It’s a challenging 1980s like platformer game with a serious story. For the Nintendo Entertainment System® and Famicom.
Game in active development. Demo download below.
Gametrailer (2024)
(Click the image to play the video)
Download the demo
Demo was last updated on Decemver 22, 2024. Changelog below.
The story of the game
The magic of words gave you everything and suddenly took everything from you.
A little sad and disappointed you make your way through a dangerous world. Embark on the difficult journey through dangerous caves, deep forest and icy landscapes. Collect scrolls and combine their words, face your fear and the ticking clock.
But whatever happens, never forget your most important goal: find Anna.
Screenshots
The screenshots are from the Dungeon area. In the final game there will also be a forest area as well as water and ice.
The deeper meaning of the story
The game is more than a typical 1980s platformer. The game itself is just a shell. The shell for a process of self-discovery, healing, motivation and the strong will not to give up. The character embarks on an arduous journey and search for Anna.
Even if you’ve already guessed it, Anna doesn’t have to be human or animal. Anna can just as well be representative of a favourite place, a feeling, family, being at home, feeling good or the satisfaction of a completed task or with yourself, but of course also a single person.
There is no right or wrong answer to the meaning of the game title. You decide. You are also welcome to simply ignore the psychological aspect and concentrate fully on playing this challenging platforming title. Just pay attention to the little hearts and the ticking clock. ;-P
The Green Ribbon
EASTPIXEL supports the Green Ribbon and projects that support people and integration. The author of the video game Anna: The Magic of Words is one of these people himself. A long time ago, he set out on his own quest for happiness and well-being. The project development helps him to focus on his goals. The motivation to keep going despite setbacks should also help other people. And by the way, the author has already found his Anna.
The Green Ribbon is the international symbol of mental health awareness.
https://www.seelischegesundheit.net/
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/
P.S. The game starts with a quote of Rosa Parks and it will contain many more quotes from people who have fought for human rights and equality.
Game title
The official name of the game is Anna: The Magic of Words (english) or アンナ: 言葉の魔法 (japanese).
Install instructions
Download: NES (.nes ROM, Mapper 30), Region-free NTSC/PAL, 512 KB (file is .zipped)
- Software: You can play it with a software emulator on Linux, macOS, Windows etc.: Please use FCEUX, Mesen or OpenEmu for best results
- Software and Hardware: You can play it on any random Gaming Handheld with RetroPie, Lakka, Recalbox, Batocera and so on …
- You also can use hardware flashcards like Krikzz EverDrive N8 (Pro) or nearly all other models available
Changelog
Demo Version 0.1.0 – December 22, 2024
- Physics and performance update #3
- Changed: Gameplay logic update
- Changed: small audio and graphic bugfixes
- Changed: The password system has been revised – if you collect at least 12 scrolls in the world “Dungeons”, you get a password at the end of the world, with which you can resume the game later from this point
- Added: a first brand new overworld map
- Added: one complete world “Dungeons” with 4 levels and 2 bonus stages is playable now
Demo Version 0.0.7 – December 08, 2024
- Physics and performance update #2
- Changed: Scroll engine fixes
- Changed: player jump physics
- Changed: bugfixes on overworld map (animation and moveset)
Demo Version 0.0.6 – December 01, 2024
- Physics and performance update
- Changed: Player physics – the character can now still be controlled in the air or after a collision
- Changed: Reduced Game Slowdowns and Reduced Graphic Glitches
- Changed: a new font was added, the old one was removed
- Changed: small animation problems on Overworld screen got fixed
Demo 0.0.5b – available since November 27, 2024
- Changed: Some sound effects
- Added: Overworld Map
- Added: One Bonus Level (just a placeholder to test the overworld map functions)
- Added: Overworld music (changing while progress in the game)
Demo 0.0.5a – available since October 11, 2024
- Changed: Audio Interface changed
- Added: Sound effects added – Jumping, Collecting scrolls, Collecting hearts, Get/Restart on Checkpoint, Get hurt, Game Over Screen
Demo 0.0.4b – available since May 28, 2024
- Changed: The music is now playing in the correct speed on PAL and NTSC consoles
Demo 0.0.4a – available since April 24, 2024
- Added: Music. Main theme song, Pre-Gameplay Sounds and the first Dungeon song
- Added: Overworld with Level selection (work in progress)
- Added: Enemies (bats, frogs, snakes)
- Added: “Learn to play” mode, after test players feedback
- Changed: Scroll physics, player hitbox
- Changed: collectable hears are now dynamic, they maybe appear if you need one
- Changed: Dungeon Level 1/2 – Level structure, Collectables, Enemies, Checkpoints
- Added: Dungeon Level 2/2 – a brand new second level for you to beat
- Changed: the bloody spikes in the Dungeon are finally gone (they were a placeholder in the game’s development for almost two years and changed their appearance several times), please welcome the OCTUPUS PLANTS that have taken over the world and think about how they are related to the bats 😉
- Changed: Gameplay timer set to 240 seconds per level
- Changes: Initial “lives” set to 6/8 when starting the game
Demo 0.0.3b – August 17, 2023
- Added: Password system for cheatcodes
- Demo cheatcodes:
4878 -> No hurt (the spikes are not hurt you)
8136 -> Playtime counter is set to 600 seconds (instead of 180)
Demo 0.0.3a – June 28, 2023
- Changed: Physics and scrolling engine
- Changed: Player physics (not in demo: slippery surfaces and more)
- Changed: Rendering process of graphics
- Changed: Sound and audio system (note: no audio in demo right now)
- Changed: new environment elements
- Added: animated graphics and game objects (f.e. trampolines, hearts, grass)
- Added: collectable items (scrolls, hearts to add lifes, checkpoint flags)
- Added: Timer system (seconds count backward while playing)
- Added: Title screen, Splashscreens, Infoscreens
- Added: Main navigation to start the game or call extra functions
- Added (not in demo): Password system to resume the game later
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itch.io: eastpixel.itch.io/anna
Anna: The Magic of Words is a game by EASTPIXEL. Coding and design by Christian Dinse.
Developed to run on the Nintendo® Family Computer/Nintendo® Entertainment System. Nintendo®, Nintendo Entertainment System® and NES® are trademarks of Nintendo® of America Inc. EASTPIXEL is not affiliated to Nintendo®.
The title, game, concept, coding and art are © 2024 EASTPIXEL, www.eastpixel.de