Tanglewood

About

"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."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

93%

Audience ScoreBased on 59 reviews

music12 positive mentions

optimization3 negative mentions

Tanglewood is a charming homage to 16-bit platformers, combining nostalgic elements with modern gameplay mechanics, resulting in a delightful experience.
The game features beautiful graphics and animations, creating an immersive atmosphere that captures the essence of classic Sega Genesis titles.
Players appreciate the engaging puzzles and the emotional connection to the character Nymn, making the gameplay feel rewarding and memorable.

The game lacks a tutorial or clear instructions, which can lead to confusion about controls and mechanics, requiring players to refer to external resources.
Some players find the puzzles repetitive and the overall gameplay can feel simplistic, lacking the depth and challenge found in more contemporary titles.
The soundtrack is minimal and sometimes absent, leading to moments of silence that detract from the overall atmosphere of the game.

music
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
65%
7%
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its quality and atmospheric fit, while others note its minimal presence and occasional silence. When the soundtrack does play, it is often described as beautiful, nostalgic, and effective in enhancing the game's emotional moments, though some players wished for more frequent musical accompaniment. Overall, the music is seen as a strong point that complements the visuals and gameplay, despite its sparse implementation.
- “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!”
- “The soundtrack is what really brings the whole package together, smacking of newer platformers like Inside or Limbo. The soundtrack is at once creepy and ethereal, dread and panic flow through you when on the run from an enemy 15 times bigger than you on the screen!”
- “The music is subtle and effective, and when it does show up, it's always fitting to the situation and never outstays its welcome.”
- “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.”
gameplay
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
63%
10%
The gameplay of Tanglewood is a well-crafted blend of classic action, puzzle, and platforming elements, featuring tight controls and a smooth introduction of mechanics that keeps players engaged without overwhelming them. Players navigate beautifully designed levels, solving mildly challenging puzzles while exploring a charming world filled with interesting characters and environments. The game successfully combines nostalgic 16-bit aesthetics with modern gameplay influences, ensuring a fun and rewarding experience throughout.
- “Tanglewood is a beautiful classic-style action/puzzle/platformer with very tight controls and perfectly paced mechanic introduction.”
- “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.”
- “The pace of the gameplay is swift and has a decent but rewarding difficulty curve; every level comes with a new mechanic or enemy/obstacle to overcome, and boy does it keep surprising, with twists in its tail (story!) and ever-changing art styles that keep the gameplay eye-catching at least and downright mesmerizing at other times.”
- “You have to read the manual to understand the controls and game mechanics.”
- “The gameplay is fairly simple puzzle platformer busywork.”
- “The gameplay mostly consists of exploring each level to find the exit, usually while solving puzzle-based puzzles to make progress.”
graphics
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
64%
23%
14%
The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant 16-bit aesthetic, showcasing beautiful artwork and detailed character designs that evoke nostalgia for classic gaming. Players appreciate the variety in visuals across levels, with many noting the stunning backgrounds and charming character models that enhance the overall experience. The combination of colorful graphics and a minimal yet fitting soundtrack contributes to a captivating atmosphere that resonates with fans of retro gaming.
- “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!”
- “Tanglewood's graphics use the Mega Drive's 9-bit master palette, which is tailored for high contrast and vibrant colors.”
- “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.”
- “The design of some characters is very simple and maintains that 'pixel' aesthetic (especially in common enemies), but in some others they have gotten many details (bosses or bigger enemies) and they look impressive in comparison.”
- “In 2018, we have been conditioned to think of 'retro' games as modern, HD games with pixelized graphics.”
story
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
67%
14%
The story of the game is described as simple yet emotionally stirring, effectively conveyed through beautiful artwork and pantomime without dialogue. Players appreciate the unexpected plot twists and the nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic 16-bit games, while the narrative's gloomy tone is balanced by a sense of hope and rewarding gameplay. Overall, the story enhances the immersive experience, making it a standout aspect of the game.
- “The artwork is beautiful, and for a game with no dialogue, the story is well delivered and the characters are lovely.”
- “There are quite a few cutscenes throughout the game which are also animated in the same fashion, and they bring life to the story in a perfect way.”
- “The story does not make sense, and at the beginning, we will not know what to do, but once we adapt to the mechanics of the game, it will be easy to get oriented.”
- “The story is a bit gloomy in tone, but not too much, I must say, as a fan of 'good endings'.”
- “The story is a simple one, but it is probably the best story ever told on the Genesis and will stir your emotions.”
atmosphere
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
14%
29%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its distinct mood, enhanced by beautiful art and music that create a memorable experience. While some players feel that the atmosphere can occasionally come off as unfinished, many appreciate the unique blend of unsettling and vibrant elements reminiscent of titles like Limbo and Inside. Overall, the game successfully immerses players in a perilous yet captivating world.
- “Atmosphere and music 5 stars.”
- “The art and music is atmospheric, lending a distinct mood to every stage.”
- “While it's a traditional platformer with puzzle elements, the atmosphere feels unique - you are alone in a perilous yet beautiful world, where safety is always temporary.”
- “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 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, 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.”
- “Tanglewood is a lot about atmosphere.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players highlight the game's ability to evoke strong emotions through its cute characters, heartfelt moments, and ambient music, creating a profound sense of vulnerability in a vast world. The combination of beauty and darkness, along with the game's challenging elements, fosters a deep emotional connection, making it a memorable and impactful experience.
- “The cute characters, the heartfelt moments, the ambient music, the sense of being a small, vulnerable creature in a great big world... and especially the difficulty and game length... so many parts of this game were done so right, and I feel very happy for having played it.”
- “A beautiful and heartbreaking piece of art.”
- “It's not often that I feel such a strong emotional connection when playing any video game.”
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
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 development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
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 appreciate how the characters evolve throughout the story, making their journeys feel authentic and engaging.”
optimization
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
300%
The game runs smoothly without performance issues; however, it is optimized primarily for a desktop resolution of 1080p, which may affect the experience at 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 feels limited to a specific resolution.”
- “While the game performs well, it restricts itself to 1080p, which is frustrating for those with higher resolution displays.”