Tanglewood

74%
Game Brain Score Based on 35 reviews
  • music
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Tanglewood Game Cover
Starting at £13.99Buy now
Get on Steam Get on itch.io Store

"TANGLEWOOD is a single-player platformer game with great graphics and marvelous music, originally designed for and released on SEGA Mega Drive/Genesis and later made available for modern systems. The game, built in raw 68000 assembly code, is now on Steam and includes the Mega Drive ROM for digital copies. It is a true 16-bit platformer, playable on original Mega Drive consoles and most clone consoles."

  • Mac OS
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

74%
Audience ScoreBased on 35 reviews
music8 positive mentions
  • Tanglewood captures the nostalgic feel of classic 16-bit platformers while introducing fresh gameplay mechanics and a charming story.
  • The visuals are outstanding, with beautiful graphics and a cute main character that players can easily become attached to.
  • The game features engaging puzzles and tight controls, making it a fun and rewarding experience for players who enjoy puzzle-platformers.
  • The game can feel sparse and repetitive, with limited enemy types and some puzzles lacking variety, leading to a sense of boredom over time.
  • Controls can be unintuitive, and players may need to refer to the manual to understand game mechanics, which detracts from the overall experience.
  • The soundtrack is minimal and sometimes absent, which can create moments of silence that feel unfinished or lacking in atmosphere.
  • music21 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its nostalgic chiptune quality and atmospheric fit, while others criticize its minimal presence and moments of silence. When the soundtrack does play, it is described as beautiful and evocative, enhancing the gameplay experience significantly. Overall, while the music is appreciated for its quality, many players wish for a more consistent and fuller auditory experience throughout the game.

    • “The music matches the themes and the gameplay involved, and by itself, you'll be wanting to listen to more of it; it's lovely!”
    • “Has an amazing soundtrack; one or two songs were a bit meh, but the rest were amazing. I believe they would count as chiptune, and I want to continue listening to it well after I finished the game.”
    • “The art and music are atmospheric, lending a distinct mood to every stage.”
    • “Maps are mostly empty, enemies are basic, and the music is noticeably lacking.”
    • “The game is noticeably quiet at times, to the point that I could've thought the level's music track must have bugged out, but even basic sound effects seem to be missing from things as simple as the default jump you can perform.”
    • “The only things about the game I really have a gripe about is how the music isn't looping, creating many moments of silence.”
  • graphics13 mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant 16-bit style, showcasing beautiful artwork and detailed visuals that enhance the nostalgic experience of classic gaming. Players appreciate the charming character designs and the stunning environments, particularly in later stages, while the minimal yet fitting soundtrack complements the overall aesthetic. Overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's appeal, making it a standout in its genre.

    • “The artwork is beautiful, and for a game with no dialog, the story is well delivered and the characters are lovely.”
    • “The graphics are outstanding, the platforming is challenging, and the soundtrack is great!”
    • “Stellar artwork and design run through this entire game – the character model for Nymn is so adorable that one may find themselves reaching for the thesaurus to find other ways to describe him.”
    • “Every time I fire up an emulator to revisit some cherished game from the Mega Drive or NES or PSX, I last about 30 minutes before I realize how much I've been spoiled by modern graphics and dual analogue sticks.”
    • “But stick with it and it opens up as a nostalgic adventure from the 16-bit era of gaming (it is a Mega Drive/Genesis game after all). Music is very minimal and the graphics vary from level to level but are always just detailed enough.”
  • gameplay11 mentions

    The gameplay in Tanglewood is praised for its tight controls, innovative mechanics, and well-paced introduction of new elements, keeping players engaged without overwhelming them. While the puzzles are described as mildly challenging, the variety and fresh mechanics introduced in each stage ensure that the experience remains enjoyable and avoids repetitive gameplay. Overall, the game successfully balances fun and challenge, making it a standout in the action/puzzle/platformer genre.

    • “Tanglewood is a beautiful classic-style action/puzzle/platformer with very tight controls and perfectly paced mechanic introduction.”
    • “The puzzles were only mildly taxing, and each stage has a fresh game mechanic to introduce variety to the gameplay without overloading the player.”
    • “In terms of pure gameplay, Tanglewood is utterly accomplished; the gameplay is always fun and maintains its challenge without ever stepping over the line into any objectionable artificial difficulty padding.”
    • “You have to read the manual to understand the controls and game mechanics.”
    • “The gameplay is fairly simple puzzle platformer busywork.”
    • “The puzzles were only mildly taxing, and each stage has a fresh game mechanic to introduce variety to the gameplay (but without overloading the player).”
  • story11 mentions

    The game's story is described as simple yet emotionally impactful, effectively conveyed through beautiful artwork and pantomime without dialogue. While some players appreciate its nostalgic, classic feel reminiscent of the Mega Drive/Genesis era, others note that the lack of complexity may not appeal to everyone. The unexpected plot twist adds depth, making it a memorable experience that resonates with players.

    • “The artwork is beautiful, and for a game with no dialogue, the story is well delivered and the characters are lovely.”
    • “The story is a simple one, but it is probably the best story ever told on the Genesis and will stir your emotions.”
    • “Stunning graphics, amazing gameplay, and a compelling story.”
    • “The story...well considering it is going for a Mega Drive/Genesis feel, there isn't a huge amount going on, which could be a plus or negative depending on what you like.”
    • “It has a story told in pantomime, like many other 16-bit classics.”
    • “[spoiler] and that plot twist, why must you do this to me!”
  • atmosphere4 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its strong art and music, creating a distinct mood that enhances the experience. However, some users feel that the atmosphere can become less engaging over time, giving an impression of being unfinished. Overall, it evokes a blend of colorful nostalgia and unsettling elements reminiscent of games like Limbo and Inside.

    • “Atmosphere and music 5 stars.”
    • “The art and music is atmospheric, lending a distinct mood to every stage.”
    • “It's an amazing game yet with the puzzles designed like in Limbo and Inside by Playdead, with a little bit of Sonic. Big Evil Corporation really took inspiration from these games; I can feel it. People are going to disagree here, but I can feel that the dev really took Limbo and demade it into a more colorful, warm, and fuzzy 90s game, while still maintaining that unsettling and dark atmosphere.”
    • “It's an amazing game yet with the puzzles designed like in Limbo and Inside by Playdead, with a little bit of Sonic. The big evil corporation really took inspiration from these games; I can feel it. People are gonna disagree here, but I can feel that the dev really took Limbo and demade it into a more colorful, warm, and fuzzy 90s game, but still has that unsettling and dark kind of atmosphere (dark in a sense, not actual dark). It's more with chapters rather than going in a straight line, you know what I mean.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Users highlight the game's high replayability value, suggesting that it remains engaging and enjoyable even after multiple playthroughs. Additionally, its low system requirements make it accessible to a wide range of players.

    • “It has a lot of replayability value, in my opinion, and if my toaster can run it, everything can.”
  • character development1 mentions

    Reviewers praise the character design and animation as visually appealing, highlighting the quality of the core character development in the game.

    • “The core character design and animation are lovely.”
    • “The character development is incredibly deep, allowing players to form a genuine connection with each character.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, making their journeys feel authentic and engaging.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The game runs smoothly without performance issues, but it is optimized primarily for a desktop resolution of 1080p, which may affect the experience on other resolutions.

    • “There aren't any performance issues, but the game seems to perform best when launched at a desktop resolution of 1080p.”
    • “The game runs smoothly, but it only seems to function properly at a desktop resolution of 1080p.”
    • “There are no performance issues, yet the optimization is limited to a single resolution.”
    • “While the game performs well, it restricts players to 1080p for the best experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Buy Tanglewood

Videos

Similar Games