Anodyne - Nitro Rad

A game inspired by Link's Awakening with the vibe of Yume Nikki! On the surface, Anodyne is a Zelda clone. But there's much more to this thing than you'd expect.
GET THE GAME HERE:
sean-han-tani.itch.io/anodyne
SOCIAL MEDIA:
/ nitrorad
/ nitroradofficial
/ nitrorad
#anodyne #indie

[@udime123]

I always interpreted the Cube Kings as representing online friendships, talking about how they never really get to see their friends in person because they're holograms transcending space and time, but they feel closer than anyone physically close. One of the Kings' cards even says "Get off the computer or you'll never make friends!"

[@NitroRad]

Note: The Switch version of the game will be releasing later this month.

[@KyranMountain]

Thanks Nitrorad. I was just coming down into the comments to say that I was sorry I wasn't going to be able to finish the video, even though you deserved the full view... But you did say stop if you are gonna play. :) I think I will no use what for the switch version, keep up the great work my man!

[@panpanstepan96]

Nice video as always! By the way, I'm sorry to intrude this comment's reply section just so you could see what I have to say. I just wanted to ask you to check out a game called "FIREWORK". It's an indie platformer inspired by Megaman and Cave Story made by Ivan Zanotti (the creator of "IMSCARED", a game you probably know already). FIREWORK is a pretty good game (I even 100% completed it, which I rarely do) but it has not been noticed by anyone on Steam. And that kind of sucks because it definately deserves more recognition. If you're reading this comment then thank you. This is all I wanted. And once again, sorry for invading

[@777JamesC]

Cant wait to play it on switch! Thank you for the recomendation

[@WretchedRedoran]

LOVE FROM WESTERN CANADA

[@justalapwing]

I not watching the rest till i play it on the switch.

[@juliewinchester1488]

"Windmill" "A pretty big turning point in the game" 1. HAH, TURNING POINT. 2. What is this, Petscop? >3>

[@NitroRad]

im gonn a crapp my pants

[@hewhomainsness9189]

spook

[@harrypotamus4968]

Ah yes Petscop, inventor of windmills

[@juliewinchester1488]

@@harrypotamus4968 yeth

[@harrypotamus4968]

@@juliewinchester1488 white streak, speeds by

[@calebdesjardin5635]

Man I love games like this. With extremely bizarre secrets that will be a nightmare to figure out to the average person. Kinda reminds me of the skeleton playable character in the binding of isaac. The way to unlock them sounds like a rumor to unlock luigi in SM64 with how many extremely specific steps there are.

[@VonFirflirch]

It reminds me of Environmental Station, it looks like a super low res metroid game, but the post-game has very cryptic secrets for people to figure out. IIRC, there's also a specific item that requires the use of a glitch.

[@blokheadsreviews679]

I personally don’t see the appeal of a scenario like the one described in this game. While I’m not the biggest fan of these nigh unsolvable puzzles period, I can understand something like PT where the reward is the reveal that there would have been a Silent Hill sequel (which a lot of people wanted) directed by Hideo Kojima (who a lot of people like). Here it just feels like a nigh unsolvable puzzle for the sake of a nigh unsolvable puzzle. And I get that the intention is to kinda leave you unfulfilled, but if someone intentionally made a game like Bubsy 3D, does that all of a sudden make it a good game?

[@Yayouswords]

« Mew is under the truck » They said

[@justas423]

How do you unlock the skeleton?

[@calebdesjardin5635]

@@justas423 I believe something like on the first floor of the run, beat the floor boss in 1 minute, bring your butt back to the center of the first room you spawn in, bomb that stop to get a shovel piece. Then mom's foot will be stomping you constantly until you beat the mom fight, which gets you the second shovel peice. It takes up your active item slot. You must bring this shovel to the dark room floor, find a room with an odd tile on the floor, and dig up the ground on the tile. That unlocks you the Skeleton. Who is the only melee focused character in the game.

[@Jake_Eyes]

I think the other definition of anodyne is more pertinent here, which is, according to Google, "not likely to provoke dissent or offense; inoffensive, often deliberately so." That describes Young pretty well, doesn't it?

[@BoundaryBreak]

Of course I watch this vid and end up catching that reference at 16:16

[@NitroRad]

I was convinced you were stalking me when you tweeted about Boundary Break the game, because I literally wrote that line just hours before you did haha

[@BoundaryBreak]

hahaha!! I honestly thought this was a reference to my tweets!

[@analgesicproductions]

@@BoundaryBreak Someone should hide an NPC version of you in a game!

[@BoundaryBreak]

@ANALGESIC PRODUCTIONS that someone should be you!! Please?? hahaha

[@analgesicproductions]

@@BoundaryBreak hmm.....hm...perhaps

[@yhenestik]

How is every single one of your videos so refreshing? I usually watch the spoilers since I don't buy too many games but watching these is an experience on its own.

[@yhenestik]

@@TheCrippledEgg yeah, seems right.

[@SomeAT-AT]

i don't know

[@indigowendigo8165]

A good mix of logic/taste and passion as well as the music that plays in the videos is probably it. :p That, and possibly nostalgia if it's an old game.

[@ultimaT]

3:20 I have played link's awakening enough to hear that damn falling sound instantly when i see this.

[@jameslawrenson1208]

It's ingrained in my mind.

[@JibbityJenkins]

You've definitely reached high on my list of favorite youtubers, dude. Your delivery, voice, sense of humor, how you describe things and how you randomly throw a laughed at joke here and there, you're great. Additionally, I love how you show games no one really knows about. Makes it more interesring

[@elimulvihill4126]

Damn dude...that interpretation of yours from 13:30 is like, really relevant to stuff going on with my life recently. Whether you're right about what the game's saying or not, you're 200% right about how to live life. Thank you for making this. The review's great in its own right but man, that was really something I (and maybe a lot of other people) really needed to hear.

[@TealOpal]

I actually went out of my way to play this game after watching the first half of this video! I waited for the Switch version, bought it, and played it. I really enjoyed it, and am really happy this video encouraged me to pick it up. On the subject of the game's story, one very consistent trend I found in it was references to escapist media, avoiding social situations (like you said), and the concept of being anti-social in general. Things like the boss voice chastising you for playing Nintendo, collecting cards, and saying "You have to learn to deal with people", the cube kings having dialogue that very clearly mirrors the idea of choosing online friendships over physical ones, and even the main character's name, "Young". To me, the game felt like the look into the psyche of the exact type of person playing it: A "young", anti-social person with nerdy, niche hobbies and interests learning to better handle social and outgoing situations. The ending, with the whole "Going to get a sandwich" thing seems to echo this. Once again, the whole game feels like a personified take on a socially anxious young adult trying to branch out, complete with second guessing their own hobbies, interests, and online relationships, and ending with them accepting it all, and going to hang out with friends. I'm sure most people who've played this game (myself included) can relate. The entire situation between The Sage and Mitra near the end of the game, when The Sage reacts with hostility to Young having a friend, strikes me as someone second guessing a friendship, telling themselves that their friends hate them or pity them, despite that clearly not being the case. This might all sound overly analytical and pretentious, but it's what I took away from the game regardless. Throughout my playthrough, I sort of came to the idea that the game's world didn't actually exist in an in-universe sense, as it was all meant to reflect and personify a socially anxious person's mindset. Great video as always, and again, thanks for encouraging me to check this game out.

[@Masterge77]

Never thought I'd actually see a spiritual successor to Link's Awakening, especially one with very dream-like Yume Nikki-esque elements to it. I've always been fond of these kind of games and I really need to play them more often, I might try this one myself sometime.

[@cheiftainvulpix]

When you said only two people made this game, I feel more confident now with my own indie game. :> Edit: Oh man, I didn't expect so much support, info, encouragement, and likes, thank you!

[@chrismdb5686]

Best of luck!

[@yhenestik]

You're making one? Good luck!

[@kobaltsteel6418]

That makes two of us!

[@allawy4131]

Good luck dude

[@IamaPERSON]

Ooh, what's your game gonna have?

[@joaomacabrodeath]

Critics at Anodyne: "This game makes no sense" Hylide: 'Hold my bear"

[@danieladamczyk4024]

NR: I am ready for everything in Anodyne 2. Analgesic Productions: "Chuckle"

[@AestheticGamer]

Really happy you covered this game, I played this one years ago and parts of it have stuck with me all these years later.

[@Zorklis]

@Nitro Rad good timing with this and Link's awakening.

[@theblindracer6364]

That Rayman hoodie though!

[@Filipe1020]

Even his hair looks like Rayman's lol

[@daydreamteam1366]

yeah, raymon hoodiiiie

[@midnightunderground]

I thought it was bille hacther!!!!

[@i_teleported_bread7404]

Rayman is kinda his whole thing.

[@Nelward64]

yes!!! Sean Han Tani is amazing!!! gonna pick this game up on the 28th!

[@himhim2527]

Nelward i love your work

[@analgesicproductions]

nelward's music is amazing!!

[@palerider9952]

Your music is very inspiring!

[@Slaanash]

I love this game so much, I'm glad you finally covered it! Youngtown is such an incredible area. Going by some of the darker moments - Like waking up in a dark room if you quit, or the hidden Archive area that has someone begging you to "wake up", I took away a vague, but really dark meaning from the game. Anodyne 2 looks good, but I'm a little sad it also looks so different. I'll still buy it for sure, though.

[@TomasBruno-ww6tg]

I played both Anodyne games just to watch your videos and they were some of my most pleasing experiences of the last year. Thank you

[@milkfish1605]

Love your style man

[@ZedJay23]

Oh I remember this game, I still have it’s music in my playlist and love it when it shows up.

[@berpipo]

coming back when i finish the game.

[@kenpanderz672]

imagine if AAA games had soul like this.

[@adrianasmithy664]

The devs seem like really rad peeps, I follow them online and I love it when game devs are so open about their games' production and always eager to listen to player feedback.

[@analgesicproductions]

Hi there! Thank you!! Glad you appreciate our open approach.

[@skrbs2644]

This was once again, another *great* video... ...the debug feature is required... unique. :)

[@Zenlore6499]

I loved the interaction with the background gradient in this video!

[@mix3k818]

It sure looks beautiful for pixel art. Probably because of the colors

[@NanaKyoto]

Sometimes, cryptic secrets are the best secrets.

[@DanielKay06]

I was always under the impression that the game is Young dreaming on the verge of waking up (I interpreted the "you are about to wake up" as it meaning he is about to wake up for real but isn't quite there yet). He's going through his own mind in a semi lucid dream and exploring all the issues he has. Him defeating and then befriending Briar in the end IS him waking up and having resolved those issues. The swap tool essentially is him gaining more lucidity about his dreams.

[@Dr0dd]

Alright James, you sold me. See you in a few hours or so to watch the rest of the video.

[@mads_in_zero]

Okay, I love how you turned the bunny puzzle into a call-back to your safe-cracking point at the start of the video. Very nicely done NitroRad

[@lilteddiursa]

Haven't watched yet but I love this game and I'm so happy yer giving it more exposure, it really deserves it

[@deletedTestimony]

back after beating that game and helllll yeah it was worth pausing the video for.

[@Bootleg_Jones]

I'm so glad you did a video on this game. It's one of my favorite games of all time, mostlt because of the post-game secrets. I can't wait for Anodyne 2! Also, I'd really like to see your take on Even the Ocean.

[@juherd1967]

man, definitely gonna double dip when this comes out on the Switch. Haven't played this game since 2013, yet I never stop thinking about it.

[@piercebros]

This looks fantastic. The sequel looks incredible! Holy shit. Thanks Nitro Rad for introducing me to these. Great developer.

[@Smooler]

You discovered for me some really good games, that I didn't know about! And you keep doing it! Thanks James!

[@mammutbrot9230]

Thank you sooooo much for making a Video about this game and showing it to us one of the best games i ever played!

Nothing to add except the fact that I always greatly enjoy your reviews. :)

[@fanofsimonpegg]

Who needs notification squad when you pop in 60 seconds after upload?

[@foxplays_]

Make sure to check out their other game Even The Ocean, really cool platformer and of course legendary soundtrack and story

[@shockpine]

Holy shit you make videos quickly, I didn't expect to see this for another week or so!

[@phantomkitten73]

10:32 Th-that's terrifying, like if We Happy Few and Black Mirror made some sort of suicide pact baby...

[@feIon]

thank you for yet again showing me a game i've never seen but am super interested in

[@cultofgiygas]

Thanks for putting up this review. I had to stop the video just to play it. It's super good.

[@PanEquinox]

I got this game years back, & I want you to know that I 100% completed it in the last week because of your video. Thank you.

[@mighty_mura]

Cool, glad to see you cover this one. Played it quite some time ago and as weird as Anodyne is, it wasn't too bad.

[@warrenpack9734]

subscribed to 200 people, religiously watch dozens of a videos a day and you are easily my favorite KZbinr. Thanks for the content ❤️

[@gabrielajanki9167]

I think that 'voice' that appears before and after each boss is supposed to be those bosses talking with you. Regardless, I've played this game and beat it's final boss, and it's quite a treat!

[@GamingChiliHedgehog]

Dude! I just finished the main game today and came back here to watch the final half of this video. I've gotta say, this game was a trip and I loved it. While I didn't do the post-game quest, and I'm kinda glad I didn't cuz I'd be furious if I knew that there was nothing but a door I couldn't get by. Regardless, Anodyne is a great game and I recommend it to all who are reading this.

[@zeldafreak247]

I really don't know what I gathered from this game, but whatever it was I am very glad I played it. Frankly, I really like what you gathered from it. I won't say that that's what I got from it immediately but what you explained that you got from it definitely hits home. I tend to find myself having trouble following through on stuff that I say I'm going to do and I'm really glad I experienced this game

[@Diwasho]

Anodyne, developed by Analgesic Productions... Sounds like someone wanted to run a pharmacy instead of a game studio.

[@purplevectorgaming6089]

I honestly watched on like maybe five minutes and ended this video to play it for my own. Its now one of my favorite videos games up there for me personally with Persona 3 and Silent Hill 2. Thank you Mr. Rad for showing me this and many other games I may have never tried on my own. I also really hope Anodyne 2 comes to console. Even with its very simple graphics I just don't have a computer strong enough to run it.

[@MorbidAnimosity]

This was the first game i ever bought on steam, it was great!

[@ChesuMori]

Hmm... Okay, I'm going to watch the spoilery part of the video, on the assumption that when I finally get around to playing this game two years from now I won't remember any of it.

[@banone6384]

Sadly, you will remember. And sadly, once you are told that which you were too impatient to discover on your own, you will never be able to fully understand the truly wondrous experience this game tried to offer you, had you taken the time to unravel its mysteries on your own.

[@ChesuMori]

@@banone6384 It's been less than a week and I don't remember anything from this video other than wiggling out of bounds to get a blank red card.

[@banone6384]

Ha ha. I’m sorry Mori. I just realized the angles we’re approaching this from are so far apart, they may as well be in different galaxies. Carry on!

[@charlottebiscuit4133]

i think i literally did this lol im pretty sure i've watched this years ago

[@notheotheralex6213]

(spoilers under "read more") Man, I got the game for a buck on switch after seeing this video, but I somehow managed to forget the fisherman thing and go through all that panic as if it was new... and the fisherman wasn't even in the spoiler section. Weird that the only spoiler parts I really remembered while playing were the swap mechanic, the _darn rabbit,_ and the sepia town -- you know, the other place where you kill innocent people. I just kinda forgot the other one... somehow. (That bloody whirlpool area took me off guard, but man, the 8-bit section is what really creeped me out.)

[@x0lif3]

A new video from you is always a touch of god

[@Calcifrizzle]

I just got through playing this game and came back to watch the 2nd half of the video. I ended up damage boosting and coyote timing my way through most of the dungeons, but I think some of the music and environments totally nailed that bewildering, wordlessly discomforting tone that YN did so well. Some of the pixel art and animation was really neat, too. This game would probably have passed me by if your review hadn't got me interested, so thank you for that!

[@Toldasor]

Loved the addition of petscop in the examples! So happy to see people starting to give that game some more attention after all these years.

[@salokin3087]

Another nitrorad another cool indie game I didn't know about!

[@AprilsMoon92]

I remember playing this gave back when it came out. I really liked it!

[@redliteyt]

Thank you Nitro. Very Cool

[@squeethemog213]

What an interesting game. It definitely is not my thing but that does not stop me from appreciating how cool this game really is. Thanks for covering it James.

[@t-virustv3056]

I always love seeing the games he review's.

[@Mike14264]

James, thanks a lot for this video. I never heard of this game, and now I see it's an amazing game. Seeing those kinda crazy endgame secrets reminds me of other games like FEZ, or The Witness.

[@DarthAles]

Well I'm quitting the video 10 minutes in as the game is on sale and you've definitely made me interested. Buying it now to play so thanks for the recommendation.

[@RABBIDGamfan]

Sean Han Tani's games all appeal to me greatly. I remember Even the Ocean and All Our Asias both grabbing me right up until the end. Needless to say, I am stoked for Anodyne 2.

[@analgesicproductions]

Thank you for your support!

[@studyman99]

There's this rpg maker game called Witch's Heart, I think you would like it XD

[@colleenglanville8293]

I never heard of this game until now, it looks like a pretty good game, also great job on the videos! 😄😁👍

[@alexweaver6994]

i just started this game after seeing it on sale on xbox, hadnt heard of it before, but i really liked what i saw in the trailer. i’m not very far but so far my favourite part is the rock that tells you talking to people twice will have more dialogue, but then talking to the rock again says something along the lines of “except rocks, rocks don’t do that”

[@davidsagitas343]

Looks like crazy, weird fun. Will try! Thanks!

[@pegaweegee2522]

Ever had a dream that could be a pretty good idea for a video game? :0

[@n-extrafries-surprise]

I had a dream like that and I really really wanted it to turn it into a video game. The main theme is kinda philosophical. Probably the message is to stop relying on escapism to be happy. The genre is kinda horror but it is more like Adventure rpg. I even thought of the world setting and the rules of the world.

[@exzisd]

Ahh that music is bliss.

[@Ennbeard]

The "Independent Devs can" bit at 0:26 reminds me so much of an old TV "ad" (more like a government message thing?) about a... TV that was like "You've got choices. You've got books and sports and you can go outside and play!" Just how it was worded and paced, was a bit of a weird specific memory. Great video, came here after the Anodyne 2 one.

[@thexmagusxhunter612]

Great video, also you got my vote for your pal Advo.

[@macaronimatt5531]

good video. Very informative and helpful

[@Ry0Mia]

Finally a video of RPG game!

[@GretgorPooper]

I played this, and quite enjoyed it. This was an informative, fun and interesting review, as always. I'm also hype as f**k for Anodyne 2.

[@purpleblah2]

Those glitches when you go too far out of bounds reminds me of when my Link's Awakening cartridge glitched out and showed a bunch of nonsense when I loaded my save.

[@justanotheryoutubechannel]

I totally called the bit with fisherman.

[@dustycatt]

I think this game is like one big dream. You don't know why things are the way they are and why certain events happen. But still it's all connected because it happens in a single person's mind and represents Young's struggles in real life. Those little things like (spoilers?) that guy who was watching the city from the roof and told about his love for all humans really made me love this game a lot.

[@shybluehope894]

I think I want to play this. I'll come back and watch the rest of the video later.

[@JojoMonReturns91]

Actually, the accoustic guitar part reminds me of Nier Automia as if that whole mechanical like main character in this game reminded me a bit of the main girl in Nier Automia (both wear blindfolds I guess)

[@sebastianwardana1527]

Its easier to pretend like everything is ok than to better yourself... your choice of putting it is a good way to wrap the whole thing up without pointing fingers...

[@khdo12346]

Didn't notice the Nitrorad background swap persisting for a while until the second watch. Neither the background glitching alongside the game. Nice touch

[@misterlinkloquendo19]

Oh yeah, I give a try to this game And It was phenomenal! Can't wait to play its sequel!!!

[@SageofSorrow]

This guys voice is very soothing and....”professionally honed”. He sounds like he would(if not already) make a great voice actor. I can hear his voice coming out of the young, brash rival type character of an english dubbed anime or jrpg..🤔. Excellent content btw

[@MallowClouding]

Dammit Nitro, I love your videos but you sold me on this game so now I gotta play it and beat it to see what you have to sayyyyy

[@indigowendigo8165]

Wow, I'm a little more than halfway through the video and this game already sounds really insane. o.o I think I'm going to get it in the future. :p

[@MACZ2021]

Idk what happens for the second half of the video, but I like what I've seen so far and I'm definitely coming back to this after I play the game, it looks really interesting

[@MACZ2021]

So I forgot to follow up on my comment, but I finished the game a week later after I posted my comment. While I finished up the game, I read how there was a new game + for it, and instead of looking into it more I just figured it meant starting a new save file after the credits. Come to find out I essentially have to replay the game again cause the "new game +" content applied to just the post game. Big goof on my part but I guess that gives me enough reason to replay the game :)

[@tiagocosmos]

I bought this game on steam because of this video (and because of the sale). I only played a bit, but it seems enjoyable.

[@kendog84bsc]

Man, you've got an amazing view to like ratio Nitro! I (subjectively) think it's a much nicer accomplishment than a view count that can change drastically overnight depending on the mood of the recommendation feed algorythm.

[@hunterchapman9356]

Hey man! Love your vids Video idea though.. what about taking an in depth look at the SCP CB game lore? Or that of Darkwood? Looks right up your aisle honestly

[@scientificbrony]

I think he's done dark wood I think

[@bleachedraptor131]

Five minutes into the review and I gotta stop cause this is definitely a game I’m gonna wanna play

[@q-miiproductions878]

I’m actually a distant relative to the developer! (I’m their cousin!)

[@Zeph101theoriginal]

Please do Even the Ocean too, it's from the same developers and could really do with more attention.

[@qrtrx4]

the voice scolding young is a boomer

[@gamerse7en560]

Found you from a comment you posted. Good commentary.