You might remember Anodyne as the game with retro 16-bit pixel graphics that looked a lot like The Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past. Initially released in 2013, the game made it to Switch on February 28th, 2019, and we gave it 8/10, praising its "dark narrative" and "solid dungeon-crawling".
Now the sequel, Anodyne 2: Return To Dust, is finally coming to Switch on the 18th February, almost two years since we got our mitts on the last one. It's one of those games that not many people have played - it doesn't even have enough reviews for an average score on Metacritic - but those who have seem to love it, either for its PS1-style graphics or for its weird and unusual narrative.
Made by a two-person team, Melos Han-Tani and Marina Kittaka, Anodyne 2 is about exploring 2D Zelda-style dungeons, but also the concept of adventure and fantasy in games. Like its predecessor, it's a sort of meta-statement on game narrative itself. The developers say that the game is "like Final Fantasy", in that you don't need to play the original Anodyne to enjoy or understand the second.
Will you be picking up Anodyne 2 on the 18th February? Did you enjoy the first one? Let us know in the comments.
[source twitter.com]
Comments 34
I've been waiting for this to be released on the Switch for some time.
It's the weirdest thing I've seen.
Looks interesting, on my radar now.
Wait, so is it 3D with 2d dungeons? Super weird
looks cool! you don't actually do anything in 3d?
Yaaaayyyyyyy!!! Today was such a good day for announcements
Hm, interesting. On the wish list you go...
It doesn't look like my thing.
Awesome!! I loved the first one - its eerie tone and insane endgame made it something truly special. And I've been eyeing this sequel off on PC. Glad that I waited.
Played this on PC and loved it. In 3D sections it's an exploration and collection focused platformer (and it's fun!). You can also race around in a vehicle. In 2D, you have short-ish puzzle dungeons for the most part, with a vacuum mechanic that's used in interesting ways. The entire thing is low-fi, enchanting, and strange, and I will for sure buy it again on Switch.
This looks so cool, love how unique the transitions between 2D and 3D are!
Trippy! Though it wasn’t 3D, the switching visuals and gameplay reminds me of Master Blaster.
I feel like Anodyne is way closer to Link's Awakening than A Link to the Past
looks like a ps2 game
"It's a mixture of Ocarina of Time and Link to the Past" No it isn't. I've played the game and it is nothing like Zelda. Not even the gameboy inspired 2D sections inside creatures.
I was a bit let down by the original. I certainly liked the themes in some areas, but much of it felt esoteric in its attempt to be meaningful. The endgame content did not appeal to me as much either (due to how easy it was to get stuck), but it was a nifty concept. I'm hesitant to dive into this one, but the trailer looked good!
PS5 and Series X graphical powerhouse right there!
Yes, I know it's an indie, and a small one at that, but the 3D could look way cleaner. Not more polygons. Just cleaner.
Some parts look a bit like Minish Cap to me, especially with gust jar mechanics. That's a good thing by the way.
In my opinion the first one was on par with Majora's Mask in terms of weirdness and cryptic messages.
A mixture of 2 of my all time favourite? I can't wait to be disappointed!
What with that FoV?
Very excited for this.
The 2D sections look just like the first game, which is excellent to me. The overworld is totally different now with that retro 3D vibe. As I loved the first game, I'm sure gonna get it. February is going to be kind of a full month, so maybe I won't get it on launch day, but one or two months later, thats for sure!
I'm still on the first one, but it's been an affably surreal game so far. Glad to see it continue on Switch.
Surreal ✨ (And yes, that’s all I wanted to say)
The first felt a lot like a child of Zelda, Contact, and Earthbound. It was different, but I rather enjoyed it. I dunno yet if I will partake in part 2, but I'll wishlist it at least.
This is hands down one of my favourite games of the last 5 years. The mix of PS2 era 3D platformer vibes and 2D Zelda dungeons is fantastic. The character designs are weird in a good way and the story is great. Definitely going to buy it again on Switch.
def looks like a 64 game. and certainly one i would buy, it def looks interesting, even just for curiosity sake.
@ancientlii Hi, developer here! You explore and talk to characters in 3D. It's sorta like the non-dungeon parts of Ocarina of Time without the combat
@hlang Hi, developer here! You can change the FoV and many other settings. Our games usually have far more settings than say, the average Nintendo game.
@tehden Thanks for your support!!
@Baircade You're right! I wouldn't really describe the game as being heavily influenced by either - it's more influenced by Anodyne 1 and 3D games loosely.
@Solomon_Rambling Anodyne 2 was made 6 years after Anodyne 1's original release (2013, when I was in college)! Anodyne 2 is a game made with a lot more experience.
@pixelpatch Hi, developer here! Yes that's right - you explore in 3D, and find characters to shrink into, and explore them in 2D.
@Rhaoulos I think you may enjoy it! It's not really a Zelda-like and I would hesitate to call it one, but it does have some structural similarities.
@Dahn_ I would say structurally/narratively Anodyne 2 perhaps does innovative things that are comparable to even the most visually complex games for PS5!
@KateGray Just wanted to mention that my name is incorrect and should be "Melos Han-Tani"!
@han_tani Got it! Sorry about that!
@han_tani Oh hey man! Glad to see the effort and love that went into this!
Great amount of work and a a fun mix of both styles
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