#anodyne 2: return to dust

[dragongirltongue]

sending some mutual love!!! <33333333

have you played any games recently?

Oh there are a few I wanna yell about!

Starting with!!!

Cassette Beasts really hit a chord with me as someone who wanted something new and interesting from the Pokemon formula.

It completely rethinks the concept of weaknesses and resistances that define elemental com6at strategy, allowing for some new interactions.

It also almost always uses Double battles which is something I've always thought Pokemon could benefit from.

The story is also really fucking good, felt a lot on my journey through New Wirral.

Another is Anodyne 2, my friend @bogmonstergirl sent to me for my birthday and at first I actually wasn't feeling it. The way the story was shaping up was reminding me a little too much of my time as an actual cultist but as the story unfolds and I realized that discomfort is intended I absolutely fell in love with it and the lovely characters it introduced.

Nova also feels like such a well rounded character despite being a silent protagonist, the way the story builds her perspective on things really gives her a sense of personhood even if she's very much a blank slate. I'm not going to go into detail on the hows though because I feel getting to know Nova is part of the core experience.

Speaking of the word Nova...

Another one yet is Super Lesbian Animal RPG, a game I've been wanting to check out for a long time, I had followed early development back when it was a horse game but drifted away from it over time. Coming back to it in it's fully finished form now I'm really glad I got back on it, it does one thing I never expected a turn based RPG to do.

It makes healing feel powerful

building the story around Melody's journey to be a paladin for her gf really helped the story and gameplay synergize in a wonderful way, using Melody's healing magic to keep her friends and partner alive felt exactly as good as slicing a monster in half with Alison.

So many games leave healing feeling like an after thought but by working it so well into the gameplay and story @ponett did something incredible and I'm so glad I played this game. There are times where I outright cheered over getting out of a tough fight while using Melody to keep everyone alive.

[rolli-zolli]

HAPPY PRIDE MONTH!!

[perfectlyinadequate]

This game had no reason to throw this whole section at you

[cosperclick]

After quickly finishing Anodyne, I’m immediately in love with Anodyne 2

[iomoonofjuputer]

i'm kind of obsessed with anodyne 2's subtitle (return to dust) because before you play it or know anything about it, it's like "ohh its cause anodyne 1 you sweep up the dust so its return to dust cause like return to dust cause its again lol!" but then once you get to dustbound village it gets Recontextualized. and then the game is really good

[kittenchomp]

EVERYONE PLAY Anodyne 2: Return to Dust RIGHT FUCKING MEOW!!!!!

[amethystsoda]

ahhh Anodyne 2 is working on a Nova plushie!

(They need 200 to get it made, and it's at 60 rn with 20 days left. Hopefully some fans here can see it and help too!)

[elegybeatty]

should i play anodyne 1 or 2 first?

MY PROPAGANDA WORKS!!!

Ehem, very good question! Short answer, start with 1, there's a few parts of 2 that'll make more sense if you have the context one 1 and, if you've bought any of those massive itch.io bundles from the past few years, you already have the game. Long answer below the read more.

Although there's plenty of thematic ideas the two games share, there's almost no over-arching narrative shared between the two, so order isn't super important, it's moresoe up to whichever you feel would appeal to you more.

Anodyne is a 2D action adventure game filled to the brim with surreal locations to explore and npcs to meet. It's most often compared to a mix of Link's Awakening and Yume Nikki, and I think that's a near perfect explanation. The game definitely has its flaws and doesn't have the same cohesive narrative as its sequel, but it's a fun time and the post game is great if you're into hunting every crevice of a game for secrets.

Andoyne 2: Return to Dust is far less focused on exploration and far more focused on narrative, with each dungeon taking place within NPCs across the world, allowing you to get to know these characters far more intimately. The game also has a fantastic over-arching story exploring themes of individuality, trauma, religion, and more. That said, there's def still the same secret hunting in the form of collectables scattered throughout the world and cool out of bounds locations to explore, as well as plenty of mystery to be found in certain dungeons, though I won't spoil any of that.

Both games have their strengths and weaknesses, so it's more down to which game sounds more appealing and which you have easiest access to. I'd still suggest starting with 1 either way as there are a few thematic elements and callbacks in 2 (as well as a REALLY cool postgame area) that'll be far more impactful if you've played 1 (also, like I said, there's a good chance you already own it), but if the game doesn't interest you and 2 really does, there's nothing TOO big you're missing out on by skipping it besides a pretty solid Zelda-like.

[annelidist]

3 5 6 7 8 and 9

3. 1-3 games you’ve played in the past 12 months that you really enjoyed

i played A Lot of games that i really liked last year, so this is hardly an exhaustive list, but

i picked these three mostly because they're really good in ways that don't overlap at all

5. game(s) coming out that you’re looking forward to

ive been waiting for this thing for. god. uh. i think maybe six or seven years? its aesthetic and tone are just incredible, it's a game whose visual identity sits lodged in my imagination even though neither i nor anybody else has played it. sacrificing mice, goats, etc for a 2023 release

an incredible atmosphere, crunchy ps2-era visual sensibilities, and it's about getting killed by velociraptors. extremely good. can't wait

i'm so excited for this. i don't think it's going to be """"good"""" but i believe in my deepest heart that it is going to fuck hard. a perfect crystalline prism of imsim jank.

i feel like this one is pretty self-evident

6. a series you’ve enjoyed since your early days of gaming and still enjoy to this day whether it still has games coming out or is one you return to

jeez, i don't know... i loved sonic as a kid, but i don't go back to those games much, and i fell out of love with pokemon a while ago. i don't have much loyalty left for the series i used to like the most. that's a little sad

7. a series you’ve lost interest in

speaking of which

pokemon

:[

:[

8. a series you haven’t played but are interested in trying

every day i say to myself. "i should play panzer dragoon." and yet here we are

EDIT: I HAVE ALSO BEEN DOING THIS WITH DEUS EX FOR SOME TIME

9. a game you played completely blind with no prior knowledge of and enjoyed/loved

ANODYNE 2... i mean, i knew a couple of things about it (sequel to anodyne, something about dust?, you can turn into a car), but anodyne 2 is... a hard game to just like, say things about. it's so much and so heartfelt that knowing the mechanical framework or even the premise on paper isn't going to tell you what it's like. i adored it. i think about it a lot.

[easyshopee]

Nintendo Switch™ Anodyne 2: Return to Dust (By ClaSsIC GaME)

[easybuypick]

Nintendo Switch™ Anodyne 2: Return to Dust (By ClaSsIC GaME)

[thatneilj]

Review - Anodyne 2: Return to Dust

Originally posted August 2019

When Anodyne came out in 2013, all I knew was that the gameplay was inspired from classic 2D Zelda games like Link’s Awakening. The world Analgesic Productions crafted was so much more than that, though. A place that is full of beauty, but also pain and fear. I was drawn in by the fascinating world and the incredibly evocative soundtrack. Now the sequel is out, and Anodyne 2: Return to Dust revisits many of the themes from the original, and with a bit more focus.

The game opens with your character, Nova, learning the ropes of what they are being born to do, while teaching the player how this game will work. It is split between wandering a 3D space that feels torn out of early 32-bit games and diving into 2D isometric dungeons akin to the first Anodyne game. I say “diving into” because Nova’s purpose for being created is to shrink down into people (or sometimes things) to clean out the nano-dust in them. The Center created Nova for this purpose, and the followers of The Center are there to help you achieve that task.  There is an epidemic of dust that serves as the decay and disease in its hosts, and Nova is the fixer.

In the 3D spaces, you run, jump, and drive around to find people or nodes where you can spark these connections. While the graphics in these sections are filled with jagged polygons and rough textures, the only place it looks bad is the opening city. Once you enter the greater outside world, these low-fi looks actually serve the game quite well. It is always easy to pick out the areas of interest and people to talk to. Not to mention the design of the beachside cliffs or the spire in the desert are quite pretty and aesthetically striking. Once you find a node, it is time to get cleaning.

This process does not include the combat-focused action one might expect from the classic Zelda archetype. Instead the 2D cleaning sections are mostly filled with puzzles and avatars of the memories or feelings from whomever you’ve shrunk into. You use your vacuum to manipulate the environment or suck up enemies and objects which can then be launched back out. I connected to one sick old lady and found myself navigating a dusty old home while trying not to defeat the young slimes. In a robotic lab assistant I found myself manipulating a shadow that mirrored my movements to activate switches, and periodically watching the shadow roleplay some moments of social anxiety. In many ways these dungeons are like the mindscapes from Psychonauts—embodiments of who these other characters are. Exploring them isn’t just about solving the problems the dust is causing, but also about understanding these people and forging connections to each other.

That is really the focus of the game; making connections and learning about who people are. It is a game that encourages and supports Humanism, just as many of Analgesic Productions’ previous games have. This game does so more clearly than ever before. At the core Nova is here to help people, and it is through understanding the choices and agency of those characters that the world and its entire nature may be questioned. While Nova explores specifics depictions of depression, fears of failure, and more, the game invites the player to engage beyond Nova’s duty.

Anodyne 2: Return to Dust succeeds with flying colors in this. There were moments I felt seen in ways that can only come from deeply earnest and personal works. One particular section was actually hard for me to get through because of this. It is really well done, but I don’t want to spoil it for anyone. Just know that I am glad that I experienced it.

[blubbly-pizza]

I played - Anodyne 2: Return to Dust - 2019

"Like watching a play with a Q&A with everyone involved afterwards."

Play this game if you like games. It is so accommodating, playful, intriguing. They tell you how they made various decisions.

The only complaints I have relate to an ending I didn't need to pursue. And a bit of travel timing. But it also allows a bit of luxuriating in the world.

If music, clever gameplay, behind the scenes, or finding meaning in life stories are your thing. It's worth playing. Even if just one of those. Aren't good at games? Accommodated, they include a walkthrough they made on the main screen.

[copaxgame]

TG Games Limited #222 - 26.05.2022 - Abbiamo in anteprima la Playstation Q

Nuova ricca puntata del TG Games Limited che oltre alle notizie sulle limited oggi vi porta un riassunto del Playstation Shocase di 2 giorni fa e sopratutto vi mostra in anteprima la nuova Playstation Q, Buona Visione! Ecco i link dei giochi: Alien Isolation The Collection (SWI) https://limitedrungames.com/collectio… Anodyne 2 Return to Dust (SWI, PS4, PS5)…

[mybucketsofbooks]

2023 Book Bucket List

I know this is more than 100 Books, like I mentioned in my first post, but I forgot about the Jim Butcher series “The Dresden Files” and realized I needed to add that, and then it was more.

Some of the books aren’t exactly typical adult reading, but they are books I wanted to read as a kid. Also, for the first time I’m actually doing this I wanted to make the process a little easier with books, and not struggle to read because I overloaded myself with classics. Enjoy the list!

1.      The Man with a Load of Mischief- Martha Grimes

2.      The Old Fox Deciev’d- Martha Grimes

3.      The Anodyne Necklace-Martha Grimes

4.      The Dirty Duck- Martha Grimes

5.      Jerusalem Inn- Martha Grimes

6.      The Deer Leap- Martha Grimes

7.      Help the Poor Struggler- Martha Grimes

8.      I am the Only Running Footman- Martha Grimes

9.      The Five Bells and Bladebone- Martha Grimes

10.  The Old Silent- Martha Grimes

11.  The Old Contemptibles- Martha Grimes

12.  The Horse You Came In On- Martha Grimes

13.  Rainbow’s End- Martha Grimes

14.  The Case Has Altered- Martha Grimes

15.  The Stargazey- Martha Grimes

16.  The Lamorna Wink- Martha Grimes

17.  The Blue Last- Martha Grimes

18.  The Grave Maurice- Martha Grimes

19.  The Winds of Change- Martha Grimes

20.  The Old Wine Shades- Martha Grimes

21.  Dust- Martha Grimes

22.  The Black Cat- Martha Grimes

23.  Vertigo 42- Martha Grimes

24.  The Knowledge- Martha Grimes

25.  The Old Success- Martha Grimes

26.  A Martha Grimes Omnibus- Martha Grimes

27.  Legend- Marie Lu

28.  Prodigy- Marie Lu

29.  Champion- Marie Lu

30.  All Fall Down- Ally Carter

31.  See How They Run- Ally Carter

32.  Take the Key and Lock Her Up- Ally Carter

33.  The Invisible Library- Genevive Logman

34.  The Masked City- Genevive Logman

35.  The Burning Page- Genevive Logman

36.  The Lost Plot- Genevive Logman

37.  The Mortal Word- Genevive Logman

38.  The Secret Chapter- Genevive Logman

39.  The Untold Story- Genevive Logman

40.  The Dark Archive Genevive Logman

41.  Magyk-Angie Sage

42.  Flyte-Angie Sage

43.  Physick-Angie Sage

44.  Queste-Angie Sage

45.  Syren-Anggie Sage

46.  Darke-Angie Sage

47.  Fyre-Angie Sage

48.  The Heist Society- Ally Carter

49.  Uncommon Criminals- Ally Carter

50.  Perfect Scoundrels-Ally Carter

51.  The Gift of the Magi-Ally Carter

52.  Go Set a Watchman- Harper Lee (I have read To Kill A Mockingbird about 100 times)

53.  A Study In Scarlet- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

54.  A Sign of the Four- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

55.  The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

56.  The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

57.  The Hound of the Baskervilles - Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

58.  The Return of Sherlock Holmes- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

59.  His Last Bow- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

60.  The Valley of fear- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

61.  The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes- Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

62.  The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe- C.S Lewis

63.  Prince Caspian; The Return to Narnia- C.S Lewis

64.  The Voyage of the Dawn Treader- C.S Lewis

65.  The Silver Chair- C.S Lewis

66.  The Horse and His Boy- C.S Lewis

67.  The Magician’s Nephew- C.S Lewis

68.  The Last Battle- C.S Lewis

69.  Frankenstein- Mary Shelley

70.  Man in the High Castle- Philip K Dick

71.  The Missing: Found- Margaret Peterson Haddix

72.  The Missing: Sent- Margaret Peterson Haddix

73.  The Missing: Sabatoged- Margaret Peterson Haddix

74.  The Missing: Torn- Margaret Peterson Haddix

75.  The Missing: Caught- Margaret Peterson Haddix

76.  The Missing: Risked- Margaret Peterson Haddix

77.  Black Ice- Brad Thor

78.  Divine Secrets of the Ya Ya Sisterhood- Rebecca Wells

79.  Little Alters Everywhere- Rebecca Wells

80.  Ya Yas in Bloom- Rebecca Wells

81.  The Lady Has a Past- Amanda Quick

82.  As Old As Time- Liz Braswell

83.  The Looking Glass War- John Le Carre

84.  Close Up- Amanda Quick

85.  Storm Front- Jim Butcher

86.  Fool Moon- Jim Butcher

87.  Grave Peril- Jim Butcher

88.  Summer Knight- Jim Butcher

89.  Death Masks- Jim Butcher

90.  Blood Rites- Jim Butcher

91.  Dead Beat- Jim Butcher

92.  Proven Guilty- Jim Butcher

93.  White Night- Jim Butcher

94.  Small Favor- Jim Butcher

95.  Backup- Jim Butcher

96.  Turncoat- Jim Butcher

97.  Bigfoot on Campus- Jim Butcher

98.  Changes- Jim Butcher

99.  Ghost Story- Jim Butcher

100.                      Cold Days- Jim Butcher

101.                      Skin Game- Jim Butcher

102.                      Peace Talks- Jim Butcher

103.                      Battle Ground- Jim Butcher

104.                      The Law- Jim Butcher

[annelidist]

1 - baroque (1998)

this one is something of a cult classic, but i still feel it's underappreciated, especially in the ways that its interweaving of narrative progression into its roguelike structure precedes something like hades. a first-person dungeon crawler in which the player, an amnesiac clone atoning for some great sin, is dispatched into the depths of the 'nerve tower' to locate and destroy god. standard consumables include flesh, bones, and parasitic worms, and much of the game's story was determined by the head writer drawing and interpreting tarot cards. it's a little rough around the edges, but it's tightly designed and aesthetically irreplaceable, and, like, c'mon, what more do you need than that.

2 - anodyne 2: return to dust (2019)

a long-standing personal favourite. a blend of n64-esque 3d platformer with top-down zelda clone, with the former style being used for exploring the game's overworld and the latter coming into play when the player shrinks down to microscopic scale to cleanse that world's denizens of "dust". silly, strange, and sad, an achingly melancholy story about being raised religious and turning out wrong in the eyes of your guardians. you can also shapeshift into a car.

3 - noise1 (2020)

throwing this one in because i wanted to include at least one game that i've never seen anyone on here talk about. an ascii-based stealth-horror game controlled via a command line interface - short, punchy, and explores its mechanical premise deftly while telling a compelling story in the margins.

Reblog this post with three games that you consider obscure, i will start first:

1) cataclysm

Released for open source development in 2011, cataclysm (or as it's most famous fork is better know, cataclysm dark days ahead) is a sandbox roguelike survival game where you play as a custumizable survivor in a multitude of pre-game scenarios to pick from in a post apocalyptic new england, very realistic (food freezes if it gets cold enough, zombie bites need to be treated with rare antibiotics, etc) though if you preffer a more gamey experience i recommend the bright nights fork, the best part about this game? Its free!

2) space station 13

In open source free development since 2003, ss13 is a online...thing.. sorta like the among us before among us, where usual rounds are like this: you play and unlock a myriad of jobs to pick from before the round starts such as clown all the way up to captain, you do your job, talk with the crew, all the while antagonists such as space wizards, nuclear operatives, traitors, paradox clones etc try to ruin your day and force the captain to call the emergency shuttle, very fun! If a bit old

3) caves of qud

A roguelike sandbox where you play as a traveller recently arrived in qud, a ancient land where fresh water is currency, mutants exist and everything is alive one way or the other, you must survive, get stronger and die a lot, only game where you can be a psychic, transfer your mind to a door and then promply die because someone slammed you too hard, currently in early access on steam as i type this post