Anodyne 3?

[Gilamex]

I'm sorry, but I have to ask. I'm a massive fan of the franchise (bough the limited edition merch and stuff too), and was just wondering if there will ever be a third... I'm assuming there will be eventually. One of the few ways to bring attention to a franchise is to have it become a series over many years, as the fanbase will only grow. And if the third is made, I don't want them to deviate from this visual style (even though I know you guys probably will because in the instruction manual of the physical copy you say each one of your games was made with 'experimentation' in mind, you wanted each game you make to be vastly different from the last. Just makes me curious how the third might turn out).

Amazing game tho, I got some friends addicted to it. They freaked out about it at first because they thought it was "weird", but I told em "if you played earthbound/mother 3, you'll feel right at home with this". They gave it a try and loved it XP Me and them love weird games, myself way more so. The more original a game tries to be with its world (even if it makes no logical sense), the more I'll have an undying love for it. I'm too tired of "generic medieval rpg" worlds. I want crazy stuff like this game that sounds like if an adult would try to describe their childhood's inner world through a book/novel, but then makes a game out of it instead. Probably the best way I can describe the vibes I got form it.

[Melos Han-Tani]

Thanks for recommending it to your friends! I agree that a lot of indie game fans would enjoy Anodyne 2. Hopefully it gets more popular with the console release next year!

A 3rd is certainly possible, although it really depends on Marina and I. The games we tend to make depend on our interests at the time and what seems like will fit. Right now we're wrapping up a new game,codenamed "S" (I mention it here https://twitter.com/han_tani ). Afterwards, it's up in the air - personally I want to work on some smaller stuff for a while, but who knows! Maybe we'll jump into Anodyne 3 together, a different game, or maybe we'll take a break to do things outside of our collaboration.

As for what Anodyne 3 is... we're always writing down potential ideas and loosely brainstorming, but it's hard to say! It'll probably be something unexpected, though! Maybe an energy drink (just kidding).

[Gilamex]

Originally posted by Melos Han-Tani:

Thanks for recommending it to your friends! I agree that a lot of indie game fans would enjoy Anodyne 2. Hopefully it gets more popular with the console release next year!

A 3rd is certainly possible, although it really depends on Marina and I. The games we tend to make depend on our interests at the time and what seems like will fit. Right now we're wrapping up a new game,codenamed "S" (I mention it here https://twitter.com/han_tani ). Afterwards, it's up in the air - personally I want to work on some smaller stuff for a while, but who knows! Maybe we'll jump into Anodyne 3 together, a different game, or maybe we'll take a break to do things outside of our collaboration.

As for what Anodyne 3 is... we're always writing down potential ideas and loosely brainstorming, but it's hard to say! It'll probably be something unexpected, though! Maybe an energy drink (just kidding).

If I had to make a guess... The first game played out like old Zelda titles, and 2 plays out like an old 64/DS game, with elements of Zelda games put into its dungeons... As long as you keep the retro aesthetic, I could probably care less what the game is actually about, I'm just a sucker for 64/DS graphics for some reason :P Though... A modernized Anodyne would also be super awesome, depending on how it's pulled off. When I look at Risk of Rain and Risk of Rain 2, they go from what looks like an old 2D flash game of sorts, to smooth, cell-shaded 3D models in a 3D environment and almost plastic-y looking aesthetics all around, just very... "smooth". (Wish I could use another word, but it's just so satisfyingly clean looking. The lack of textures on a lot of models works surprisingly well. Everything "glows".)

And I would argue that that game is pretty much a perfect sequel in every sense of the word, expanding the core gameplay, adding more features, keeping the feel of the game and soundtrack the same while changing both entirely, it's just... so weird. It's hard to put into words how well the sequel works. If something like that happens with Anodyne 3, who knows, maybe it'll explode in popularity like Risk of Rain 2 did. Because as far as I can tell, not many people knew about or played the first one, but the second one was pretty much perfect.

I guess what I'm trying to say is, don't be afraid to experiment. The biggest findings in science are brought up through mistakes, and often shots in the dark. Just look at the battle royale genre. Everyone thinks it started with Fortnite, or PUBG, but I claim it actually happened with a NINTENDO GAME of all things! Kirby Air Ride's City Trial game mode. You spawn in a random location, gather powerups and change vehicles (basically your way of attacking and moving around, so technically your weapon in a sense), and when the timer runs out, you all face off in some kind of event with what you've gathered. Short and sweet, and I'd bet millions that if it was released right before PUBG or Fortnite, it would have exploded in popularity.

Unfortunately, the game came out in 2003 when gaming was at its infancy, and critics say the game feels rushed (it does NOT feel like a Kirby game, but yet somehow it's my favorite Kirby game for how different it was.) Point is, if you get some crazy idea for something but feel unsure, I urge you two (or whoever will work on it) to give that idea a try. One of the biggest reasons (besides the retro graphics) I love Anodyne for is for its wacky almost nonsensical nature of its characters and visuals. It all feels like stuff from a dream, so you can really do anything with it! (I just recommend lots of advertising too. Bugsnax became popular because it was super weird and different, despite nobody knowing anything about it, but it was advertised pretty well, I'd say.)

Sorry for the super long rant, but I love talking about the future of my favorite franchises with their devs! (Not that I have any influence, but it lets my brain think happy thoughts of a super cool future. )

[inappropriately_gendered_fungus]

If you like the PSX-like graphics, you may be interested in their latest game, Sephonie. It looks like a 3D platformer mixed with an action-puzzle game. There's a very good announcement trailer for it on YouTube.

[Gilamex]

Originally posted by fungusdude4:

If you like the PSX-like graphics, you may be interested in their latest game, Sephonie. It looks like a 3D platformer mixed with an action-puzzle game. There's a very good announcement trailer for it on YouTube.

Wow, didn't know about this one, thanks. I should probably follow my favorite developers a little more closely...