Not a direct sequel, but it’ll ‘retain elements’ from Anodyne
I’m always fascinated when sequels undergo a big shift in art direction. The creators of the uneasy 16-bit “Zelda-lite” gameAnodyneare going for a lo-fi 3D aesthetic in their upcoming sequelAnodyne 2: Return to Dust, but curiously, it will retain some of the original’s “2D vignette-style gameplay.”
Developers Sean Han Tani and Joni Kittaka say you don’t need to playAnodyneto understand the sequel’s story, but there’s plenty of time to do so.Anodyne 2is coming to PC and Mac in early 2019.
Here’s a cryptic summary: “Play as Nova, the Nano Cleaner, who is tasked with collecting dangerous Nano Dust growing throughout New Theland, which then must be returned for recycling to a mysterious entity, only known as the ‘Center.’ Walk or ride across a lush, moody world. Discover strange characters and places. Shrink into characters and collect Nano Dust through 2D vignette-style gameplay, reminiscent ofAnodyne‘s gameplay and more.”
Whether intentional or not, a lot of Nintendo 64 and PlayStation games instilled a light sense of dread in me. Games had limited draw distances back then, and when I couldn’t see what lurked just out of view, my imagination filled in the gaps. It seems likeAnodyne 2is looking to cultivate that exact vibe.
