Annalynn
- January 29, 2021
- Cruise Elroy
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"Annalynn" is a single-player platformer game with exceptional mechanics, appealing to fans of '80s arcade games. As Annalynn, outwit four snakes across 16 rounds in five unique areas, collecting coins, bonus foods, and blinding rubies. Boasting pretty visuals, a fabulous soundtrack, and local high score tables, with 30 unlockable character palettes for added replayability.CREDITS: Cruise Elroy, Isaac Riley, RRThiel, SparkBag, Cresh, CSketch, and MaxOKE.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Annalynn is a charming homage to classic 80s arcade games, combining elements from titles like Pac-Man and Donkey Kong Jr. with modern design sensibilities.
- The game features tight controls, vibrant graphics, and a catchy soundtrack, making it a fun and addictive experience that encourages replayability.
- With its simple yet challenging gameplay, Annalynn offers a nostalgic trip for fans of retro arcade games, providing a satisfying blend of difficulty and accessibility.
- Some players find the enemy AI, particularly the snakes, to be frustratingly unpredictable, leading to cheap deaths and a steep difficulty curve.
- The game is relatively short, with a main campaign that can be completed quickly, which may leave some players wanting more content.
- Certain level mechanics, such as the rope climbing and enemy spawning from doors, can feel clunky or unfair, detracting from the overall experience.
- gameplay72 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this title is a nostalgic homage to classic arcade games, particularly drawing inspiration from Pac-Man and Donkey Kong, while presenting itself as a 2D platformer. Players will find the mechanics easy to learn yet challenging to master, with each level introducing unique twists that keep the experience fresh and engaging. The charming visuals, catchy soundtrack, and well-balanced difficulty contribute to an addictive gameplay loop that encourages replayability and high-score chasing.
“This game takes so much inspiration from the 80's Namco arcade era that I've loved and adored for so long, with its really cute and charming visuals, a fun soundtrack composed using a similar soundfont to music played in Namco arcade games, and well-balanced, addictive gameplay that feels reminiscent of how fun but somewhat punishing 80's arcade games used to be.”
“The gameplay is simple and quick to learn yet hard to master, with a difficulty curve that makes it both frustrating and addictive. The controls are tight, the art and sprites are adorable, and the soundtrack is great.”
“Each stage past the first introduces a new unique mechanic tied to a theme that keeps gameplay fresh and challenges the player, culminating in a frenetic boss fight for the final stage.”
“Really love this type of game but this game is a bit messed up with the door mechanic that basically pops in enemies in front of you with very little warning, making it really hard in an unfair way.”
“While I have no real complaints, the door mechanics to the snakes at first are confusing as they can travel from one end of the map to the other to reach Annalynn no matter what door it is.”
“If you're not going to make the first few levels beatable after a moderate bit of gameplay, you're not going to maintain repeat players.”
- music45 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its catchy and nostalgic chiptune style, reminiscent of classic 80s Namco arcade games. Reviewers highlight the soundtrack's quality, noting its ability to enhance the gameplay experience and evoke a sense of charm and fun, with standout tracks that include memorable boss themes and unique jingles. Overall, the music is considered a significant strength of the game, contributing to its engaging and vibrant atmosphere.
“This game takes so much inspiration from the 80's Namco arcade era that I've loved for so long, with its really cute and charming visuals and a fun soundtrack composed using a soundfont similar to music played in Namco arcade games. I even noticed the intro cinematic has a little riff that sounds very similar to the Pac-Man intermission theme.”
“The music is excellent, the in-game sprites hit the right balance of readable and aesthetically pleasing, and the hi-res promotional art feels like it would be right at home on the side of a real arcade cabinet.”
“The music and sound, debatably the heart and soul of an arcade title, are glorious and over-the-top exuberant; the lo-fi graphics are colorful, vibrant, and leave little to be desired.”
“Please give us an option to buy the soundtrack!”
“The music cruise composed for the game is solid, and using Korg Gadget Kamata is a great decision.”
“The controls are tight and responsive, the graphics are cute and expressive, and the music's decent.”
- graphics42 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their charming and colorful pixel art style, reminiscent of classic 80s Namco arcade games. Reviewers highlight the adorable character designs and vibrant animations, which effectively capture the nostalgic aesthetic while incorporating modern elements. Overall, the visuals are described as delightful and engaging, enhancing the fun and addictive gameplay experience.
“I'm astonished by how well the team captured the 1980's arcade cabinet aesthetic.”
“The art style is lovely and charming, lots of work and detail seems to have been put into this game and I would definitely recommend others to check it out if they like classic arcade platformers!”
“The graphics are colorful and expressive, the sounds were a perfect copy of those sounds from the past, and the gameplay was fun and challenging.”
“The graphics are extremely solid, and don't constrain themselves to too many limitations compared to the games that inspired it.”
“The music and sound, debatably the heart and soul of an arcade title, are glorious and over-the-top exuberant; the lo-fi graphics are colorful, vibrant, and leave little to be desired.”
- replayability17 mentions
- 59 % positive mentions
- 24 % neutral mentions
- 18 % negative mentions
The game "Annalynn" offers significant replayability through its random mode, unlockable cheats, and a focus on achieving high scores, reminiscent of classic arcade games. Despite a short initial playtime, the inclusion of achievements and ongoing updates enhances its replay value, making it accessible and enjoyable for players of all skill levels. Overall, it is praised for its charm and addictive gameplay, encouraging players to return for more.
“Annalynn is a game that I feel anyone can enjoy regardless of their skill level. With its simple controls and fun characters, it's very fun and quite replayable.”
“If you want a short yet easily replayable adventure, Annalynn is the game for you.”
“While the base game was an incredibly short 30-minute playthrough (due to having infinite continues), the game's achievements make it highly replayable.”
“This, alongside the arcade nature of the game, pushing you to go for the highest score you can, gives this game a lot of replay value, even though the actual levels of the game can be blasted through in a pretty short amount of time.”
“The game's main difficulty and replayability comes from getting the highest score possible.”
“Annalyn is a clear love letter to the golden age of Namco and Nintendo arcade classics, containing many of the staple gameplay feelings that made those games so replayable.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a charming and humorous tone, highlighted by funny snakes wearing hats and entertaining cutscenes that not only provide laughs but also hint at upcoming mechanics. Players appreciate the cute characters and the overall comedic presentation, although some express a desire for a way to rewatch the cutscenes separately.
“There are snakes that get funny hats; play this gem of a game!”
“The cutscenes in between each level were funny, but I really liked that the cutscenes also gave you a glimpse at upcoming game mechanics.”
“It's very funny in its cute little classic cutscenes.”
- story6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's story is polarizing; some players find it lacking depth, comparing it to classic arcade games like "Pac-Man," while others praise its epic and personality-filled narrative that effectively conveys emotion without dialogue, evoking a nostalgic, old-school storytelling experience.
“Epic story.”
“Brimming with personality with no words actually said or needed, it captures that old school feeling of telling a story in a video game and more with a lighthearted sense.”
“This game has no story.”
“It's like playing 'Pac-Man' for the story.”
“Though I do admit I used 29 continues just to beat the story for the first time.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the game's flexible grinding mechanics, which encourage setting personal goals while allowing for early access to later levels. This design enables a balance between full game attempts and focused practice on harder levels, helping to prevent burnout.
“The basic structure and mechanics of the game kept pushing me to set higher goals for myself, but it also allows (and even encourages) you to push through to later levels as early as your first playthrough. This means you can alternate between grinding out full game attempts or practicing the harder levels in practice mode without burning yourself out on either.”
“Grinding feels repetitive and tedious, making it hard to stay engaged with the game for long periods.”
“The amount of grinding required to progress is overwhelming, and it often feels like a chore rather than an enjoyable part of the game.”
- character development1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Character development is highlighted through the well-designed character Annalynn, who exemplifies effective character design that enhances the overall gaming experience. The catchy music further complements this aspect, contributing to a smooth gameplay experience.
“The music is fairly catchy, and Annalynn (the character, not the game) is an example of perfect character design, which also helps the game go down smoothly.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of Annalynn is a nostalgic blend, reminiscent of classic arcade games like Pac-Man and Dig Dug, with level designs echoing Super Mario Bros. and gameplay elements inspired by Donkey Kong Jr. This combination creates an enjoyable experience, particularly for those who appreciate retro gaming aesthetics.
“The atmosphere feels very much like Dig Dug, creating a nostalgic experience that enhances the gameplay.”
“The level layouts are reminiscent of Super Mario Bros, adding to the overall charm and immersion of the game.”
“Annalynn combines elements from classic games, resulting in a unique atmosphere that is both engaging and enjoyable.”
