Amanda the Adventurer
- April 25, 2023
- MANGLEDmaw Games
- 3h median play time
Despite that, Amanda the Adventurer offers a fun and creepy ride that perfects pacing and characterization, and it’s absolutely worth the price tag and the hours of sleep you’ll lose playing it.
Get on Steam"Amanda the Adventurer" is a game that revolves around a TV show about a brave girl named Amanda and her cowardly sheep sidekick, Wooly. The player discovers a box set of the show in their attic and the game allows them to explore and experience the adventures of Amanda and Wooly. The game is a nostalgic journey filled with problem-solving, exploration, and humor.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- story516 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The story of "Amanda the Adventurer" is widely praised for its intriguing and eerie narrative, which unfolds through hidden VHS tapes and clever puzzles, drawing players into a complex lore that invites theorizing. However, many reviewers note that the story can feel disjointed or incomplete, often leaving players wanting more clarity and resolution, particularly regarding its darker themes and character backstories. Overall, while the storytelling is engaging and atmospheric, it may frustrate those seeking a fully fleshed-out plot.
“The story is captivating, slowly revealing its sinister undertones through clever puzzles, cryptic hints, and interactive sequences.”
“Amanda the Adventurer is a game with decent puzzles and an extremely interesting story.”
“The story, the lore, the puzzles, the gameplay, it was all really good and not too scary, just more psychologically scary.”
“The game left me feeling very disappointed and unsatisfied with a very uninspiring story and pathetic and boring reused jump scares not worth anyone's time nor money.”
“The plot only begins to make sense once you discover the secret tapes, but this happens so late in the game that many players might miss out on it entirely.”
“I feel that the story and mystery started very strong, but none of the endings provided any resolutions, closures, or explanations.”
- gameplay159 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay in "Amanda the Adventurer" is characterized by its simple yet engaging mechanics, primarily revolving around watching VHS tapes and solving puzzles that often require multiple playthroughs to fully understand. While some players appreciate the clever integration of narrative and gameplay, others find it repetitive and lacking in depth, with criticisms aimed at its limited horror elements and occasional frustration with the puzzle-solving process. Overall, the game offers a unique experience with a mix of creativity and simplicity, appealing to fans of indie horror and puzzle genres.
“The gameplay is simple but engaging, allowing players to interact with the tapes by answering Amanda's questions and making choices that subtly affect the story.”
“Clever gameplay mechanics, rewarding puzzles, and just an overall suspenseful game with such well thought out lore within it.”
“The gameplay perfectly alternates these halves by hiding clues within the tapes that you can then use to solve the real-world puzzles, and if you’re paying attention, even find secrets!”
“The gameplay in Amanda the Adventurer leaves much to be desired.”
“The gameplay loop is frustrating to say the least, though boring and uninspired are also suitable descriptors.”
“I love the idea, but unfortunately due to the nature of the gameplay, you'll just end up with the same experience as watching a YouTube video.”
- graphics122 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Amanda the Adventurer" are characterized by a nostalgic 90s CGI aesthetic and VHS-style visuals that effectively contribute to the game's eerie atmosphere. While many players appreciate the unique blend of retro charm and horror elements, opinions vary on the execution, with some finding the graphics charming and immersive, while others criticize them as lacking polish or depth. Overall, the game's art direction is seen as a significant aspect that enhances the unsettling experience, despite some technical limitations.
“Developed by MangledMaw Games, the game utilizes VHS aesthetics to immerse players in a twisted interactive experience that leaves an unforgettable impression.”
“The graphics fit the atmosphere, the sound design is great, and the gameplay is reminiscent of a 'Dora the Explorer' episode.”
“The game's graphics are incredible and reminiscent of a cartoon (as if from the 80s), which adds to its atmosphere.”
“First and foremost, the graphics were poor through and through.”
“The purposefully bad animation is used as a copout for criticism of the lackluster graphics, which is a common theme with all these analogue horror-type games and series.”
“The intention is that I'm supposed to feel disturbed with the poor quality and the dated aesthetic, but the trope is so tired by this point that without any subversion or experimenting, I couldn't really get even mildly discomforted by the visuals.”
- atmosphere87 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "Amanda the Adventurer" is widely praised for its unique blend of retro visuals, sound design, and an unsettling ambiance that immerses players in a creepy, nostalgic world. While the game leans more towards atmospheric horror rather than jump scares, it effectively builds tension and intrigue through clever puzzles and a haunting aesthetic. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered its strongest aspect, leaving a lasting impression on players despite some critiques regarding its storyline and gameplay length.
“Atmosphere and presentation: the game's art direction and sound design are impeccable.”
“The retro VHS filter adds an authentic touch, immersing players in a bygone era while amplifying the eerie atmosphere.”
“While it's not without its limitations, the game's unique charm and haunting atmosphere ensure it lingers in the minds of players long after the screen goes dark.”
“The atmosphere feels more like silly-horror than serious horror, and the lore leaves a lot unanswered, probably to be answered in the sequel.”
“Unfortunately, the game's storyline is too quick and thin, and the level of horror is too small to make up for the fact that the puzzles are well-designed and occasionally tough, and the whole idea gives off an unsettling and creepy atmosphere.”
“I've no idea why the reviews are so positive, there is barely an hour's gameplay here and no atmosphere at all.”
- humor67 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its clever blend of dark comedy and absurdity, often eliciting genuine laughter through quirky dialogue and unexpected character interactions. Players find the mix of creepy elements with a children's TV show aesthetic to be both entertaining and amusing, making the experience more fun than frightening. Overall, the game's humor enhances its appeal, providing a lighthearted counterbalance to its horror themes.
“This game is also legitimately funny.”
“Wooly and Amanda's dialogue also has a number of genuinely funny moments that helped to make the horror segments all the scarier.”
“The dark humor masked with children's TV show is quite hilarious.”
- music31 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The music in the game is a mixed bag, with many players appreciating its role in enhancing the eerie atmosphere and building tension through a blend of whimsical and dissonant tones. While some found the soundtrack memorable and well-integrated into the gameplay, others criticized the reliance on music-related puzzles, which could be challenging for those unfamiliar with reading sheet music. Overall, the sound design is generally praised for its effectiveness in creating an immersive experience, though opinions on the quality of the music itself vary significantly.
“The soundtrack and sound effects play a crucial role in building tension, transitioning from whimsical melodies to dissonant, anxiety-inducing tones as the story unfolds.”
“The game also has an excellent soundtrack that adds to the atmosphere of horror and makes the player feel even more lost and scared.”
“The music and sound effects add to the game's immersive experience and create an atmosphere of adventure and excitement.”
“Difficult for those that don't know how to read music.”
“There's something about the low-poly CGI and empty world of Amanda's show mixed with the distorted music that makes it really unsettling to me.”
“1/10 music notes made no sense (according to chat)”
- grinding26 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 54 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight a significant issue with grinding in the game, describing it as tedious and often frustrating due to the reliance on repetitive puzzles and secret hunting. While some players appreciate the multiple endings and the potential for exploration, many feel that the grind for achievements and lore detracts from the overall experience, making it feel more like a chore than an engaging gameplay element.
“There are many endings and secrets to uncover through multiple playthroughs, and the game is just the right length to be rewarding and not tedious while you do it.”
“Getting all of the endings was exciting and not tedious at all.”
“This can get tedious when collecting all the secrets.”
“Bad game, do not recommend. The game is heavily focused on pointless lore and tedious puzzles that make you want to quit if you're not looking up a guide, which made the full version frustrating and terrible. The attic is the only playable area in the game, and you cannot explore the rest of the house looking for VHS tapes, which was disappointing.”
“Overly tedious 'horror' game with obtuse puzzles that ends in the least satisfying way possible.”
- replayability22 mentions
- 23 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is a mixed bag; while some players appreciate the multiple endings, secrets, and achievements that encourage revisiting, others find the experience repetitive and lacking depth after a few runs. The short runtime contributes to a perception of limited replay value, though some enjoy the puzzles and lore enough to warrant multiple playthroughs. Ultimately, opinions vary widely, with some rating replayability as high as 6/10, while others feel it falls short.
“The game has a lot of replayability with its achievements and multiple endings.”
“This game breaks that loop and has a worthwhile gameplay loop featuring multiple endings, secrets, and a surprisingly good amount of replayability.”
“Some secrets are so well-hidden that you might never find them all, which adds an extra layer of replayability to an already fantastic game.”
“As someone new to the puzzle genre, I found the game enjoyable but somewhat lacking in depth, leaving me feeling a bit empty after completion - perhaps due to its short runtime or limited replayability.”
“Limited replayability: though there are secrets to uncover, the overall experience might feel repetitive after a few runs.”
“It is about 2-3 hours long and there is almost zero replayability.”
- emotional13 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is mixed; while some players find it cute and wholesome, with moments that evoke genuine feelings, others criticize the characters as forgettable and underdeveloped, leading to a lack of emotional connection. The game's lore can be difficult to grasp, which diminishes its emotional impact for casual players, though some moments are described as both fun and heartbreaking. Overall, the emotional experience varies significantly among players, with some feeling deeply affected and others left wanting more depth.
“What a cute, wholesome little game <3”
“A very good game, and the lore is quite heartbreaking.”
“I had a fun, creepy, and at some points heartbreaking time.”
- stability12 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- -17 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous users reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and freezing issues that can disrupt gameplay and require restarts. While some players appreciate the nostalgic VHS aesthetic and atmosphere created by these glitches, many find the overall experience frustrating and unplayable due to the technical problems. Despite these issues, a few players have managed to enjoy the game without encountering major glitches.
“Fun little game! I completed it with no glitches at all. It would be great to have a quick exit for tapes and a quick restart option for the day if you want to take a different route.”
“The game runs smoothly without any crashes or bugs, making for a very enjoyable experience.”
“I appreciate how stable the game is; I never encountered any issues that disrupted my gameplay.”
“It's a system that's either too obtuse for its own good or just buggy, as even while following a walkthrough, I couldn't get one of the tapes required to access the 'good' ending to reappear.”
“The game is horribly buggy, unplayable.”
“Not only is it not scary, but there are numerous glitches which can force you to need to restart your entire play session.”
- optimization8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 63 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant performance issues such as stuttering and lag, even on low graphics settings. While a few users reported smooth gameplay, the overall consensus indicates that the game's graphics and performance could benefit from further optimization.
“The puzzles are just the right level of difficulty, the surrounding narrative is interesting, and the voice performances give it its own distinct style.”
“Otherwise, the game runs smoothly for me and is a real treat.”
“It's a good game; I wish it was a bit more optimized because even at the very low graphics settings, I still lag at times.”
“I'm not sure how it maintained an overwhelmingly positive review score: the story was shallow especially for a horror game, the animations were weak, the scares were absolutely non-existent, I never felt engaged with the story whatsoever, and the performance was bad.”
“Maybe this was just me, but moving around the attic at 144 frames had objects, like the table where I'm perpetually and uninterestingly presented with the next step in my puzzle, stuttering oddly.”
“The game constantly felt like it was stuttering.”
- monetization3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game is viewed positively, with players appreciating the developers' genuine care for the project rather than pursuing a cash grab. This refreshing approach sets it apart from other indie horror games that often rely on recycled assets and aggressive advertising.
“Finally, a new mascot horror game that isn't a passionless cash grab.”
“I was expecting it to be just a generic mascot horror, but I will say that the creators seem to genuinely care about the project versus just doing it for a cash grab.”
“Refreshing break from the plethora of recycled assets in indie horror and shameless advertising.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features strong character designs and an engaging plot that effectively piques players' curiosity, enhancing the overall character development experience.
“It has good character designs and an amazing plot that makes you even more curious to know more.”
“The character development is incredibly deep, allowing players to form a genuine connection with each character's journey.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making their struggles and triumphs feel personal and impactful.”
Critic Reviews
Amanda The Adventurer Review
Amanda the Adventurer will not please everyone, but it's a very niche experience. Hardcore horror fans who want a shorter experience and analog horror elements will have found their perfect title.
75%Amanda the Adventurer Review
Despite that, Amanda the Adventurer offers a fun and creepy ride that perfects pacing and characterization, and it’s absolutely worth the price tag and the hours of sleep you’ll lose playing it.
95%Amanda the Adventurer [PC]
Amanda the Adventurer is a unique and engrossing experience that isn’t necessarily scary, but will definitely keep players on edge as they uncover its dark secrets. It’s easy to think that it’s a simple and straightforward puzzler to begin with, but it doesn’t take long before the narrative takes unusual turns, the puzzles become more creative, and Amanda really starts to creep the player out with her sinister outbursts. It’s really, REALLY cool, and easily stands out as one of the more memorable horror experiences I’ve played through in some time.
85%
