Forgotton Anne by developer ThroughLine Games and publisher Square Enix Collective is truly beautiful inside and out. Not only does it feature lush and brilliantly detailed hand-drawn animation, it also tells a compelling and unique story through a mixture of structured narration and choose-your-own-adventure options. The game is set in the Forgotten Lands, where stray objects go and come to life after being forgotten by the human world—the lead character, Anne, is a human who also lives there. She and one other human, Master Boku, have lived alongside the Forgotlings and ruled over them for a while—as Anne, you play the “Enforcer” who ensures their absolute obedience. You do this by controlling a magical substance called Anima, which brings all the inanimate objects to life. However, a Rebellion has sprung up among the knick-knacks, and they have begun to disrupt different areas of the city. As you carry out Master Boku’s orders to quash the rebellion, you also unravel the mystery of why Anne and Master Boku are in the Forgotten Lands in the first place.
One aspect of the game that especially intrigued me was how I started questioning the moral nature of my own character’s actions. When you enter the game, Anne has already committed to the fight against the Rebellion and “distilled” many of the rebels by sucking the Anima life force out of them. I never thought I would care much for a talking scarf, blanket, or shoe, but the Forgotlings all have personality and spunk, so I actually felt guilty when ruthlessly killing them. In some of these cases, Anne claimed that these distillations “had to be done,” but I was not so sure. In addition, it seems like Master Boku has forced them to perform tedious manual labor in order to produce energy for his own purposes, so I started sympathizing with the Rebellion more and more as I played the game longer. I love games that make me think twice about everything and come to my own conclusions, which Forgotton Anne definitely did. Furthermore, the game presents you with several story options by letting you choose how Anne reacts to situations and interacts with other characters. That way, I could control crucial points in the plot and influence the overall outcome of Anne’s adventure.
In addition, I would be doing this game a disservice if I did not mention the incredible artistry of its design. A lot of video games appeal to the senses by projecting engaging sights and sounds, but Forgotton Anne takes the immersion experience to another level by showcasing hand-drawn 2-D animation and a full orchestral musical score. As Anne travels from her own house to the far and distant reaches of the Forgotten Lands, you are treated to a myriad of sets and landscapes. The colors are moody, the lines are fine and sharp, and the characters are delightfully rendered—in this respect, Forgotton Anne is a visual feast and artistic spectacle. Combined with the ever-captivating story, it creates a fully realized world of rich complexity, whimsical charm, and dazzling beauty.
Review: 9/10
Here is the Forgotton Anne Launch Trailer:
Forgotton Anne is now available on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam.
PC Review
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Overall Score - 9/109/10
From the moment I first played Lego Star Wars II: The Original Trilogy on the original Xbox, I have always had an avid curiosity and enthusiasm for video games. I admire their ability to immerse us in completely different worlds, and I am always eager to see how they integrate the newest breakthroughs in digital technology to make virtual reality feel real. I am currently a senior at UC Berkeley, but when I'm not studying I always make time to play Xbox One with my younger brother.
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