Review for Anna
_capsule_fog__medium.png)
Note: Since this review was first published, the game has been re-released as an "Extended Edition" that the publisher claims has been "remastered with a completely new interface, new puzzles, new environments and much more!" This review is based solely on the original version of the game.
The Val D’Ayas in Italy is a beautiful place that would make an ideal Alpine vacation spot if not for the little matter of being haunted. There is a dark presence plaguing an abandoned sawmill in the scenic Valle d’Aosta, and it could very well be the titular character of Anna, thirsting for revenge. In this debut horror game from indie developer Dreampainters, purportedly based on authentic folklore and set in a very real location, the male (but unnamed and unseen) protagonist has been dreaming of Anna, someone he used to know, and is anxious to figure out why. Unfortunately for him, what awaits him is a horrific discovery of poltergeist-like scares. Unfortunately for gamers, the convoluted story and illogical puzzles combine to pose a horror of another kind.
That's all the background provided in Anna, as the game starts abruptly with the protagonist in front of his destination. The premise is intentionally vague, which is fine, but little more is actually learned by the end. The story only unfolds through bits of conversations recalled while exploring the house attached to the sawmill. By the time the credits roll, there is still no clear picture of what happened between you and Anna, or even who Anna really is. There is a pdf document that comes with the game which acts as a journal chronicling the events before gameplay begins, but it doesn't shed much light on the subject either. Knowing the original local folklore might help with understanding, but there is no such information included here.
One of the highlights of the game is its ability to frighten, with many jump-out-of-your-seat moments. There is no fear of dying, but the sudden appearances of hands reaching out of the floor and flying masks can really put you on edge, afraid of what might be waiting to startle you around the next corner. These supernatural events appear suddenly and somewhat randomly, then disappear just as quickly. Is it a message, a warning, or just a pissed-off ghost? It’s never clear, but that doesn’t negate the constant need to look over your shoulder when you hear a floor board creak. The scares are spread out enough that the sense of urgency just starts to recede when the next spooky moment occurs.
The graphics are beautifully rendered; the outdoor areas in particular are gorgeous and highly detailed, from the individual pieces of grass blowing in the wind to the beautiful river running next to it. The lighting is a lot darker inside the sawmill, which feels far more disturbing and adds to the creepy atmosphere, though it also makes it harder to see small necessary objects. Haunting shadows flicker across the walls very realistically, but the same potted plant and bookcase (complete with broken shelf) are unwisely used in multiple locations. The whole game takes place in and around the sawmill, with locked-off locations opening as you progress.
Sound in Anna is good, although the music sometimes detracts from the frightening atmosphere. The soundtrack varies from people chanting to a harp playing soothing melodies that clash with the tension the game is trying to build. The ambient effects are great, from the brook outside with birds chirping to the eerie noises indoors. Hearing a creaking door from a room you know to be empty is unsettling. The voice acting is sparse but generally solid, and the English translation is usually smooth, though the occasional sentence structure gets mixed up, such as “... here walked in a trance”.
Anna's puzzles are largely inventory-based, with only one exception. Sadly, most of them make little to no sense. The solutions are often farfetched, with no in-game clues pointing in the right direction. It frequently feels like the “try everything on everything” mentality is the only way to advance. Once you've stumbled onto the solution, it often still isn't clear why you needed to do it or even why it worked. There are no obvious objectives to suggest a course of action either, beyond simply trying to gain access to unexplored areas. The one puzzle that isn’t strictly inventory-based makes about as much sense as the others. Moving mirrors and then using certain items on them seems random, without the proper context for understanding why. Adding to the confusion is a mobile phone included in the inventory that is never used, offering no explanation for its purpose.
There is a built-in help system that can be triggered either by pressing the H key or setting it for three or ten minutes through the menu, which then shows the character’s thoughts on what he should do next. It allows for simple or complete help, with simple only telling you what needs to be done, and complete telling you how to do it. However, the help never seems to actually help when you want it to. There are many times during the game when there is no clue for what to do next, and pressing the help button only gives you “Nothing comes to mind”.
Unlike most first-person adventures, Anna is displayed in real-time 3D. Character movement is controlled by the WASD keys, with camera panning handled by the mouse, the cursor permanently affixed to the center of the screen. Left-clicking hotspots brings up a menu that allows you to use, examine, or pick up an object, while right-clicking and holding allows objects to be moved, like doors and boards. This hands-on interactivity is not used very often, available mainly to add some realism to such tasks as opening a chest of drawers. Crouching is possible, but it is never needed during the game. Unfortunately, the camera is extremely sensitive and feels jerky, even on the lowest menu setting.
Anna is fairly short, lasting maybe four hours the first time through, depending on how long you remain stuck on any illogical puzzles. There are two finales determined by the choices you make at the end of the game, based on your degree of obsession with Anna. One decision leads to an extended sequence with a few additional puzzles, yet both endings seem rushed and poorly explained, making either choice feel largely inconsequential. Saving is possible at any point, however, so you can simply restore your game prior to the decision to see the other option.
Overall, Anna is fairly successful at creating a sense of horror with its dark indoor environments and heart-stopping moments, though the pretty outdoor graphics and soothing music tend to undermine the haunting atmosphere. Far more damaging are the illogical puzzles and confusing storyline, which make the game more frustrating than fearsome. The free-roaming 3D control is a welcome feature, though it's offset by a twitchy camera and rather confined indoor environments that don't do much with the opportunity. With its short game length and uninspired endings, ultimately Anna really isn't worth the effort, unless cheap scares are all you’re looking for.
