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 beautiful graphics and well-designed environments that create an immersive atmosphere.
- The lore and story behind the game are intriguing, with a rich background involving King Solomon and his demons.
- Some jump scares and horror elements are executed well, providing moments of genuine tension.
- The voice acting is generally poor, with robotic performances that detract from the overall experience.
- Gameplay becomes repetitive and tedious, with combat mechanics that are frustrating and lack variety.
- The game suffers from numerous design flaws, including bugs, poor navigation, and a lack of meaningful interaction with the environment.
- story24 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The game's story is a mixed bag, featuring an intriguing setup and deep lore that appeals to fans of dark occult themes, but suffers from poor execution and design choices. Players often find the narrative convoluted and unsatisfying, with essential story elements hidden in collectible diary pages, leading to confusion if missed. While some appreciate the rich backstory and engaging cutscenes, others criticize the overwhelming amount of poorly written lore that detracts from the overall experience.
“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.”
“This game has, next to its breathtaking graphics, a convoluted but rich and mind-bending story and a vast variety of different gameplay mechanics.”
“Story is interesting and the lore makes you really curious about these demons and the real-world legend behind it.”
“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 noting average to below-average quality, particularly when mechanics are glitchy at higher settings. However, there are also positive remarks about the bright, colorful visuals and overall pleasing atmosphere, with some users praising the graphics as breathtaking and on par with top-selling games. Overall, while there are standout moments, the consistency of quality varies significantly.
“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 engaging mechanics, such as time travel and various interactive elements, but suffers from repetitiveness and poor execution, particularly in quick-time events and boss battles. While the game can be completed in about four hours, which prevents it from overstaying its welcome, many players find the mechanics poorly explained and the user interface cumbersome. Overall, the gameplay experience is seen as needing refinement despite some enjoyable aspects.
“But got fun mechanics like real-time time travel... I say give it a whirl.”
“This game has, next to its breathtaking graphics, a rich and mind-bending story and a vast variety of different gameplay mechanics.”
“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 uninspiring and annoying, with criticisms directed at the voice acting and sound effects. Overall, the music is seen as a highlight by some, but not universally praised.
“The game's sound and music are incredibly well done, complementing the graphics, story, scene transitions, and character movement, making it comparable to some of the best-selling games.”
“Coa is a combination of uninspiring half-cooked mechanics with rare occurrences of good visuals and 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, players 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, making it hard to immerse myself in the game world.”
“Despite the game's potential, the atmosphere is flat and fails to evoke any real emotion or tension.”
“The lack of environmental detail and sound design leaves the atmosphere feeling hollow and unengaging.”
- 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's optimization really shines, providing a seamless experience that enhances overall enjoyment.”
- 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 occasional 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 feels like a chore rather than fun.”
“The game requires too much grinding, which detracts from the overall enjoyment and pacing.”
- 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 ever had.”