Man, what I would give to experience the good ‘ol PlayStation 1 and Nintendo 64 days again. It seems that game developer Analgesic Productions and publisher Ratalaika Games have answered my wishes. Their “deeply personal lo-fi” 2D and 3D adventure game, Anodyne 2: Return to Dust, is being released on the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch on February 18, 2021, for $19.99.
For more information, please visit the developers’ official Twitter page.
About Anodyne 2: Return to Dust
Anodyne 2: Return to Dust features a world evocative of the PS1 and N64 games. In this “surreal realm” of New Theland, you control the new Nano Cleaner, Nova. Nova’s task, according to The Centre, is to rid the citizens’ minds of Nano Dust, which can distort emotions and desires. To do this, Nova must shrink herself down and enter the denizen’s minds which is represented via SNES-inspired 2D dungeons. You will have to utilize Nova’s Nano Vacuums to solve puzzles and beat those 16-bit bosses that we all know too well.
Nova can also transform into a car, to navigate the 3D world of Anodyne 2. Discover the story behind the mysteries of New Theland and the consequences of your job as the Nano Cleaner. You will encounter perspectives that differ from the Centre’s. It’s up to you to decide where you stand.
You will be confronted with bizarre but beautiful visuals, puzzles, manifestations of corruption, and questions regarding the status quo and your true purpose as the Cleaner. Anodyne 2: Return to Dust will invert your conventional understanding of the genre, perspective, and tone.
Developers
Anodyne 2: Return to Dust is crafted by Melos Han-Tani and Marina Kittaka. The game will have unlockable Metacoins which allows you to hear directly from the developers about the design process.
Han-Tani, the co-founder of Analgesic Studios states:
Anodyne 2 drifts from whimsical to sometimes strange and scary places… [b]ut ultimately it’s been known to inspire hope, and we welcome a new audience into our world with open arms.”
What do you think about this unique PS1-inspired adventure game? What retro style would you like to see revived? Let us know in the comments!
