A Tale for Anna
- June 30, 2023
- Far Mills
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games Store"A Tale for Anna" is a narrative-driven adventure game set in a picturesque farm village. As Anna, you'll uncover secrets, solve puzzles, and form bonds with the villagers, all while trying to save your home from an evil force. With its immersive story and charming art style, "A Tale for Anna" offers a heartwarming and memorable experience.
Mac OS
Nintendo Switch
PC
Phone
Playstation 4
Playstation 5
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
Android
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Reviews
- Gorgeous graphics and engaging story that create a charming atmosphere.
- Offers a variety of puzzles with a hint system and the option to skip difficult ones, making it accessible for all ages.
- Unique gameplay mechanics where hidden objects are collected as needed, providing a fresh take on the genre.
- Some puzzles can be confusing or frustrating, with vague instructions that may lead to skipping them.
- The game can feel simplistic and is primarily targeted towards younger players, which may not appeal to all audiences.
- Technical issues such as screen tearing and clunky mechanics can detract from the overall experience.
- story49 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as engaging and charming, often reminiscent of classic fairy tales, though some reviewers found it somewhat simplistic or trite. While the graphics and overall presentation received praise, the narrative occasionally felt rushed or lacking depth, with a mix of enjoyable and less compelling puzzle elements. Overall, it appeals to casual gamers and families, providing a pleasant experience despite some criticisms regarding character development and originality.
“I loved the storyline and graphics, and the interface is very easy.”
“The story unfolds with an evil queen seeking to steal Anna’s magical powers and in doing so, kidnaps her talking cat companion Tails.”
“It has a warm story, beautiful, colorful graphics, and a wonderful music score.”
“The story is simple and basic, but the graphics are charming and whimsical and the sounds are fairly mellow and pleasant.”
“Despite the original story, it's just a mashup of fairy tales you've heard countless times before.”
“The one drawback for me was how rushed the dialogue felt at times, and how the characters would just stand there and not say/do anything after their story dialogue was done.”
- graphics18 mentions
- 78 % positive mentions
- 6 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their gorgeous, charming, and whimsical art style, featuring high-resolution visuals and vibrant colors that enhance the overall experience. Reviewers appreciate the artistic quality and pleasant sound design, which complement the engaging storyline and easy gameplay. While some note minor issues with item availability, the overall consensus highlights the game's beautiful graphics and delightful aesthetic, making it a standout in its genre.
“Gorgeous graphics and engaging story, with relatively easy gameplay.”
“Quite artistic and colorful visuals with charming music and pleasant sound design.”
“What an utterly charming, fresh gameplay, gorgeous graphics and great puzzles in this integrated hidden object game.”
“Many reviewers call the art style charming and it is, but I do have one or two quibbles with the visuals.”
“Visuals lean towards a children’s game kind of look with the cute fairy tale theme.”
“The story is simple and basic, but the graphics are charming and whimsical.”
- music10 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its charm and soothing qualities, enhancing the overall experience with a blend of calming and dramatic tunes that complement the visuals and gameplay. Players appreciate the artistic sound design, which includes fairy tale-inspired melodies that create a warm and immersive atmosphere. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
“Quite artistic and colorful visuals with charming music and pleasant sound design.”
“Soothing music, a great way to pass an evening, and if you love puzzle games that give you a bit of leeway to use your mind but don't punish you for not understanding a mini-game, then give this a shot!”
“Along with this are some beautiful fairy tale music that plays throughout with tunes ranging between being calming during the hidden object portion to more dramatic when there is more action in some of the cutscenes.”
- gameplay9 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a blend of hard-core puzzles and hidden-object mechanics, appealing to both casual and younger players. It features a unique design where each screen serves as a hidden object scene, complemented by point-and-click elements and quality of life improvements. While the game offers charming graphics and enjoyable puzzles, some mechanics can feel restrictive, limiting item collection until specific story points are reached.
“I enjoyed this unique design for hidden object gameplay, where every screen is a hidden object scene and only objects currently requested can be collected.”
“Pleasantly mixing point-and-click gameplay with a variety of simple puzzle games, along with many appreciated quality of life improvements that everyone can enjoy, even if this targets younger players.”
“What an utterly charming, fresh gameplay experience, gorgeous graphics, and great puzzles in this integrated hidden object game.”
“But the mechanics are so-so; you cannot pick up items until you hit a certain story point.”
“There are no timing or reaction puzzles in the gameplay.”
“It's not a long game overall, and I recommend it for some casual and relaxing gameplay.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and unengaging, with some expressing frustration over unclear objectives and repetitive tasks like pixel-hunting. This has led to a lack of enjoyment for many, as the activities feel more like chores than stimulating challenges.
“Tediously arranging things in their proper place isn't what gets my puzzle brain humming.”
“I couldn't figure out what to do, and I found a few aspects to be unfun or tedious.”
“Some players may find the subsequent pixel-hunting to be a bit tedious.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is described as calm and immersive, allowing players to escape into a magical world. The music, particularly in the second chapter, enhances the mysterious ambiance, contributing to the overall enchanting experience.
“The atmosphere of the game is calm, and it was fun to disconnect from the surroundings and enter a magical world.”
“I really enjoy the music, especially in the second chapter; it creates a mysterious atmosphere.”
“The music in the second chapter creates a mysterious atmosphere that I really enjoy.”
“The overall atmosphere feels flat and uninspired, lacking any real immersion.”
“Despite the game's potential, the atmosphere fails to engage, leaving it feeling lifeless.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
While some users find the game enjoyable for a one-time experience, others appreciate the inclusion of a bonus chapter and replayable puzzles that enhance its replayability. Overall, it offers limited replay value but can still be a fun option for casual play.
“Still a recommendation for a rainy Saturday afternoon, but nothing with any replayability.”
“This is the CE version; there is a bonus chapter and replayable puzzles in the main menu as well as in-game achievements.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is criticized for being non-existent, as the protagonist, Anna, is perceived as a "mary sue" character, leading to a lack of drama, tension, and meaningful growth throughout the story.
“Since Anna is a 'Mary Sue' kind of character, this tale has no drama, no tension, no stakes, no character development, and no payoff.”
“The characters feel one-dimensional and lack any meaningful growth throughout the story.”
“I was disappointed by how predictable the character arcs were; they didn't evolve in any interesting way.”
