I’m always fascinated when sequels undergo a big shift in art direction. The creators of the uneasy 16-bit “Zelda-lite” game Anodyne are going for a lo-fi 3D aesthetic in their upcoming sequel Anodyne 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 play Anodyne to understand the sequel’s story, but there’s plenty of time to do so. Anodyne 2 is 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 of Anodyne‘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 like Anodyne 2 is looking to cultivate that exact vibe.
Source: Destructoid Anodyne 2 nails the subtle creepiness of lo-fi 3D