Anamnesia: Part 1 - Am I my Body?
released on Feb 22, 2024
Sci-Fi Mystery Visual Novel. Nine people are trapped in an underground research facility, forced to play a game of life and death. Check your log to find the truth that connects those apparent strangers - if you even want to, that is.
Reviews View More
I had the opportunity to test the game before launch and I've got to say, I'm pretty impressed. In this fascinating take on the Visual-Novel genre you experience the intriguing growth of character, exceptional circumstances can bring, by accompanying the main character - Adrian - through the trials and tribulations of the so called "Truth Game".
Dealing with themes like existentialism, trauma, love and art Simon Herbig crafted a thought-provoking narrative about the way choices can make (or don't make) us into who we are.
Talking about gameplay, Herbig puts a nice spin on Visual-Novel interaction, by incorporating the backlog feature into the narrative, letting you change the direction the story may take, whether you use the backlog or not.
Visuals and music also compliment the storytelling tremendously, with gritty background- and admirable character art as well as a somber but gripping soundtrack, Anamnesia is a fantastic experience.
Of course you need an appreciation for the Visual-Novel genre to really enjoy what is given here in the first place. Genre typical, interaction is minimal even though impactful, but nevertheless you don't really do much more than reading all the way through. And to criticize the story a bit I want to say, that for me it was quite difficult to sympathize with Adrian and another character named Valerie at first but ... I think that is pretty much the point, as both grow in beautiful ways over the course of the game, but nevertheless those two can be a bit off putting at the beginning of the story.
Also, as a game that is releasing in multiple parts over the course of the coming years, you - naturally - don't really get a definitive ending at the end of part 1. Most of the questions I had, regarding the broader mystery presented, remain unanswered ... but again, that is absolutely the point of part 1 and I would be lying if I wouldn't say that I am eagerly awaiting part 2, to still my intrigue for whatever Herbig is constructing here.
All in all I can say without the shadow of a doubt that if you like mystery Stories, especially the works of Kotaro Uchikoshi and/or Visual-Novels in general, you will absolutely adore Anamnesia. A thematically mature character study and exploration of one of the biggest questions every single one of us human beings can ask ourselves: Who am I?
Dealing with themes like existentialism, trauma, love and art Simon Herbig crafted a thought-provoking narrative about the way choices can make (or don't make) us into who we are.
Talking about gameplay, Herbig puts a nice spin on Visual-Novel interaction, by incorporating the backlog feature into the narrative, letting you change the direction the story may take, whether you use the backlog or not.
Visuals and music also compliment the storytelling tremendously, with gritty background- and admirable character art as well as a somber but gripping soundtrack, Anamnesia is a fantastic experience.
Of course you need an appreciation for the Visual-Novel genre to really enjoy what is given here in the first place. Genre typical, interaction is minimal even though impactful, but nevertheless you don't really do much more than reading all the way through. And to criticize the story a bit I want to say, that for me it was quite difficult to sympathize with Adrian and another character named Valerie at first but ... I think that is pretty much the point, as both grow in beautiful ways over the course of the game, but nevertheless those two can be a bit off putting at the beginning of the story.
Also, as a game that is releasing in multiple parts over the course of the coming years, you - naturally - don't really get a definitive ending at the end of part 1. Most of the questions I had, regarding the broader mystery presented, remain unanswered ... but again, that is absolutely the point of part 1 and I would be lying if I wouldn't say that I am eagerly awaiting part 2, to still my intrigue for whatever Herbig is constructing here.
All in all I can say without the shadow of a doubt that if you like mystery Stories, especially the works of Kotaro Uchikoshi and/or Visual-Novels in general, you will absolutely adore Anamnesia. A thematically mature character study and exploration of one of the biggest questions every single one of us human beings can ask ourselves: Who am I?
mid