First off, the graphics:
There are no textures to be found anywhere, so everything was created entirely from pixels and lines of code. It's like a really fancy ASCII drawing tool. The backgrounds, characters, and enemies have all been made with this method, as has the music, which makes it feel more like a cartoon than a game. This might not sound like a good thing at first, but trust me when I say that it adds to the charm of the experience. The background art is absolutely gorgeous, with each scene being full of detail and vibrant colors.
Next up, the gameplay:
The controls here are super simple; you can jump by holding down one key and press the other two to grab onto things. You can also double-jump by pressing both keys at once. There are some obstacles in your way, such as spikes or pits of poison, so make sure to use these abilities wisely. There aren't any weapons to pick up or power-ups to collect, either, so it's pretty much just running around and jumping over spikes until you reach the end. That said, there are a few items scattered throughout the levels that can be used to help you out.
But now we've gotta talk about the story.
As mentioned earlier, there isn't a lot of content to the game; you'll only visit three different worlds, and even then they're really short. But don't let the brevity of the game fool you, because each world has its own unique plot, and while they may be too brief to truly develop into anything, the writing does manage to do a decent job of getting across their respective messages. The first world is about the importance of friendship, whereas the second focuses on respecting others and yourself. But the story has a darker side to it. If you pay close attention during the boss fight against the final boss, you'll realize why the game ends exactly how it does.
So, what did I think of the game?
Well, it wasn't perfect.
Until I reached level 13.
At that point, I started playing with the difficulty settings. With them maxed out, it becomes completely impossible to die without using items, and most of the levels are only accessible once you've completed them several times. As someone who plays games to see how far I can get without dying, this probably sounds like heaven. Unfortunately, I feel like this takes away from the challenge that was present in the original version of the game.
You see, this game was exactly what I needed after the divorce. By having that extra bit of difficulty turned on, it made me want to figure out how to complete each level without dying, which meant that I had to try new strategies and learn from my mistakes. In fact, I went through the entire game in three days, because I kept going back to previous levels and trying to find a better route to take. It helped me stay focused, which ultimately led to me beating it within an hour. And if you know me, then you should understand how big of a deal this is.
And don't even get me started on the bassoon.
I'm serious, though! It's amazing!
Seriously, I need a song called "Let Me Be Your Bassoon" right now.
Anyway, this game is a must-have for any otaku.
To summarize, my thoughts on Another Otter are this:
It's a great game, and I recommend it.
However, if you're looking for something more challenging, then I suggest playing it in Normal Mode.
Rating: 9/10.
I give it a nine out of ten!
