Anodyne 2: Return to Dust

Kind of weird and quirky action adventure game and it's definitely worth taking a shot if you can get it in the current fanatical bundle. Just not feeling it right now but I'll leave it in the backlog to return some day maybe.

[h1]𝕀𝕥'𝕤 𝕤𝕠𝕞𝕖𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕥𝕠 𝕕𝕠 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕙 𝕞𝕖𝕟𝕥𝕒𝕝 𝕙𝕖𝕒𝕝𝕥𝕙, 𝕓𝕦𝕥 𝕀 𝕛𝕦𝕤𝕥 𝕔𝕒𝕟'𝕥 𝕡𝕦𝕥 𝕞𝕪 𝕗𝕚𝕟𝕘𝕖𝕣 𝕠𝕟 𝕚𝕥.[/h1] Anodyne 2: Return to Dust is the kind of game that doesn’t really care if you “get it” right away; and honestly, that’s part of its appeal. It drops you into a strange, low-poly world with vague instructions, odd characters, and a job description that sounds simple (clean dust out of people), but quickly turns into something far more abstract. At its core, the game is constantly shifting. One moment you’re wandering through a quiet, almost empty 3D landscape that feels like a forgotten PlayStation 1 relic, and the next you’re shrinking down into tight, 2D dungeons inside someone’s mind. That back-and-forth isn’t just a gimmick—it’s the whole identity of the game. It mixes exploration, puzzle-solving, and even small experimental segments like rhythm sequences, creating something that feels intentionally uneven but strangely cohesive. You play as Nova, the dust cleaner. She is able to shrink into a 2D pixel-art interface, akin to the underrated games of Master Blaster (check them out). Nova will discovere that the dust isn't really literal, it's an abstract symbol that has got something to do with mental health, but until you go on Wikepedia to ask about it, you won't know exactly what it is, but more on that once you play the game. Playing the 3D side of the game, however, is difficult on the eyes. It sticks to those PS1 outdated graphics, and I'm talking pre-2000. It's just not a good sight to behold I'm afraid. That said, actually playing it can be… rough. Movement in the 3D sections is slow and sometimes frustrating, and the game has a habit of making you retrace your steps more often than you’d like and because you're doing it while playing a pre-2000 PS1 game, it would definitely not be fun for everyone. However, the thing is that once you shrink into 2D, the game becomes much more enjoyable... You can collect metacoins to trade for upgrades, you can bash enemies into walls, anyways... the whole experience that has you completely forget that once you're outside the 2D realm, you're back with this barren horrid-looking monstruosity. It's a [b]6/10[/b] game, but it's unique in its own right.

I initially got this game for the incredible looking 3d graphics but i gotta say i really despise this game for the same reason i didnt like nier automata because sure you have this beautiful 3d world and then you just spend 90% of the game in a 2d minigame instead..... Why? Pick a lane and then advertise that lane instead of this bait and switch. Make a 2d game and then i wont buy it but people who like 2d games like these will be drawn to it. OR Make a 3d game that will appeal to the 3d people like myself. This whole picking both and ultimately favoring one over the other just completely screws over one party.

我觉得 镇痛2 不是一款主打探索解谜的 2d / 3d 塞尔达 like，也不试图用常见的方式讲一个“完整”的故事。它有这方面的要素，但吸引我玩下去的 ，是它奇妙的氛围，跳脱的叙事，在有限资源下创造出的独特世界。 开发者给玩家的信中，点明了 镇痛2 是关于“人类的抗争”和“彼此的关系”。到流程后半，另一个主题：“镇痛2 本身是如何做成的”，也逐渐浮现。第四面墙被打破，与现实的界限模糊，简单的游戏人物身上，又似有现实生活的影子。[spoiler]游戏里的几句原话，恰巧游玩前不久听人亲口讲过。[/spoiler] 本作有着极强的 indie 特质：二人合作开发，风格玩法不追随市场，充满自我表达，不在意商业上的成功。它甚至在几年前开源，你可以合法地免费游玩而无需购买，修改和制作 mod，[spoiler]用比本体更 glitch 的方式[/spoiler]探索游戏中的秘密。Respect.

Anodyne 2 is a fascinating, very meta story with a lot to say, resisting easy summation. This sequel takes a lot of the interesting ideas the first game, expands its horizons, and leaves behind some of the frustrations which tempered the success of the first game. Even if you bounced off Anodyne 1, 2 stands fully on its own and leaves you with a lot to think about.

Наверное, ретро-стилизация 3D-мира Anodyne 2 привлекает многих. Но на этом все достоинства игры заканчиваются. Игровой процесс разделен на две части: 3D-мир и 2D-мир. В 3D мы можем свободно перемещаться, исследовать доступное пространство и разговаривать с местным населением. Основная задача — найти ключевых NPC и пройти небольшую платформенную секцию перед ними, чтобы до них добраться. 2D-мир — это некий внутренний мир NPC, и основная активность протекает именно в нем. После диалога мы проходим мини-ритм-игру (микро?) и оказываемся в 2D. Мир представляет собой псевдоголоволомку: нужно открывать двери, чтобы добраться до конца уровня, где нас ожидает босс (хотя босс бывает не всегда). Почему псевдоголоволомка? Честно говоря, я не могу назвать это полноценной головоломкой — слишком просто, слишком скучно и, я бы даже сказал, однообразно. Пройдя 2D-мир, мы получаем карту. Всего нужно найти 4 таких карты, чтобы улучшить хранилище пыли. Сразу оговорюсь: я прошел 8 таких 2D-миров из (??) (включая 3 обучающих), и игра меня не впечатлила. Что касается сюжета — я прочитал краткое описание, и, на мой взгляд, у него есть потенциал. Но из того, что показала игра, диалоги какие-то эфемерные, меня это не зацепило. Ах да, управление. По ощущениям, игра заточена под геймпад, но я решил играть с клавиатуры. Настройки пришлось переназначить: стандартное управление показалось неудобным. Мышь в игре не используется — даже для поворота камеры. Игра играется буквально одной рукой в обоих мирах. Оценка: 3/5.

斯是陋室，惟吾德馨

its like if disco elysium had good writing in all fairness anodyne 2 is actually really good, and it often questions ideas like religious dogma and owing your creation to a higher being. It also very much handles ideas like mortality and the necessity of evil in the world. It's very good. as for the exploration, the 2d stuff is genuinely awesome i love it but the 3d exploration could use some work as its very bare-bones. I dont get how some people say this game is aimless? it's very easy to progress by just focusing on one area first before moving to the next. thats my input. great game.

it insists upon itself

Wowee, a perfect game? This is a hyper-personalized game that, I suspect, will either resonate deeply with the player or miss the boat entirely. It hit hard for me though. Navigating topics like mortality, religion, existentialism, and identity, Anodyne 2 was a beautifully philosophical experience that I treasured from start to finish. I will admit though, I think Melos Han-Tani and Marina Kittaka might make a type of game perfect for me. After playing the Angeline Era demo 1?/2? years ago, I knew they had something special. Now I can move onto that game, and get through the full thing. I'm eating good.