Vanished Anniversary
- June 19, 2022
- Abocado
"Vanished Anniversary" is a point-and-click detective quiz game with an intriguing story and wholesome themes. The game boasts stunning mechanics, impressive graphics, and ingenious music, although it is hindered by occasional annoying ads. Overall, it offers a unique and engaging experience for fans of the genre.
Reviews
- The game has an amazing storyline with unexpected plot twists that keep players engaged.
- The art style is cute and visually appealing, enhancing the overall experience.
- Players appreciate the ability to watch ads for hints instead of making in-app purchases.
- There are frequent ads that can disrupt gameplay, especially after making mistakes.
- Some players experience bugs, such as being unable to progress in certain chapters.
- The English translation has grammatical errors that can make the dialogue confusing at times.
- story1,437 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The game's story has received widespread acclaim for its engaging and emotional narrative, featuring numerous unexpected plot twists that keep players on their toes. Many reviewers noted the art style's charm, which contrasts with the often heartbreaking themes, creating a unique and immersive experience. While some players expressed a desire for longer gameplay and fewer ads, the overall sentiment is that the story is compelling and well-crafted, making it a standout in the genre.
“The story was really good, and I loved everything about it.”
“The plot twists were amazing, the story, art, characters, I loved it.”
“I loved the story and the multiple endings, went by too quick.”
“The plot makes no sense at times, the game overs as well, and the characters are so annoying and one-dimensional.”
“The storyline was too short.”
“The story was kind of confusing for me.”
- monetization303 mentions
- 3 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 96 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game primarily relies on ads, which players frequently encounter, especially after making mistakes or seeking hints. While many users acknowledge the necessity of ads in a free game, they express frustration over their frequency and length, often feeling that they disrupt gameplay and immersion. Despite these complaints, some players appreciate the option to watch ads for hints and the absence of in-app purchases, indicating a mixed but generally understanding reception towards the monetization approach.
“Definitely recommend buying the no ads package.”
“Unlike other games, there are no in-app purchases as far as I know, and the story and the art styles are wonderful!”
“Lovely! I really recommend, no ads other than when you want a hint, but it's not too hard or too easy!”
“However, I really wish there were less ads... each time I would face 'game over', it was hard to stay motivated to keep playing when I had to watch so many ads.”
“The main issue is that it's got far too many (long) ads.”
“Be prepared for a world of frustration as you have to watch dozens of 50 second long ads every single time you answer wrong.”
- graphics208 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 34 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their cute and charming art style, which many players find visually appealing and fitting for the game's narrative. While the overall aesthetic is celebrated, some users noted inconsistencies with certain UI elements and occasional grammatical errors in the dialogue. Despite these minor critiques, the graphics are generally regarded as a highlight, contributing significantly to the game's engaging storytelling and immersive experience.
“The art style is beautiful, the music is a lovely background sound.”
“The graphics are amazing, and absolutely adorable -ᴗ- 👍 plus the plot is very interesting, and that little side story was really fun!”
“I love the art style, the small details, and I love the different endings.”
“It's hard to contact you, but I don't have any of the graphics; it's just all grey, so it makes the game really hard when you can't see anything.”
“The art style is cute, but the graphics of this game are very aesthetic.”
“The art style is really cute, but the visuals don't match the story.”
- emotional194 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is overwhelmingly positive, with many players expressing that the storyline is deeply touching and often heartbreaking, leading them to tears, especially at the ending. Reviewers highlight the well-crafted narrative and character development, which resonate strongly, making the experience feel personal and relatable. Despite some criticisms regarding ads and gameplay mechanics, the emotional impact of the story is consistently praised, with many players eagerly anticipating a sequel.
“It was completely heartbreaking and very well planned every step of the storyline. When I finished it, I still felt overwhelmed. You guys have created one of the best games I have certainly played.”
“I enjoyed every single moment I was playing, even though the truth was heartbreaking that I actually cried. The plots were amazing!”
“This game is amazing; it seriously made me emotional at the end. The storyline was a masterpiece, and I hope they make a part 2!”
- gameplay60 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
Gameplay reviews are mixed, with many praising the art and story while criticizing the mechanics for being slow, confusing, or hindered by ads. Some players enjoyed the intuitive aspects and found the gameplay engaging, while others noted issues like pixel hunting, poor translations, and a lack of checkpoints that detracted from the experience. Overall, the game shows potential but suffers from significant gameplay flaws that impact player enjoyment.
“The adorable art style, the immersive storyline, and the overall gameplay was 5/5 stars for me.”
“Great game and story... it was interesting so I felt it was too short, also the gameplay is amazing.”
“I really liked the gameplay and how it was laid out.”
“Gameplay is sometimes not very intuitive, especially in the cat in Lilly's flat, and you have to go pixel hunting.”
“The gameplay can be confusing because it's hard to figure out what you're supposed to do in each chapter, as you might have to go back to old clues in order to progress.”
“This game has excellent art and plot, although the gameplay ruins it. I'm experiencing a bug where I'm trying to click on evidence and it wouldn't recognize the cap. Ads are optional (when you need a hint), but you're basically forcing players to watch an ad so that their progress won't be destroyed, and it's a buzzkill. This game has potential, but horrible gameplay.”
- music35 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 37 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its beauty and ability to enhance the overall experience, while others criticize its occasional mismatch with the game's emotional moments. Overall, it is described as calming and well-composed, contributing positively to the game's atmosphere, despite some instances where it feels out of place. Many players appreciate the soundtrack as a highlight, complementing the game's art and storytelling.
“It was a good short story, really liked the art and music.”
“The music and sound effects are very pleasing.”
“The art, the music, the story, the puzzle elements!”
“One thing that I don't really like is just the music; sometimes it doesn't match the situation of the game, but this is just a minor thing (doesn't affect the enjoyment of the plot).”
“It's almost comedic; I can't take anything happening seriously when the dialogue is translated poorly at parts that are supposed to be important, and the background music is jazzy and upbeat when the main character just found out about a major death. The art style is cute, I'll give it that, but this needs serious editing.”
“Pros: 1) bright graphics 2) variational characters 3) smooth gameplay. Cons: 1) some texts have grammatical errors 2) the music doesn't fit with the whole of the gameplay 3) the story is short and predictable 4) the lack of decision making 5) checkpoints are gutted with ads 6) the endings are not in touch with the story.”
- character development8 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Overall, the character development in the game is highly praised, with users highlighting the strong storyline and emotional depth that enhances the characters' growth throughout the plot. The character designs are also noted for their charm and quality, contributing to the overall positive reception of the game's narrative experience. However, some players found the ending to be particularly heartbreaking, adding a poignant layer to the character arcs.
“The plot, character development, and quite literally everything is so on point.”
“This game is heartbreaking; the story is simply great and has good character development as the story goes.”
“The story is amazing to me personally, and the character designs are really good.”
- humor7 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is well-received, with players enjoying the funny puzzles, quirky character interactions, and the use of comedic voices during gameplay. Many found the story's darker themes, like stalking, to be humorously relatable, while the bad English translation added an endearing charm that contributed to the overall fun experience. Overall, the blend of humor and emotional moments creates an engaging and entertaining narrative.
“My cousin and I played it, and to avoid crying, we read the text in funny voices.”
“The stalker side ending was funny 😂 and the main story ending was emotional!”
“Every time I clicked the various endings, I'm laughing.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is characterized by a contrasting art style that enhances its eerie quality while simultaneously maintaining a cute vibe, allowing for a unique blend that softens the impact of more intense scenes.
“I like how the art style doesn't match the theme, and it helps create that eerie atmosphere.”
“The art style supports the cute atmosphere, so a triggering scene won't feel as heavy.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game offers little to no replayability once players achieve the required ending, as there are limited incentives or variations to encourage multiple playthroughs.
“There is no replayability after achieving the required ending.”
“Once you complete the game, there's little incentive to play it again.”
“The lack of different endings makes replaying the game feel pointless.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Users express a desire for improved optimization, hoping the game will run more smoothly in future updates.
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Users report occasional glitches in the game, such as incorrect feedback on choices, which can disrupt the overall experience.
“Sometimes, the game glitches, like when you choose the right first option, it marks it as wrong.”