Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams

[h1] Единственная игра на русском из набора Героев классических платформеров с довольно занятным оформлением [/h1] Опять же классика намекает на то, что проект имеет довольно многолетнюю историю разного рода хитросплетений и тяжб по авторским правам. Но удивляет то, что авторы не сдались и сделали проект со своим лицом. А ведь когда-то игра была клоном Марио. А тут играем за двух девочек-сестрёнок, каждая из которых существует в своём мире. И вот тут просто шикарная игровая составляющая, когда по нажатию всего одной кнопки мир перестраивается из красочного в довольно гнетущий. То есть по сути тут два платформера в одном. Из напрягающего тут только предстартовая менюшка, где нужно дополнительно запускать игру. А в остальном играется с игрового пульта очень приятно. Набор плюшек богатый и стоит своего времени, если нравится графика Trine. Удивительно, что за столько лет тут так мало отзывов. Но рекомендация однозначная всем любителям платформеров.

giana sisters > mario bros

The game that almost died due to Nintendo, The Great Giana Sisters, has returned in Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams. Back in the 80s, The Great Giana Sisters came out on the Commodore 64 and became infamous for looking a little too similar to Super Mario Bros. on the Nintendo Entertainment System. The resemblance was so obvious that the game was quickly pulled from store shelves, turning it into a strange piece of gaming history. For years, the series faded into obscurity… UNTIL NOW… or, well, at least back in 2012. Right from the start, Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams shows that it isn’t just trying to copy the classics anymore. Instead, it builds its entire identity around a clever mechanic: switching between two versions of Giana (let’s call them Cute Giana and Punk Giana). Cute Giana floats gracefully through the air, while Punk Giana dashes aggressively through enemies and obstacles. Switching between these forms is the core mechanic of the game, and you’ll need to get used to it quickly. Character design-wise… it’s pretty bland. There’s not a lot going on, and honestly I’m not a huge fan of how the characters look. However, I will absolutely praise the game for its level design and its fantastic soundtrack. Remember the switching mechanic we talked about earlier? Not only does it affect your gameplay, but it also changes the level’s look, environmental mechanics, and even the music. These wonderful tracks were composed by Chris Huelsbeck and Fabian Del Priore, with heavy metal renditions performed by Machinae Supremacy. The last thing I want to discuss is the game’s difficulty. It can get pretty intense, especially in later levels where precise timing is required. Levels start combining multiple hazards at once: moving platforms, spikes, enemies, and timed jumps that require you to constantly switch between forms in mid-air. Because the world itself changes when you switch personalities, platforms can appear or disappear instantly. If you love platformers and are looking for a bit of a challenge, this game might be exactly what you’re looking for. Twisted Dreams is more than just a revival of a long-forgotten series. It’s proof that a game once dismissed as a clone can evolve into something truly unique. What started as a controversial platformer inspired by Super Mario Bros. has grown into a stylish, creative experience that easily stands on its own.

I bought this game [b]ages[/b] ago on the promise that a Linux version was coming but that never happened, and it's never [b]once[/b] been able to run for me on Proton or WINE. They denied a refund and have actively refused to ever deliver the promised Linux version, so this company is added to my "Never Buy From Again" list. :shrug:

Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams is a modern revival of a classic platforming franchise, developed by Black Forest Games and published by HandyGames alongside the developer itself. Released in 2012, the game was designed to reintroduce the Giana Sisters series to a new generation while honoring the legacy of the original titles from the late 1980s. Rather than simply recreating the formula of earlier platformers, the developers chose to reinterpret the series with a creative mechanic that constantly transforms both the protagonist and the world around her. The result is a fast, challenging platformer that merges traditional side-scrolling gameplay with an inventive dual-world system, giving the game a distinctive identity among modern platforming titles. The premise is intentionally simple but imaginative. The story begins when the young girl Giana falls asleep and finds herself trapped inside a surreal dream world. Within this strange landscape she must rescue her sister Maria, who has been kidnapped by a monstrous dragon known as Gurglewocky. While the plot itself remains light and mostly serves as a narrative framework, the dreamlike setting allows the developers to experiment with unusual environments and transformations that would not make sense in a conventional world. The dream setting also justifies the game’s constantly shifting environments, where reality bends and changes as Giana moves between different mental states. The most distinctive aspect of the game is its core mechanic of switching between two different dream forms at any time. Giana’s personality splits into two contrasting identities: the cheerful and agile “Cute” form and the aggressive and rebellious “Punk” form. Each form grants her a different movement ability that dramatically changes how players approach platforming challenges. In Cute form, Giana performs a spinning jump that allows her to glide gracefully through the air, making it easier to cross wide gaps or descend carefully through dangerous areas. In Punk form, she gains a powerful dash attack that propels her forward at high speed, allowing her to smash through enemies and certain environmental obstacles. Mastering when to switch between these two abilities becomes essential to progressing through the increasingly complex levels. What makes this mechanic particularly interesting is that the transformation affects not only Giana’s abilities but also the structure of the environment itself. Platforms, hazards, and even enemy behavior can change instantly when the player switches between dream states. A safe platform in one world may become a dangerous spike trap in the other, forcing players to constantly think ahead and adapt to the shifting layout. This system adds a puzzle-like element to the platforming, as players must carefully coordinate their transformations with their movement. The result is a gameplay rhythm that feels both dynamic and challenging, especially during later levels where rapid switching between forms becomes necessary to survive. The level design is one of the game’s strongest qualities. Each stage is carefully constructed to explore new combinations of mechanics and obstacles, gradually increasing the complexity of the challenges. Early levels introduce the dual-form mechanic in relatively forgiving situations, allowing players to learn the basics of gliding and dashing. As the campaign progresses, the stages become more intricate, featuring narrow corridors, moving platforms, and enemies placed specifically to test the player’s reflexes. The game’s difficulty curve can be demanding, but it rarely feels unfair because the controls remain precise and responsive. Success depends on learning the patterns of each level and mastering the timing required to switch forms effectively. Visually, Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams presents a vibrant and polished interpretation of the dream world concept. The environments are rendered in colorful 3D graphics while maintaining a classic 2D side-scrolling perspective. The Cute dream world is bright and whimsical, filled with soft shapes and vibrant colors that create a playful atmosphere. In contrast, the Punk world appears darker and more chaotic, with jagged architecture and a more aggressive visual tone. The seamless transformation between these two worlds is visually striking, reinforcing the idea that the dreamscape itself is responding to Giana’s emotional state. Another highlight of the game is its soundtrack, which dynamically changes depending on which dream form the player is using. The music shifts between two distinct styles that mirror the personalities of the two worlds. When Giana is in her Cute form, the soundtrack features melodic orchestral arrangements that feel light and whimsical. When she switches to Punk form, the music transitions into energetic rock and metal compositions that reflect the more aggressive tone of the darker dream world. This dynamic audio design enhances the immersion of the experience, making the transformations feel more impactful and reinforcing the contrast between the two personalities. Beyond the main campaign, the game offers several features that encourage replayability. Many levels contain collectible gems that reward careful exploration and precise platforming. Players can also attempt time trials or replay stages to achieve higher scores, which adds a competitive element for those who enjoy mastering platforming challenges. Later editions of the game expanded the content with additional levels and modes, giving dedicated players even more opportunities to refine their skills. Despite its many strengths, the game does have a few limitations. The difficulty level increases significantly in later stages, which may frustrate players who prefer more relaxed platforming experiences. Some sequences require extremely precise timing and quick reflexes, leaving little room for error. Additionally, while the dream-world concept is visually imaginative, the story itself remains fairly minimal and does not explore its themes in great depth. For players seeking a narrative-driven adventure, the plot may feel somewhat secondary to the gameplay. Even with these minor issues, Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams succeeds in delivering a memorable and inventive platforming experience. Its creative dual-world mechanic, carefully designed levels, and striking audiovisual presentation give it a unique place within the genre. By combining the spirit of classic platformers with modern production values and a clever gameplay twist, the game demonstrates how a familiar genre can still feel fresh and engaging. Ultimately, the game stands as a successful revival of a classic series that both respects its origins and introduces new ideas. It captures the challenge and charm of old-school platformers while offering enough innovation to stand on its own as a modern title. For fans of demanding platformers and imaginative level design, Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams offers a rewarding adventure filled with creativity, challenge, and memorable moments. Rating: 8/10

Giana Sisters: Twisted Dreams is one of those platformers that hooks you immediately with its gorgeous visuals and the seamless world-switching mechanic — pressing a button to morph the entire level and soundtrack between Giana's two personalities is genuinely impressive and never gets old to watch. The dual soundtrack, blending classical and heavy metal arrangements that swap in real time, is worth the price of admission alone. That said, the game's biggest weakness is variety: after a few hours, the levels start to blur together since you're largely dodging the same enemies and traps with only slight rearrangements, and the stages drag on longer than they should. The dash ability can also be maddeningly inconsistent, sending you careening into enemies at the worst moments. Still, if you enjoy challenging precision platformers with a fresh mechanic at their core and stunning presentation, this is absolutely worth picking up — just be prepared to embrace the repetition and die a lot.

okay platformer with decent controls and a unique world switching + movement mechanics. however the game has a boring artstyle, and difficulty scales way high way too quickly. buy on sale if interested

The game is beautiful, some parts are quite challenging. Boss fights are very frustrating.

Muito daorinha, deu pra dar uma estressada kkk, baratinho também

Every 2 stages at the end of the stage when you reach the house the screen goes black and doesnt respond to anything you have to force close the game when you open the game again the last stage you completed doesnt count and you have to redo the stage.