Giraffe and Annika
- August 27, 2020
- atelier mimina
Giraffe and Annika is a charming indie title with catchy tunes and cute characters that shows atelier mimina's potential for future titles.
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games Store"Giraffe and Annika" is a single-player Fantasy Platformer game with an intriguing story and stellar gameplay. As Annika, you explore the mysterious Island of Spica, solving hidden mysteries and challenging five unique dungeons to recover star fragments. The game features phenomenal graphics and soundtrack, as well as cute cat collectibles and a comic-book style narrative. A recent DLC includes an art book and comic book for fans to enjoy.
Nintendo Switch
PC
Playstation 4
Windows
Xbox One
Xbox Series X|S
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features adorable characters and a heartwarming story that resonates emotionally with players.
- The combination of 3D platforming and rhythm-based boss fights offers a unique and enjoyable gameplay experience.
- The art style and music are charming, creating a relaxing atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
- Gameplay can be clunky at times, particularly with swimming mechanics and platforming controls.
- The game is relatively short, with a playtime of around 6-8 hours, which may leave some players wanting more.
- Rhythm game sections can be frustrating due to timing issues and lack of calibration options, making them difficult to enjoy.
- story109 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of "Giraffe and Annika" is described as a charming and emotional journey, featuring cute characters and a heartwarming narrative that often surprises players with its depth and twists. While the storytelling is straightforward and sometimes predictable, it effectively engages players through comic book-style segments and emotional moments, leaving many feeling touched by the experience. Overall, the game balances fun gameplay with a wholesome story that appeals to both children and adults.
“Now what I was not expecting was for the story to make me cry at the end.”
“The story was so gratifying; stay for the credits!”
“I was surprised about how deep the story was, and I really wish I picked this up when it released.”
“The story is mostly predictable and several clues are given to you right at the start, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing.”
“But removing standard core gameplay features (jump, swim, run) for the sake of making them the exclusive story-progression rewards left a sour taste in my mouth.”
“A very short adventure across an island inhabited by cute characters, and a story that packs a surprising amount of heat.”
- music74 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its charm and quality, with many reviewers highlighting its soothing and catchy nature that enhances the overall experience. The rhythm-based boss fights offer a refreshing twist, although some noted the limited number of tracks. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's adorable atmosphere and enjoyable gameplay.
“The boss fights being rhythm-based was different and refreshing; the songs were nice too.”
“A really pretty game with a really soothing and calming soundtrack, definitely recommend.”
“The atmosphere generated by the music and graphics is comfy and will make you want to just hang out and have a good time with these characters.”
“Although the game said it's a rhythm game, it's not really just that, because there are only 5 music tracks with 5 rhythm battles that work more like a tennis game.”
“The day/night cycle also feels a bit too short, so NPCs will run home before I have a chance to finish their quests, and soundtracks will switch rather often.”
“So far, they've been pretty memorable, and I can tell I'm going to be sad there's only 5 songs in the end.”
- emotional44 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its heartwarming and wholesome story, which resonates deeply with players, often leading to tears by the end. Many reviews emphasize the game's ability to blend cute characters and engaging gameplay with a narrative that evokes strong feelings, making it a memorable and touching experience. Overall, it is praised as a charming adventure that successfully delivers an emotional journey without resorting to violence.
“I honestly did not know what to expect from this when I started playing it. What I thought I was getting was 'rhythm game with cute cat girl'... what I got was 'rhythm game with cute cat girl, platforming dungeons, and an emotional story'.”
“Without spoiling the ending, it was very bittersweet and made me cry, but it also wrapped up the game very nicely.”
“The story made me cry at the end.”
- gameplay33 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
Gameplay is characterized by a mix of exploration, puzzle-solving, and rhythm-based boss fights, providing a casual and enjoyable experience despite some clunky mechanics and a relatively short playtime of around six hours. While the world is charming and easy to navigate, some players found the removal of core gameplay features for story progression frustrating. Overall, the game offers a nostalgic feel with a variety of gameplay modes, though many hope for tighter mechanics and more content in a potential sequel.
“The world is adorable and easy to navigate in, the soundtracks are nice, gameplay (while casual and not punishing players much at all for mistakes) is fun, and the rhythm mechanic for boss fights was a nice change of pace from the usual RPG formats.”
“The gameplay has everything that I love: story, exploration, small puzzles, platforming, secrets, and even rhythm.”
“Great animations, good textures and level design that felt believable, nice sounds and music, cool and varied environmental effects, challenging-but-not-annoying collectibles, a good variety of gameplay modes.”
“But removing standard core gameplay features (jump, swim, run) for the sake of making them the exclusive story-progression rewards left a sour taste in my mouth.”
“Gameplay is mostly simple adventuring, but the rhythm game boss fights are what separates this game from the rest.”
“[overworld and dungeon gameplay is lackluster, some 'features' feel as though they are there to slow gameplay, not enough rhythmic gameplay for a rhythm game]”
- graphics33 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are characterized by a consistent and charming art style, featuring cute characters and a relaxing atmosphere that enhances the overall experience. While not technically perfect, with some minor issues reminiscent of older gaming eras, the visuals are well-received and contribute to a delightful and engaging presentation. Players appreciate the attention to detail and the overall aesthetic, which evokes nostalgia while still feeling fresh and enjoyable.
“Everything about this game is built full of love and care from its devs, from the graphics to the story to the balance of the mechanics to every single tiny detail.”
“Presentation, artwork, and storytelling are really great, and overall it makes for a very relaxing and adorable experience.”
“The graphics are just amazing.”
“While the game is a little rough around the edges with its weird PS1-era collision on objects, I still felt compelled to finish the story and even do a little extra exploring for the 'meowsterpieces', collectible artwork that can really only be described as feline fanart, though none of it is related to the world of Giraffe and Annika oddly enough.”
“It's not terribly long and the graphics won't blow you away, but there is a lot to enjoy here.”
“Edit: this was a paragraph about some graphics issues that needed patching, but they knocked that out within 24 hours of the game coming out with patch 1.01.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by its absurdity, such as the comedic act of blowing up gigantic rocks with a shotgun, which adds a playful charm. Reviewers appreciate the cute art style of the comic cutscenes and the engaging character sprites, noting that the game successfully combines humor with heart. Overall, the humor is seen as a key strength, contributing to the game's lighthearted and entertaining atmosphere.
“Lastly, can I just say that it's absolutely hilarious how you get to blow up gigantic rocks by shooting at them with a shotgun?”
“This developer truly understands the most important thing about being cute and funny; it's the heart.”
“The comic cutscenes have a cute art style and feature a lot of funny moments. The character sprites in the dialogue boxes look great too.”
- stability6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is generally positive, with most players reporting smooth performance. However, a few minor glitches, such as character movement issues and dialogue prompts not closing properly, have been noted.
“I encountered a couple of minor glitches, like Annika getting stuck at one point and a quest dialogue not disappearing when I clicked close at first.”
“I encountered a couple of minor glitches, like Annika getting stuck at one point and a quest dialogue not disappearing when I clicked close at first.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a serene and comfy ambiance, enhanced by soothing music and appealing graphics, creating an inviting environment that encourages players to relax and enjoy their time with the characters.
“The atmosphere generated by the music and graphics is comfy and will make you want to just hang out and have a good time with these characters.”
“The atmosphere is really serene and the music is too.”
- character development3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Character development is presented through charming manga panels that highlight detailed character designs, which some players find appealing. However, the overall experience is marred by technical issues and a lack of cohesion, making it difficult to recommend the game beyond its visual appeal to dedicated fans.
“Story segments are told through cute manga panels and showcase the detailed character designs.”
“The charming character design adds a unique flair to the game, enhancing the overall experience.”
“The character development is engaging, with well-crafted story segments that bring the characters to life.”
“There are some redeeming qualities, like the charming character design, and a unique battle system for bosses, but it's so overshadowed by technical bizarreness and a lack of cohesive feeling that it's simply impossible to recommend to anyone but the biggest fans of Annika's design.”
Critic Reviews
Giraffe and Annika (Switch) Review
A simple and cute third-person adventure that just isn’t all that captivating.
55%Giraffe and Annika Review
It's a little ramshackle, but care and craft has gone into the making of Giraffe and Annika. There's nothing new here to speak of, but its disparate genres work well together and we had a good time unravelling the mysteries of Spica Island. A great game for kids and the young at heart, we're excited to see what developers Atelier Mimina do next.
70%Giraffe and Annika Review
Giraffe and Annika is not a good game, which is a sad thing, as it feels like there is something missing. It's very rough, and is reminiscent it is one of those Unreal Engine 4 demos made by students. There are some redeeming qualities, like the charming character design, and a unique battle system for bosses, but it's so overshadowed by technical bizarreness and a lack of cohesive feeling that it's simply impossible to recommend to anyone but the biggest fans of Annika's design.
40%
