals and guns enters Steam Early Access". MMO Culture. Archived from the original on July 16, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
- ^ Fraser, Calum (March 24, 2018). "Super Animal Royale – Alpha Sign Up". Alpha Beta Gamer. Archived from the original on July 13, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
- ^ Livingston, Christopher (December 12, 2018). "The cuddly yet violent Super Animal Royale is free to play for the next few days". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on March 22, 2022. Retrieved January 16, 2018.
- ^ Livingston, Christopher (January 3, 2019). "Super Animal Royale demo lets you play free for as long as you like". PC Gamer. Archived from the original on February 25, 2021. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
- ^ Silverwood, Michael (2024-05-08). "Big News for Super Animal Royale and Pixile". Medium. Retrieved 2024-05-08.
- ^ "Super Animal Royale on Steam". store.steampowered.com. Archived from the original on 2022-05-02. Retrieved 2022-05-02.
- ^ "Super Animal Royale Review (Switch eShop) | Aces high". Nintendo Life. 31 August 2021. Archived from the original on 21 September 2021. Retrieved 21 September 2021.