Anima Flux
- October 7, 2024
- Anima Flux
![Anima Flux Game Cover](https://img.gamebrain.co/games/437/anima_flux_animaflux_2024_1_xl.jpg)
![](https://img.gamebrain.co/games/438/anima_flux_animaflux_2024_2_xl.jpg)
![](https://img.gamebrain.co/games/444/anima_flux_animaflux_2024_8_xl.jpg)
![](https://img.gamebrain.co/games/443/anima_flux_animaflux_2024_7_xl.jpg)
"Anima Flux" is a co-op Metroidvania game set in a dystopian space city, where two genetically enhanced soldiers fight to save humanity's last stronghold from a mutant invasion. Players can combine unique abilities and skills, and transfer their anima to cheat death. The game offers a fresh twist to the Metroidvania genre with its couch co-op gameplay.
Reviews
- Engaging co-op gameplay that enhances the experience, allowing players to switch between characters with unique abilities.
- Visually stunning with a unique art style and well-crafted animated cutscenes that contribute to the game's atmosphere.
- Responsive controls and enjoyable platforming mechanics that make exploration and combat fun, especially with the ranged character.
- The fast travel system is poorly designed, leading to excessive backtracking and frustrating navigation through confusing elevator mazes.
- Combat can feel unbalanced, particularly for the melee character, who often struggles against swarms of enemies and lacks effective abilities early on.
- The game suffers from a lack of enemy variety and repetitive boss designs, which diminishes the overall challenge and excitement.
- gameplay23 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The gameplay is generally enjoyable and challenging, featuring classic metroidvania elements like exploration and combat, with the added benefit of a local two-player mode. While the level design is praised for its uniqueness and the mechanics are accessible for both keyboard/mouse and controller users, some players noted a slow start due to the lack of a dodge mechanic and overwhelming dialogue that detracts from the experience. Overall, the game offers a solid gameplay loop with opportunities for exploration and upgrades, though improvements in early game mechanics could enhance the experience further.
“It combines the usual metroidvania gameplay (jump and run, hack and slash, explore the labyrinthine environment) with the additional feature of a local two-player mode.”
“The level design was honestly great and each area had its own unique gameplay gimmick.”
“The game offers unique gameplay with the ability to explore the world and fight bosses alone or with a friend, which seems like an undeniable plus.”
“No dodge mechanic early on, leading to a lot of face-tanking until you get the dash later on.”
“Improvements could be made to early game mechanics; adding a dodge option and making progress items more accessible without a currency cost.”
“It's weird how much superfluous text the game puts you through and how little gameplay is to be had.”
- story23 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's story revolves around two heroes navigating a world filled with larger-than-life insects and a sparse human presence, featuring twists and a mix of humor, action, and environmental storytelling. While the narrative includes intriguing plot elements and well-animated cutscenes, it can be confusing due to a lack of context for players and suffers from some nonsensical aspects and unlikable characters. Overall, the story is engaging but could benefit from clearer development and refinement.
“The story has a few twists and turns to offer, and you won't only encounter larger-than-life insects in the end.”
“Story: well-suited to co-op play, offering a story that feels connected and suitable for teamwork.”
“Great plot twist, interesting story.”
“The story can be quite confusing, especially because your characters in the game obviously have some background knowledge, but you as the player don't know that... rebels?”
“And that’s thanks in no part to its story, which suffers from a nonsensical plot, unlikeable and unchanging protagonists, and some occasionally awful text-based dialogue that does little to add to the otherwise interesting atmosphere.”
“The idea and plot of the game are certainly well thought out, but I would like the plot to be improved.”
- graphics22 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their unique and appealing art style, featuring vibrant yet dark visuals and impressive animated cutscenes that enhance the overall atmosphere. Players appreciate the crisp visuals and high-fidelity assets, which contribute to memorable settings and exploration, despite some critiques regarding the execution of certain cutscenes. Overall, the art direction effectively creates a captivating and immersive experience, even if other gameplay elements may not meet the same standard.
“The graphics are very pleasing, the soundtrack atmospheric and exploration fun.”
“Anima Flux is a joy to look at due to its crisp visuals with high fidelity assets and great compositions.”
“Atmospheric visuals: the stylized, dystopian city looks impressive, creating a memorable setting for exploration.”
“I found the story decent, though some of those cutscenes were a bit hard to watch action-wise, but that's just me being picky about the art style used for the cutscenes and not really getting into it.”
“The level design and visuals, meanwhile, combine to create some memorable biomes and points of interest, which is important given how utter shite the map is.”
“Lucky for Anima Flux, narrative has never meant much to metroidvanias, which tend to instead prioritize combat, level design, and visuals.”
- music11 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 27 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, with atmospheric soundtracks that enhance the environment and exploration. However, some players feel that the combat music is underwhelming and infrequent, leading to a sense of eerie silence during gameplay. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the experience, there are areas for improvement, particularly in combat scenarios.
“The musical cues are good and keep up the ambience of this infested colony or space station.”
“The graphics are very pleasing, the soundtrack atmospheric, and exploration fun.”
“It's great to spend an evening with a friend relaxing to beautiful design and music.”
“The only thing that occasionally tunes in is the very plain combat music, but many encounters are so short that it barely has time to play a few notes before fading out again.”
“Unfortunately, the music wasn't as present, only picking up every now and then in combat and mostly lacking during exploration.”
“It didn't feel like deliberate silence as much as it did a lack of music composed for the game.”
- atmosphere7 mentions
- 71 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its impressive graphics and atmospheric soundtrack, creating a memorable and immersive setting for exploration. Players appreciate the stylized, dystopian visuals and engaging animations, which enhance the overall experience, despite some criticisms of the story and character development. The combination of these elements contributes to a unique and captivating indie game atmosphere.
“The graphics are very pleasing, the soundtrack atmospheric, and exploration fun.”
“- Atmospheric visuals: the stylized, dystopian city looks impressive, creating a memorable setting for exploration.”
“I love indie games for their special and authentic atmosphere.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the grinding aspect of the game, noting that it often feels unnecessary and repetitive, particularly against similar enemies. However, they appreciate the manageable combat and the presence of frequent save points and shortcuts, which help alleviate some of the tedium associated with grinding.
“The difficulty and combat are enjoyable when I'm not grinding for no reason or standing in the corner waiting for the archer to kill everything because 75% of the enemies fly or I can't get close to them.”
“So I have to do more useless grinding against similar enemies?”
“While each of them looks quite similar—large, clunky, and full of acid—the fights themselves are manageable thanks to frequent save points and convenient shortcuts that make returning after defeats less tedious.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is well-balanced, seamlessly integrating wit and action into the story, making it engaging and enjoyable enough for players to want to replay it for the delightful conversations.
“The story was the perfect amount of humor, wit, and action.”
“I think I'm ready to replay the game again and again to take part in this heartfelt conversation with so much humor!”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players find the game emotionally engaging, highlighting its heartfelt conversations infused with humor, which encourages replayability for a deeper connection to the narrative.
“I think I'm ready to replay the game again and again to take part in this heartfelt conversation with so much humor.”
“The emotional depth of the characters really resonated with me, making their struggles feel incredibly real.”
“I was moved to tears by the story; it beautifully captures the complexities of love and loss.”