Curse of Anabelle
- February 20, 2020
- Rocwise Entertainment
- 2h median play time
In "Curse of Anabelle" , Emily's deceased sister, Anabelle, communicates with her through lucid dreams, leading Emily to believe Anabelle's soul is trapped in purgatory. Determined to help, Emily delves into the dark past of the Ramsey Mansion and its connection to occultism, causing her boyfriend Nathan to investigate her disappearance. This narrative-driven psychological horror game aims to uncover the truth behind Anabelle's death and the sinister history of the mansion.
Reviews
- The game features impressive cinematic cutscenes and a well-designed atmosphere that enhances the horror experience.
- The lore surrounding the demons and the story setup is intriguing, showcasing a deep narrative that draws players in.
- The graphics are visually appealing, with detailed environments and art that contribute to the overall aesthetic of the game.
- The voice acting is subpar, with robotic performances that detract from character immersion and emotional engagement.
- Gameplay becomes repetitive and tedious, with poorly designed mechanics that lead to frustration during combat and exploration.
- The game suffers from numerous technical issues, including bugs, long loading screens, and a lack of clear instructions, making it difficult to navigate and enjoy.
- story24 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as both intriguing and convoluted, featuring a rich lore that some players found engaging, while others criticized its presentation and accessibility. Many reviewers noted that essential story elements are hidden in collectible journal pages, making it easy to miss crucial context, which detracts from the overall experience. Despite its potential, the narrative's abrupt ending and uneven delivery left some players feeling unsatisfied.
“This game has, next to its breathtaking graphics, a convoluted but rich and mind-bending story and a vast variety of different gameplay mechanics.”
“The story is interesting and the lore makes you really curious about these demons and the real-world legends behind them.”
“If you like deep lore and doing a lot of reading to uncover the backstory in a game, you should definitely try this.”
“And then the game commits a massive 'fuck you' by suddenly, and spoiler alert, springing a cutscene on you where you get caught and I assume killed by the same demon you've been wiping the floor with, and then fade to black, but oh wait, it was all a story being narrated by some guy to his daughter, Anabelle, with a vague indication that there'll be a part 2.”
“Also, I generally hover up and read all of the lore in most games, but this game hits you with an absolute glut of it right out the door, so much of it poorly written, with poor spelling and grammar, that I just gave up after a few infuriating pages and never read another thing, not that it seemed to have any bearing on the plot given how sudden it ends.”
“Curse of Anabelle (CoA) is an example where we see a passion for storytelling - even though it is uninspiring - that was accompanied with bad design decisions.”
- graphics18 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players finding them average or below average, particularly due to glitches and inconsistent mechanics at higher settings. However, others praise the visuals as bright, colorful, and graphically pleasing, highlighting moments of beauty and good artwork that enhance the overall atmosphere. Overall, while there are standout moments, the graphics do not consistently impress across the board.
“Graphically pleasing all around.”
“Bright and colorful graphics.”
“Beautiful graphics & atmosphere.”
“The in-game graphics are pretty average, maybe a bit below average.”
“Mostly because it's very short, the QTE is fickle, and mechanics can be glitchy on the higher graphics settings.”
“Graphics don’t make a game, and this game is living proof.”
- gameplay18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a mix of repetitive mechanics and poorly executed features, such as quick-time events and boss battles, which detract from the overall experience. While the game can be completed in about four hours, preventing it from overstaying its welcome, many players find the mechanics lack clarity and refinement. Despite some enjoyable elements like time travel mechanics and a well-designed UI, the gameplay ultimately feels uninspired and glitchy, leading to a mixed reception.
“This game has, next to its breathtaking graphics, a rich and mind-bending story and a vast variety of different gameplay mechanics.”
“But it has fun mechanics like real-time time travel... I say give it a whirl.”
“The UI design is good with a great map mechanic that works well within gameplay.”
“Although the gameplay gets repetitive, you can beat the game in about 4 hours, so it ends before it really starts to wear out its welcome.”
“Mostly because it's very short, the QTE is fickle, and mechanics can be glitchy on the higher graphics settings.”
“Many gameplay mechanics like QTEs, dialogue options, and boss battles exist but they are not presented well enough for the player to understand how to use them or what they need to do.”
- music5 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews; while some players appreciate the quality of the soundtrack and its integration with the overall game experience, others find it annoying and lacking in inspiration. Additionally, criticisms include mediocre voice acting and a lack of polished animations, which detracts from the overall audio experience.
“The game's sound, music, graphics, story board, scene transitions, character movement, and overall quality content are on par with some of the best-selling games.”
“Coa is a combination of uninspiring half-cooked mechanics with rare occurrences of good visuals and a soundtrack that is accompanied by the worst boss battles I’ve encountered in a long time.”
“It doesn't have perfect animations nor a paid soundtrack and has mediocre voice acting at best.”
“Annoying music and sounds.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The atmosphere in the game is highly praised for its well-designed environments and beautiful graphics, creating an immersive experience. Overall, users find the atmosphere to be a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's appeal.
“The environments and atmosphere were all well designed and looked amazing.”
“Beautiful graphics and atmosphere.”
“Graphics are okay and the atmosphere is good.”
“The atmosphere feels lifeless and uninspired, lacking any real sense of immersion.”
“Despite the game's setting, the atmosphere is disappointingly flat and fails to evoke any real emotion.”
“The world feels empty and devoid of character, making it hard to get lost in the experience.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by the protagonist's comical shock at a major revelation, which adds a layer of absurdity as he continues to annoy the player throughout the experience.
“His shock at realizing he's dead is hilarious, and he proceeds to grate on you the whole way through.”
“The witty dialogue and absurd situations had me laughing out loud.”
“The humor is cleverly woven into the gameplay, making even the toughest challenges enjoyable.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game has been criticized for its lack of stability, with users reporting numerous bugs and a repetitive experience that detracts from overall enjoyment. Additionally, it is noted to take up significant storage space for its short content.
“I expected much more from this game, but it was buggy, short, and took up a lot of space. Everything felt the same after a while.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable.”
“I encountered numerous glitches that ruined my experience.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game is generally well-received, with users rating it an 8 out of 10. Players appreciate the smooth performance and efficient resource management, though some minor issues may still persist. Overall, the game runs effectively across various systems, enhancing the overall experience.
“The optimization in this game is impressive, allowing for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems.”
“I love how the developers have fine-tuned the performance, making it accessible without sacrificing quality.”
“The game runs flawlessly after the latest optimization patch, enhancing the overall experience significantly.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game can become tedious at times, often exacerbated by bugs that disrupt the experience.
“The grinding feels endless and often tedious, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“I find the repetitive nature of grinding to be a major turn-off; it just feels like a chore.”
“The game requires too much grinding, which detracts from the overall enjoyment.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users appreciate the effective use of wholesome imagery, which enhances the emotional impact of the game, creating a warm and uplifting experience.
“The game beautifully captures the essence of human emotions, making every moment feel deeply personal.”
“I was moved to tears by the heartfelt storytelling and the relatable characters.”
“The emotional depth of the narrative left a lasting impact on me, making it one of the most memorable experiences I've had in gaming.”