Giraffe and Annika Reviews

Giraffe and Annika is ranked in the 20th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
4 / 10
Jan 30, 2022

Giraffe and Annika is not a good game, which is a sad thing, as it feels like there is something missing. It's very rough, and is reminiscent it is one of those Unreal Engine 4 demos made by students. There are some redeeming qualities, like the charming character design, and a unique battle system for bosses, but it's so overshadowed by technical bizarreness and a lack of cohesive feeling that it's simply impossible to recommend to anyone but the biggest fans of Annika's design.

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7 / 10.0
Jan 5, 2022

Honestly, the amount of attention to detail and hidden touches is enough to make me recommend this game to platformer fans, but I reckon you may wanna go for the physical edition with extra goodies or wait for a digital sale if you want to check this out. Otherwise, this is a whimsical adventure that you’ll have a fun weekend with.

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7 / 10.0
Oct 7, 2020

Giraffe and Annika may be a bit too simple for its own good but its childlike charm makes for a light and delightful adventure game.

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7 / 10
Sep 19, 2020

It's a little ramshackle, but care and craft has gone into the making of Giraffe and Annika. There's nothing new here to speak of, but its disparate genres work well together and we had a good time unravelling the mysteries of Spica Island. A great game for kids and the young at heart, we're excited to see what developers Atelier Mimina do next.

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7.8 / 10.0
Sep 9, 2020

Overall, Giraffe and Annika is a bit of a weird experience. On the one hand, it feels very unrefined. Not unfinished by any means, just not polished to the degree it could be. On the other hand, it has a very solid grasp of the fundamental requirements for a 3D platformer and rhythm game, that somehow manages to mesh them quite decently. It's short, sweet, and relaxing, but also a little janky at times, and can get a little frustrating if you're used to a tighter control scheme. Honestly, Giraffe and Annika isn't going to appeal to everyone, particularly given that it feels geared to a younger audience but can pack the difficulty for those a little older than the narrative would seem to be geared for. If your looking for a nice little relaxing game as an offhand title, Giraffe and Annika may be something you want to pick up.

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6.5 / 10.0
Sep 4, 2020

Giraffe and Annika is clearly meant for gamers much younger than I but there were still some enjoyable parts to it for me.

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7 / 10.0
Sep 3, 2020

Giraffe and Annika, presents a great premise, mixing elements of exploration, platforms and rhythm. Still, its best features are the combination of graphic sequences with the soundtrack. Its plot, while not original, tends to leave a good image in the overall experience. For those looking for an adventure that owes nothing to a fairy tale, this is an excellent option to consider.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

7 / 10.0
Aug 28, 2020

Giraffe and Annika is a game with a lot of potential, but it oversimplifies some aspects and tries to compensate this by creating mechanisms to delay the player's progression. Despite the lack of depth, the adventure is still a considerable option if the objective is to relax and unwind, especially for those who love to be entertained with musical game dynamics.

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7 / 10.0
Aug 28, 2020

Giraffe and Annika is an aventure 3D game with some rhythm battle and a cute design that trasport you to Spica Island, a misterious and colorful place with many friends and five dungeons that helps you to recover Annikas memories. Perfect for all the family.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

Aug 27, 2020

Giraffe and Annika is the first outing for Atelier Mimina, and as a statement of intent, it shows us a developer that we should be paying attention to.

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6.3 / 10.0
Aug 25, 2020

There's nothing quite like a good exploration / adventure title for a few hours of enjoyment and discovery, and for the most part that's where Giraffe and Annika delivers...

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8.2 / 10.0
Aug 25, 2020

If you’re looking for a wholesome and genuinely cute and adorable game to play, Giraffe and Annika is for you. Instead of defeating enemies and brutally barging your way past anyone who stands in your way, Annika is all about avoiding the foes and dancing in order to overcome the bosses who are trying to prevent her from leaving this dream world. It’s a charming and innocent adventure which is great for people of all ages, delivering a fun and delightful story for young children and a challenging platinum for those who wish to try and pursue it. I’m now eagerly awaiting a sequel where I get to experience another adventure with both Giraffe and Annika.

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70 / 100
Aug 25, 2020

Giraffe and Annika is a light game, a fairy tale with a clean manga aesthetic and full of subtleties. With too simplified environments and very simple mechanics for an exploration adventure, it brings its most original point a rhythmic system in the battle against bosses, although it appropriates many things that we have seen before. With all this, it is a pleasant and relaxing experience for all ages.

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5.5 / 10.0
Aug 24, 2020

I couldn’t help but to feel underwhelmed by Giraffe and Annika, with its adventure doing little to excite during its fairly short runtime. It’s not that anything was particularly bad about the game… there’s just not a whole lot to it. Sure, the vibrant world and quirky narrative do bring some charm to the journey and I enjoyed the rhythm-based battles, but everything else about Giraffe and Annika lacked any real spark of excitement to makes its adventure one that’s worth investing your time into.

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7 / 10.0
Aug 22, 2020

Giraffe and Annika certainly isn't the kind of game that you'll enjoy for its gameplay. Instead, its main appeal is found in its adorable and whimsical world that's filled with lovely sights and sounds that are sure to put a smile on your face throughout the adventure.

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7 / 10.0
Aug 21, 2020

Still, even with the small nitpicks, there are quite a few things to enjoy in a low-pressure game like Giraffe and Annika.

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3 / 5.0
Aug 21, 2020

Giraffe and Annika is meant for less experienced and younger gamers and does a good job of presenting a world for them to explore. There might not be much to see or challenges to overcome, besides some control issues, making it easy to understand its place. The cute story and vibrant visuals also make it easy to enjoy the simple charms, even if the rhythm sections are a bit on the rough side. While I wouldn't say this is a grand slam of a children's game, it's has enough redeeming aspects to play through it.

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6 / 10
Aug 21, 2020

WORTH CONSIDERING - Overall, the story is worth playing through. It is touching and has an ending that is quite good. The manga panel presentation of the story telling is very cool, and the music is absolutely wonderful. However, with all the unnecessary padding, inability to destroy or at least incapacitate enemies, and the insanely idiotic control scheme that is enough to drive you crazy, it may not be worth the initial price tag of $30.

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5.5 / 10.0
Aug 21, 2020

Ever heard of the phrase “jack of all trades, master of none”? That’s Giraffe and Annika in a nutshell. It tries to be a Zelda clone, a rhythm game, an exploratory 3D platformer, and even a mini slice of life game all at the same time, without ever truly focusing on one aspect to make it truly stand out.

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6.5 / 10.0
Aug 21, 2020

Like the rest of the experiences found on Spica Island, these rhythm battles can best be described as quaint. And while that term may not be the one publishers race to add to an accolades trailer, I hope the developers see it as the compliment I intend it to be. Because this is not the most engrossing game I'll play in 2020 or one I'll even remember six months from now. But the congenial nature of Giraffe and Annika was enough to be a welcoming, brief respite from an otherwise weary world.

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