ANYU
- June 16, 2023
- DigiPen Europe-Bilbao
A 3D third person narrative exploration game, set in a frozen wasteland where an ancient civilization fell. Centered around movement puzzles and dealing with environment mechanics.
Reviews
- Beautiful visuals and atmospheric design create an immersive experience.
- Relaxing gameplay with a calming soundtrack, perfect for a chill session.
- For a student project, it showcases impressive artistic vision and potential.
- The game is plagued with numerous bugs and glitches that hinder gameplay.
- Controls are poorly optimized, especially for keyboard and mouse, making it frustrating to play.
- The pacing is slow and repetitive, leading to a lack of engagement and depth in the gameplay.
- graphics28 mentions
- 68 % positive mentions
- 21 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
Overall, the graphics of the game are generally well-received, with many praising the beautiful art style and visuals that create a captivating atmosphere. However, some users noted the presence of bugs and inconsistencies that detracted from the experience, while others felt that the graphics alone were not enough to fully engage them. Despite these criticisms, the game's aesthetic and visual design are highlighted as standout features.
“For a student-made game, I am in awe of the graphics though.”
“The best part of the game is the art style and how everything looks like they belong together; each asset is beautiful and the game's graphics are very nice.”
“I appreciate what they tried to do and the graphic style used, but the game didn't pull me in whatsoever, sadly.”
“For a student-made game, I am in awe of the graphics, though.”
“The graphics are very successful; the crystal effect of the frozen lake under the illuminated lighthouse is extraordinary!”
- story26 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as intriguing and well-crafted, with elements of charm and bittersweetness, though it suffers from pacing issues and bugs that detract from the experience. While some players appreciate the subtle storytelling and artistic presentation, others find it repetitive and lacking in depth, leading to mixed feelings about its overall impact. Overall, the narrative has potential but is often overshadowed by technical problems and gameplay frustrations.
“The story is quite brilliant and I really enjoyed the time I spent on this game.”
“What a bittersweet story.”
“The storytelling is delivered subtly, letting you piece together the fragments of the past and form your own interpretations.”
“The slow pace, on top of lack of progressive story and odd controls, did not capture my attention.”
“The story also didn't get me enough to push through all unpleasantness.”
“Sometimes the story wouldn't even let me continue because of how buggy it is, not to mention the way the character controls is like I'm always on ice!”
- gameplay25 mentions
- 12 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players finding it repetitive and slow, while others appreciate the unique rope climbing mechanics that add depth. Despite its visual appeal and intriguing narrative, several users reported bugs and issues that hindered their enjoyment. Overall, the gameplay is seen as decent but lacking in variety and polish.
“The rope climbing mechanics in Anyu add a unique layer of gameplay depth.”
“Furthermore, Anyu weaves an intriguing narrative throughout the gameplay.”
“Anyu is a triumph of artistic vision and gameplay ingenuity.”
“Very repetitive, slow storyline and gameplay.”
“Gameplay-wise, there are a few bugs, mainly that you can clip through a lot of the terrain, and sometimes become frozen in mid-air when jumping.”
“Visually it's a top-tier game, but gameplay-wise it's terrible.”
- music20 mentions
- 70 % positive mentions
- 15 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its relaxing and calming qualities, effectively setting the atmosphere and enhancing the overall experience. Many reviewers highlight the soundtrack's ability to immerse players in the game's beautiful environments and storytelling, contributing to a cozy and zen-like ambiance. However, some players felt that despite the nice music and graphics, the overall experience did not fully deliver on its promise of a stress-relieving adventure.
“Emotive art style and a relaxing music score.”
“Music and SFX combined with the visuals is enough to put me into a zen state.”
“In addition to its gameplay and narrative, Anyu boasts a captivating soundtrack that complements the icy ambiance.”
“- calming music”
“The music is also very well done.”
“In addition to its gameplay and narrative, anyu boasts a captivating soundtrack that complements the icy ambiance.”
- stability13 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous players reporting significant bugs and glitches that disrupt gameplay and immersion. While some appreciate the visuals and story, the overwhelming presence of technical issues has rendered the game unplayable for many, leading to frustration and an inability to progress. Overall, the consensus suggests that unless these stability issues are addressed, the game remains a challenging experience.
“Unplayable, and bug-ridden game.”
“I really love the look and story of this game, but was sad to find that I was constantly running into glitches.”
“Honestly, if this game can fix the bugs, it would be a decent or good game, but it was so buggy it ruined my gameplay.”
- atmosphere8 mentions
- 88 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is highly praised, characterized by immersive music, dynamic weather effects, and detailed icy textures that evoke a range of emotions. The haunting melodies and atmospheric sound design enhance the overall experience, making it a captivating journey that players can deeply engage with, especially when using headphones. Despite some minor bugs, the game's ambiance makes it a standout choice for fans of atmospheric adventures.
“The combination of icy textures, atmospheric lighting, and dynamic weather effects breathes life into the frozen world, evoking a range of emotions as you venture deeper into the unknown.”
“Combined with atmospheric sound effects, the audio design creates a deeply immersive experience that lingers in your mind long after you've put down the controller.”
“The haunting melodies resonate with the desolate atmosphere, intensifying the emotional impact of the journey.”
“The game fails to create a truly immersive atmosphere, leaving players feeling disconnected from the world.”
“Despite the beautiful graphics, the atmosphere feels lifeless and uninspired, lacking any real sense of danger or intrigue.”
- grinding3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be time-consuming and potentially tedious, often requiring a significant investment of time. However, the game's relatively short length helps prevent it from becoming overly monotonous before completion.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“It is not an action-driven game and it may become tedious and monotonous, but is short enough for you to finish before you get bored!”
- optimization3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback; while it runs smoothly at a solid 60 fps in 4K without performance issues, users have noted that the controls are not well-optimized for keyboard and mouse, indicating room for improvement.
“Anyu has some things to improve on, but I can see myself enjoying it if the optimization was better.”
“Controls are not optimized for keyboard and mouse.”
“No performance issues at all; solid 60 fps in 4K from start to end.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report a deeply emotional experience, often moved to tears by the haunting melodies and desolate atmosphere that enhance the game's impactful narrative journey.
“I cried.”
“The haunting melodies resonate with the desolate atmosphere, intensifying the emotional impact of the journey.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky and endearing translation choices, such as the use of unusual vocabulary and charming character quirks, which create a comically Spanish atmosphere reminiscent of a children's book. Players find the juxtaposition of the game's beautiful art style with its rigid mechanics and occasional absurdities—like puzzling controls and unexpected design choices—both amusing and frustrating, contributing to an overall fun experience.
“The humor in this game is delightfully absurd, with characters that seem to have a knack for the ridiculous, making every interaction a joy.”
“I love how the game mixes clever wordplay with silly situations, creating moments that had me laughing out loud.”
“The quirky dialogue and unexpected scenarios kept me entertained throughout, proving that humor can be just as engaging as gameplay.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight that the character designs are visually appealing, contributing positively to the overall character development experience. However, there is limited feedback on the depth or progression of the characters themselves.
“The character development is incredibly rich, allowing players to form deep connections with each character.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, making their journeys feel authentic and engaging.”
“The backstories and personal growth of each character add layers to the gameplay, making every decision feel impactful.”