Anomaly's Journey

Found this game randomly while scrolling through Tw*tter.
I enjoyed the story overall. Nice friendship, and all that jazz. Characters gelled really well together, very natural and I felt really invested in the story. That being said, it did feel like a sequel, with all the references to unseen characters, for of the game until near the end. While I do somewhat understand where you were going with this form of storytelling, it was a pervasive, jarring feeling, like, once again, I was playing a sequel. Good moments of this were like Lana, for example, "oh yeah, maid-to-go at home, sure." But when second, third, all the way through what I believe were 6 names randomly popped up? I had to go check back to your game-list to be sure I didn't just hop in the second game.

I also thought this game was going to be more... well, for a lack of better terms, "Undertale-esque" than it actually was due to the statue at the start glaring? It seemed like I was going to get a lot more punished from straying from being a goodie-two-shoes, not that I minded of course, but it was still a lingering thought throughout my first playthrough.

Playing through the game, overturning all nooks and crannies (but also because I suck at games) took me around... 10 hours? Uh, I did encounter some spelling issues, a handful of wall-clipping and even 1 infinite item dupe glitch! Fun! Some buffs aren't really explained, and neither are the stats (What does Luck do? What does Mind do?) It'd be nice if players could see all the alternate endings/stuff, rather than replaying through the game to see
some after-game credits.

[SPOILER WARNING]-ish

My personal favorite part was the UOOOH LITTLE GIRL part. Really out of left-field and had me laughing a solid minute. AoH best character/boss. Speaking of left-field, the "anti-streamer language" was a strange touch, maybe could have gone without it as it didn't really... add to anything, outside of more colorful insults? It didn't hamper my enjoyment, but it just seemed unnecessary. I also find it weird they just let the man-eating fairy in without any gripes. Like, that part bothered me the most, the... the party was, what, "I guess we can't blame you for eating da humies haha xd" like, huh???

Linda really saved my rear throughout the game, the unsung hero, tanking and guardin'. Waw. I didn't touch the sword stance as often sadly, due to the party disintegrating and causing me to waste revives or risk having underleveled party members, her sword stance popped off, and it was great.
I enjoyed Floria despite the author notes on her; a clover plus the multi-hit charm meant anywhere from 280 to 2.8k damage on a whim to the final boss. Okay, maybe that's not that much, but between having a built-in multi-hit, sounding like JOEY WHEELER (Jonouchi) and just being relatable, she has a special place in my heart. I do agree though that her skills were all over the place, but she was a nice Jack of All Trades.
Cofee for me was just a self-sustain, although the stun was nice. I mean, the multi-hit meant healing over 50% from just an attack? Almost considered making her the tank at a point. I didn't really use her debuffs, for they rarely procc'd, outside the stun.
Alora was kinda insufferable until near the end, both in and out of combat. Her heal was nice, and so was her treasure scout, but I always felt like I had to babysit her, and pray she didn't get melted before I could get Linda set up. At least her character changed for the better near the end, good on her. I do wish my poison managed to pop off, it seemed like... it was a percentage based damage thing? Hmmm.

Reading the author's notes, am upset I got gatekept the "best armor" in the game. Also you could interact with the Assassin Captain? Huh???

I also HATE that third stone puzzle, nice items, but I HATE IT.
AAAAA

[SPOILER WARNING]-ish end

Uhhh, I enjoyed the game. I mean, I spent a while playing it, and a bit more typing out this review. Niceu~!