Game Review – Forgotton Anne – ThroughLine Games2 min read

ThroughLine Games with Forgotton Anne, narrates an engaging and exciting story set in a world where the forgotten or lost objects come to life, with personalities thanks to an energy source called Soul.

The game is set in a long interactive sequence shot, intermixed with puzzle sessions, undoubtedly inspired by the productions of Studio Ghibli.

In fact, communication is everything: graphics style, direction and dubbing develops together with a naturalness resulting of meticulous design. But these aspects are the framework to an exceptional storyline.

Loyalty, love, lies, selfishness, fear of change; are the issues discussed and the ranging aspects of the life of Forgotlings that Anne will investigate to complete her mission.

These elements are only an outline of a graphic adventure, delicate and brutal at times in its directness masked by ingenuity.

The progress of our experience will be formed by choices, most are of moral nature such as a what if? This will operate in the many dialogues, which often puts the player in difficulty.

Anne is the only human with Master Bonku, to have been absorbed into the city of Forgotten Lands.

Their owners forget objects that once had their identity, comes alive and becomes apart of this strange parallel universe, similar to ours.

Bonku is considered the master of the Forgotten Land, and Anne is its Guardian.

They are the only ones in possession of an extraordinary weapon: The Ark – able to extract the Forgotlings of their Soul, which is also the primary source of the city’s energy.

Due to its ability to manipulate the Soul, Bonku is building the Ether Bridge, a portal that will allow returning to the real world.

When a forgotling comes to life, immediately they will give him a job: the most deserving, those who will work with renowned zeal, will be given a ticket to cross the Ether Bridge and return from their owners, to achieve the function for which they are born to do.

The city is the mirror of our economic and social structure, based on efficiency and the use of the unethical technique.

The Forgotlings who have just arrived in the city are designated for repetitive and dull jobs that do not take into account the inclinations of their desires.

The willpower of these animated objects lies in their desire not to be forgotten, in their need to have acknowledgement, almost as if living means to function, to be useful for something.

In reality, things are never black or white, even in situations where what right seem so obvious and granted.

There is also an explicit reference to consumerism and the way we relate to everyday objects, which can transcend their economic weight only if we give them a story, to provide it with an invaluable value.

Forgotton Anne should be enjoyed by getting involved from the story, making the question that Bonku asks Anne the key to reading this adventure: What is the use of an unpaired sock?