Giraffe and Annika Reviews
Giraffe and Annika is a charming indie title with catchy tunes and cute characters that shows atelier mimina's potential for future titles.
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.
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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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.
Giraffe and Annika is a title that feels right for 2020. The evolution of the story as you meet fun and interesting characters overshadows much of the shortcomings, like the lack of challenge and somewhat disappointing dungeon sequences. Normally, a game with little difficulty that relies on its charm as entertainment isn’t really up my alley. But in a time where most people are stuck at home and surrounded by negativity, getting lost in an overly positive and relaxing island environment is a pleasant escape.
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.
Overall, Giraffe and Annika is some light fun that’ll last you about a good four to six hours depending on how much cat artwork that you want to search for. It’s short, sweet, and it never overstays its welcome which is something that a lot of others could learn from as there was a clear and concise story being told. Final verdict? It’s worth checking out!
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.
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.
It is a refreshing take on an adventure and rhythm game and I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected to.
Giraffe and Annika is packed full of charm, a little childlike innocence, and a few rhythmic battles that break up the questing. They make up the unique title that Giraffe and Annika is and though I enjoyed the game I didn’t find it much of a challenge. Which bring me to the conclusion that Giraffe and Annika would be a fantastic game for a family with younger children to play-through together to discover the Islands of Spica. Alternatively, an adult can enjoy the game as well but don’t expect much of a challenge in any part of the game, just a chilled out experience.