Traditional Arcade styled kinda remix of classic Pac-Man as a platformer.
I don't think Annalynn's formula works all that well in comparison, my main issue being with the snakes (ghost equivalent). They can very often be off-screen so it's hard to track them and they have really erratic behavior, sometimes instantly turning around when you're following them to kill you but most frustrating being going through doors and popping up just on top of you. It really makes the game a lot more frustrating that it needed to be and not what I'd expect from an arcade game that shouldn't have any incentive to empty your wallet with cheap deaths.

Annalynn has got to be one of my favorite games to come out this decade; possibly ever. However, when I last reviewed this game on my friend’s Discord server, I feel like I didn’t really do the game justice. I mean, I barely even described what I liked about the game. So, on a whim, I decided to reinstall Annalynn on my Switch, not only so that I could finally 1CC the game, but also to give myself a chance to re-review the game.

Annalynn is a game that’s meant to pay homage to 80s 8-bit arcade games, and as someone who’s a huge fan of games like Pac-Man, Dig-Dug, and Galaga, I can confirm that Annalynn nails these games’ style perfectly, both in terms of art-style and gameplay. But even without being inspired by Namco games, Annalynn’s level design is still incredibly well designed. The game starts out simple enough, with you just needing to collect all of the coins in each level while avoiding the snakes that try to attack you, but as the game goes on it starts adding setpieces to the levels that really help them stand out and are used incredibly well. And while the game is really difficult (ESPECIALLY if you’re going for a 1CC), it’s also fair. If you die at any point, it’s still your own fault, and the game heavily incentivizes you to learn how to better route its levels and use the stage gimmicks, which makes 1CC-ing the game SO damn satisfying once you finally pull it off.

Annalynn is overall a really fun game that does challenge insanely well, but it’s also got a ton of love poured into it. The references to other arcade games made at the time like the ropes from Donkey Kong Jr. show that the dev team had a lot of appreciation for these kinds of games. There’s also a lot of really cool little details to the gameplay that you wouldn’t notice unless you really think about it. Like, Annalynn allows you the ability to perfect all of the levels by hitting all of the snakes, getting the bonus, and not dying, which grants you 10,000 extra points and is a great incentive for replayability. Well, if you Perfect the first round, you’re guaranteed an Extra life, and by perfecting the first 3 rounds, you’re guaranteed another. Like, it’s not mind-blowing, but things like these are really neat and show that a ton of thought and care went into this game.

Speaking of replayability, for a $5 game, there’s a really surprising amount of content. For beating the game, you get a random mode which puts all the levels in random order and gives you access to power-ups and minecart levels. You also get a set amount of achievements to clear, even in the Switch version, and these are also satisfying to go after. There are also palette swaps to give Annalynn as well, earned in a similar way to beating the achievements. The point is, there’s a lot of incentive to come back to this game if the fantastic gameplay already isn’t enough. And for only $5? I gotta say that’s a great deal.

In case you couldn’t tell, I absolutely adore nearly everything about Annalynn. In fact, I think it’s a 10/10 game. Yes, I’m serious. Now, it’s not PERFECT, I mean, no game is. But any reason I’d have to criticize the game would be so minor that it’s really not even worth going over in the grand scheme of things. At that point, I’d just be doing a ton of nitpicking. And for what Annalynn’s trying to go for, being a simple, fun, challenging yet rewarding platformer harking back to 80s arcade games, I think it does so with flying colors. I don’t think Annalynn’s a 10/10 game because it’s the pinnacle of gaming. I think Annalynn’s a 10/10 because if you love Namco-style arcade games, or even platformers in general, I legitimately think you’re missing out if you decide not to play this. So overall, I couldn’t recommend Annalynn enough. Definitely check it out, even if only for a little bit.

An arcade-style game that proudly wears its influences on its sleeve. While the comparisons to Pac-man and Ms Pac-man are the most apparent, there are elements of Donkey Kong, Mario Bros, Donkey Kong Junior and Mappy in this stew. I personally don't have any problems with games that try to recapture old experiences, but I do expect them to improve on their predecessors by making enough change and improvement to justify their existence. Annalynn wrecks the curve for this test. If you enjoy the Namco and Nintendo arcade releases of the 80s, you're in for a good time.

In Annalynn, you play as a miner who must collect all the gold nuggets (pac pellets) in a mine while fleeing multicolored snakes (ghosts). But this is not a Pac-man clone; you do not move automatically. Instead your character moves around via platforming in a mario-esque manner. Like all of the influences mentioned earlier, the game is simple but not easy. You will die a LOT at first. But the game rewards quick reflexes and intuitive thought. The replay value is excellent. You can beat the campaign in an evening, but the game rewards you with a randomized level option that has secrets and aesthetic rewards like color palates.

Annalynn will definitely become one of my regular pick-up-and-play options. A fun game with charming music and graphics. It's also priced incredibly low at five dollars. Literally the only half-criticism I can muster is that the games colorful and fun appearance will undoubtedly attract children who will find it frustrating. But even that's a reach. Play Annalynn!

I am a huge fan of classic Namco arcade games, so when I saw screenshots of this game, I was already sold. Paying homage to arcade classics, Annalynn is the perfect game to jump into when you just need to kill some time. It's super easy to get into thanks to its score system, and it's really charming with its sprites, character animations, and little in-between level scenes. It also has an s tier soundtrack, it's amazing.
There's plenty to keep you playing too with both the random mode to test your skills and plenty of alternate colors for Annalynn to wear that you can unlock.
For a $5 eshop game you can't ask for anything better than this, I feel like I got too good of a deal here!

Sometimes there’s a game that just quietly walks in, does everything perfectly, and then humbly leaves with no ostentation. Annalynn is that game. I’ve played through this game 7 or 8 times now, and it is a beautiful evolution of some of the most influential video games of all time. Half Pac-Man and half Donkey Kong (with a sprinkling of Donkey Kong Jr. and a few others), Annalynn is a score attack maze chaser that not only pays homage to the arcade games of the early ‘80s but also understands what made them great to begin with.

You play as Annalynn, a miner who stumbles upon a gold mine infested with four snakes (i.e., ghosts), Randy, Candy, Handy, and Mike. Part platformer and part maze chaser, you must guide Annalynn through over a dozen stages while collecting every piece of gold on the map and avoiding the snakes who chase, leap at, and corner you, at least until you collect a ruby that allows you to punt the snakes for bonus points. The stages are tightly designed to encourage experimentation with your path, which is always altered by the snakes or the appearance of the bonus item that significantly increases your score. And Annalynn is very much a score chaser. Each stage can be completed fairly quickly, with a full game taking less than half an hour with no loop. This decision both avoids the lengthy sessions of its predecessor and prioritizes strategy and instinct over stamina, something I greatly appreciate.

While gameplay is king, the rest of the game is not lacking either. Each of the 5 biomes after which the stages are themed are unique not only in mechanics but also in art direction, which evolves the pixel art of the games before it with more animation, scenery, and character. This character is further developed in the short cutscenes that play every few stages, delving into the snakes’ (often silly) attempts to stop Annalynn. The only knock I truly have against Annalynn’s presentation is the score. The tracks aren’t bad by any means but are ultimately forgettable.

Beyond the campaign, the game offers several different modes, including randomizing the stage order and a practice, and a host of “cheats” ranging from infinite jumps to a hard mode with tougher snakes to voice acting for Annalynn. Besides regular achievements, 30 different palette swaps for Annalynn’s outfit are also unlocked through various challenges that will encourage multiple playthroughs beyond score chasing.

A terrific arcade game that we don’t really see in modern gaming, even in the indie scene, Annalynn is 100% worth your time if you enjoyed the arcade games of the early ‘80s. And if you didn’t, its tighter platforming, spruced up art and characters, and varied level design might appeal to you. Either way, at $5 (full price), it’s an easy buy for a brilliant little gem, and I really hope we get more of its ilk soon.

Have your ever looked at arcade classics like Pacman, Galaga and similars and thought "what is the best way to evolve those types of classics"?
Annalynn is exactly that: it takes the simple premise and formula of arcade classics and mix it with a enthrilling platforming, unique in their own way and always fu to traverse. All accompanied by an amazing 8-bit soundtrack and charming character designs.

Everything is simple, someone can find it too simple, but it's semplicity leads to a really charming and enduring experience. Even if there is a lot of replayability and full of customizations in terms of options and costumes, the whole experience is not that long, and it kind aleft me wanting more. Still, what we got is extremely solid and well done!

Annalynn is an amazing surprise in the indie titles pantheon.
A nice classic that can go toe to toe with the best Arcade masterpieces. I hope the developer keeps digging up gems like this one in the future.

I wasn't expecting much from this, knowing that it's an inexpensive arcade-style game with pixelated art.

It's great. Annalynn is a great game. The amount of love poured into the creation of this thing is obvious, and it handles the idea of "what if Pac-Man was a platforming game" incredibly well.

It's also really dang hard. However, when you run out of lives you're given the option to continue playing at the cost of cutting your score in half.

Really good stuff, incredibly pleasant surprise.

Funny snakes.

Annalynn is a love letter to classic arcade games like Pac-Man, where you navigate through mazelike caves and outmaneuver four snakes that chase you with varying tactics. The game feels challenging without being unfairly difficult as classic arcade games often were, taking on more modern design sensibilities like practice mode to try harder levels you've already reached to get a better understanding of how they work without having to work your way back there from the beginning.

While it only took a handful of runs to get through all of the caves and defeat the boss at the end, the game offers a lot to keep you playing past your first successful run. Getting a perfect clear of each level - which requires defeating each snake with each Shining Ruby powerup in the level and collecting the bonus food, all without dying - is a fun challenge that the game rewards with unlockable color palettes for Annalynn. There are also various gameplay modifying settings that you can toggle to further change things up.

Overall, I enjoyed my time with Annalynn, I'm a big fan of platformers so it's cool to see a modern take on Pac-Man's design as a platformer. I'd like to return to perfect clear more levels and unlock all of the palettes.