The Game Intro

Always Sometimes Monsters begins with a scene in an alley, where a hitman is attempting to quit his job while his boss angrily demands otherwise. The two are confronted by a hobo, who seems to know them, and who pulls a gun on them both...but who also allows the hitman to draw his gun in turn. The hobo claims that he wants to play a game, by telling the two a story about choice, and that at the end they can choose to shoot him or not.

The player can choose not to listen, and shoot the hobo immediately, but this will result in an immediate game over.

Larry's Party
The hobo's story begins with the player in control of Larry, a book editor who works for a major publisher, who is throwing a big party at his house. Larry's wife, Belinda, informs us that Larry is looking to find an up and coming writer to offer a contract to that evening, from among the guests. This serves as a means for the player to select which guest will be the Main Character of the game. Whichever guest the player has Larry drink a toast with will become the Main Character, which will then be under the player's control. Also present at the party is Viper, Darkeff's girlfriend, and the two Vagabond Dog game developers.

There are twelve potential options for the main character, split between male and female, of a variety of racial options. Any option that is not selected to be the Main Character has the potential of showing up again later in the game, or of being spoken to now by the Main Character, at which point they will be identified by name. Included in the pictures in this page are the available character options, and their in-game name if not selected, for those who might wish to use the default name. All naming info was compiled by Zajice.



The Balcony
After selecting the Main Character, the player is directed to go out onto the balcony to fetch their significant other, which they want to introduce to Larry. There are another twelve options, split between male and female of various racial options available to serve as the Main Character's Love Interest. Whichever the player chooses to speak to and select 'He's [Larry's] Waiting on Us' will become the Love Interest for that play through. At this point, the player will be able to set both the Main Character's and the Love Interest's name for this playthrough, when they sign the card for the gift for Larry. Again, any option that is not selected to be the Love Interest has the potential of showing up again later in the game as the plot progresses, or of being spoken to now by the Main Character, at which point they will be identified by name. Included in the pictures in this page are the available Love Interest options, and their in-game name if not selected, for those who might wish to use the default name. Again, all naming info was compiled by Zajice.

Viper's boyfriend, Darkeff, a musician, is also present out on the balcony, along with another musician from Laser Destroyer Team (the group who made the game's soundtrack).

Fun Fact: the developers of the game have gone on record saying that it was deliberate to try and make the potential Love Interests more attractive than the potential Main Characters, as a design choice.



The Toast
After selecting the Main Character, and the Love Interest, naming both and returning inside, the player is offered a book contract, and Larry, Belinda, the Main Character and the Love Interest all toast. The choice of toast can show up again with a small influence on a later plot opportunity. After this, the game proceeds to jump to one year later, and picks up with the Dubstown Opening Sequence.