Разработчик: Big Evil Corporation
Описание
Purchase Mega Drive Cartridge
Tanglewood: physical edition available now!
ROMs just don’t do it for you, huh? We get it. You can purchase Tanglewood on a cartridge here. It’s multi-region, and compatible with original PAL, NTSC and NTSC-J SEGA Mega Drive/Genesis consoles. It’ll even work on most clone consoles!
About the Game
They don’t make them like this any more. Designed from scratch on 90’s development hardware, built from the ground up in raw 68000 assembly code, Tanglewood is a true 16-bit platformer—now available on modern systems.Originally released on SEGA Mega Drive/Genesis, Tanglewood is now on Steam! We at Big Evil Towers asked a couple of friends to help out, and they came through—quickly building a bespoke Mega Drive emulator, meaning you can play Tanglewood on PC exactly as it should be.
But there’s more: every digital copy of Tanglewood includes the Mega Drive ROM, DRM-free, for you to do with as you please. Use your own favourite emulator, play on original hardware via a flash cart, add to your Retropie setup—it’s your game. Take it and have fun!
Anyway, the game: Nymn is a young Djunn, who has been separated from his pack. Lost, nervous and alone, he needs to find his way through the sprawling forest of Tanglewood—a place of darkness, night terrors and strange, hungry beasts.
Help Nymn make it through to morning by using special abilities, lateral thinking and quick reactions to avoid, defeat and overcome the challenges and monsters that await!
- A true 16-bit game, designed and programmed on 90’s hardware
- 28 levels across eight story chapters
- Fast-paced 2D platforming meets interesting puzzles, tricks and surprises
- Hand-crafted pixel art with fluid animation
- Original soundtrack by freezedream, designed for the gorgeous tones of the YM2612
- Day/night cycle, secrets, achievements and collectables
Поддерживаемые языки: english
Системные требования
Windows
- OS *: Windows 7+
- Processor: Dual Core 1.8ghz
- Memory: 1 GB RAM
- Graphics: Intel HD
- Storage: 50 MB available space
Mac
- OS: MacOS Sierra 10.12.5+
- Processor: Dual Core 1.8ghz
- Memory: 1 GB RAM
Linux
- OS: Ubuntu 16.04 LTS+ or equivalent
- Processor: Dual Core 1.8ghz
- Memory: 1 GB RAM
- Additional Notes: Requires accelerated OpenGL drivers
Отзывы пользователей
Interesting development idea, but it's not really remarkable even for a legacy game platform. It's still designed like a Genesis era game. You have to read the manual to understand controls and game mechanics. Maps are mostly empty, enemies are basic, and the music is noticeably lacking. The game still couldn't compete with some classic platformers of the 90's.
Honestly one of my favourite games ever, it's not necessarily for everyone but the ost, art and story arc make one of my favourite games ever, also very nostalgic
This game feels so nostalgic, as if I've had played this in my childhood.
So I've given myself the task of playing and finishing this game every year at Christmas period.
At the time of writing I've finished the game 3 times already and i'm gonna keep doing it.
On my first playthrough in 2020 i got the bad ending, i told myself to get the good ending on the next Christmas in 2021
It felt so good getting the good ending after a year's wait.
Ecco the Dolphox
Do you like 16 bit platformers? Do you like 16 bit puzzlers? If you answered yes to either of those then you should give this game a try.
Completed it on my SEGA Genesis using an Everdrive (purchasing on Steam includes a Genesis Rom), but fired it up for a minute on PC so I could leave this review.
I'm only halfway through the game, but I just felt like sharing.
Tanglewood is a beautiful classic-style action/puzzle/platformer with very tight controls and perfectly paced mechanic introduction. If I were to describe it in a few words, I would say that it's 'highly focused and charmingly simple.' It's worth mentioning, too, that the game introduces an AI partner early on. And, unlike what you might expect from an old genesis game, the AI mechanics are dependable (and fun).
I truly love this game and I hope it finds a larger audience in the future. I think it has a lot of potential as a speedrunning game, especially if more exploits are found than are currently known. Also, if you're using a Playstation or Xbox controller, you'll probably want to change the controls. The game puts a little bit too much on the thumbs.
Tanglewood is a puzzle-platformer akin to games like Abe's Oddyssee and LIMBO, with one of its noteworthy features being that it was developed for the Sega Mega Drive and Genesis as well as modern PCs.
If I had be short about this review, I would say its simple but charming.
While I can't say too much about how accurate it is for something that would run alongside Sonic 1, Streets of Rage and other games of those consoles, I can definitely speak for its PC version, which as far as I know is running on an emulator. As a result, I may not fully understand the limitations that might help contribute to its flaws.
The gameplay is fairly simple puzzle platformer busywork. You play as a fox-like creature called Nymn to jump and solve your way through levels with a variety of powers at your disposal. Movement feels much like a more agile Sonic the Hedgehog with less emphasis on momentum, even the jump animation seems to be a callback to Sonic. You can push and pull objects, and also temporarily obtain powers that includes standard stuff such as a glide, freezing time, and pacifying beasts.
The game isn't very difficult, especially if you've dealt with these sorts of games before, and I found myself figuring out solutions to puzzles sometimes without knowing it or really trying, as there isn't much room allowed for error when most of the ways you can push something is either heavily limited by blockades or consist of getting objects onto the ground floor then pushing it to the appropriate place its meant to go. While it means you won't get stuck on any 'puzzle' for too long, there isn't much in the way of satisfying 'Aha!' moments. The puzzles do still get a bit repetitive though despite its short length, but some of the chase sequences can be fun if nothing too special.
The powers also feel a bit underutilized beyond the glide, which is used more so as reward for completing a puzzle to reach the next area then anything interesting beyond a single early chapter that actually does something with it.
The story...well considering it is going for a Mega Drive/Genesis feel, there isn't a huge amount going on, which could be a plus or negative depending on what you like. Its pretty much just 'survive', even the final boss felt like they were just kind of 'there', doing evil for the sake of it in their own limited way. However, I was still surprised a few times in the game, to be spoilers free.
Visually, I think it looks great. Nice looking and thematically distinct levels, the main character is cute and is decently animated, though I feel like maybe there could have been a few more animations, like an idle or such. As well, I personally find some of the enemies a bit bland and not very interesting to look at, and their hitboxes don't match up with their spite at times, most likely to stop players from skipping puzzles but still.
Sound is strange in this game, the audio doesn't seem to have enough channels at times, so you'll just have sound effects overriding each other, though it never gets grating due to there very rarely being enough sound effects occurring in the first place. The game is noticeably quiet at times, to the point that I could've thought the level's music track must have bugged out, but even basic sound effects seem to missing from things as simple as the default jump you can perform. Even if its done on purpose, after awhile it doesn't feel atmospheric anymore, but more so unfinished at times. I will say the game's soundtrack, when it does play a single unlooped music track from it every now and then, is great and does make me wish there was more of it to help fill out the dead silence of the levels.
Despite its flaws, I did enjoy my time with Tanglewood, and would say if you've got at most three to five hours to kill (it is very short, look at my playtime), though it might be best to get it on sale if you think its too much for its length.
It's a great puzzle platformer that's not too difficult but is somewhat challenging.
It's pretty comfy, the visuals are great in all their 16-bit glory and the soundtracks fit perfectly.
The controls are decent and the emulation works flawlessly.
A puzzle platformer without any narration, you start the game and it leaves you to figure out what to do. At first it is confusing, as all you can do is jump across some trees and eventually come to a roadblock. But stick with it and it opens up as an nostalgic adventure from the 16-bit era of gaming (it is a Megadrive/Genesis game after all) Music is very minimal and the graphics vary from level to level but are always just detailed enough. When this is on a sale, definitely worth a look !
+ Good 16-bit graphics and soft puzzle elements
+ Has automatic saving
- Start is confusing, music minimal.
This game is really fun and challenging, there is no death that makes you feel it was unfair. The artwork is beautiful, and for a game with no dialog the story is well delivered and the characters are lovely.
I replayed the game just to get all the fireflies and it was totally worth it!, it has a lot of replayability value IMO and if my toaster can run it everything can.
(FYI My Steam account shows zero activity for Tanglewood, because I exported the ROM file and played it on my Raspberry Pi using Lakka.)
Finished playing Tanglewood last night. The minimal soundtrack is beautiful and the visuals are bright and colourful. The puzzles were only mildly taxing, and each stage has a fresh game mechanic to introduce variety to the gameplay (but without overloading the player).
The core character design and animation is lovely. You develop a genuine affection for Nymn, and want to guide the fuzzy little dude safely home past the dangers lurking in this deep dark forest. You can definitely see a variety of influences in the game design, ranging from classics like Sonic the Hedgehog and The Lion King through to more modern indie titles like Limbo.
If I had any criticism, it would be that the puzzles become a little repetitive towards the last quarter of the game. And there's a wee difficulty spike where more precise controls are needed to get through the final stages. Finally, the ending feels a little abrupt, leaving some questions lingering about the fate of Nymn...
Nonetheless, I would definitely recommend Tanglewood. Considering the technical restrictions that Big Evil Corp imposed on themselves -- coding on vintage hardware -- this is a remarkable achievement. But more than a loving tribute to the 16 bit era, the game stands alone; it proves that good game design is simply good game design, regardless of the electronic bells and whistles behind the scenes.
Looking forward to the sequel, or whatever the next project will be from Big Evil Corp!
I'm going to talk about the game itself, since I completed it on real Sega hardware and not using the included emulator. I sort of take issue with folks giving this game a negative score based on the PC experience. If you have issues with the emulator, you could always try the ROM file with a different one. There's no DRM. Now that that's out of the way:
You can tell a lot of love went into this game. It's a modern indie title that has been developed from scratch using development tools contemporary with its target platform, the Sega Genesis. Even though this is an indie title, it outshines many games created by major studios in the 90s. The art and music is atmospheric, lending a distinct mood to every stage. The controls are tight and responsive, and the platforming is straightforward. The puzzles are not very hard, but they are engaging and set a good pace throughout. The story is a simple one, but it is probably the best story ever told on the Genesis and will stir your emotions.
This is one of those games that makes a case for video games being an art form. It mixes fresh ideas with classic platforming. If you can appreciate a modern indie title shining through the limitations of late 80s technology, I cannot recommend this game enough.
I just beat Tanglewood in 5 hours... and you know you've played a good game when it leaves you in awe, with a sense of accomplishtment, and a teary eye. It's a puzzle platformer, you need to solve challenges one at a time, use your wit and different game abilities, it's not about fighting (though there's some killing to do.) The art style is beautiful, especially (!!) the area where the character is blacklit against a gorgeous sunset. What can I say, loved the game a lot. Definitely recommended.
This game is by LIMBO if it was made for the mega drive. It's an amazing game yet with the puzzles designed like in LIMBO and INSIDE by playdead with a little bit of Sonic, Big Evil Corporation really took inspiration from these games I can feel it, people are gonna disagree here but I can feel that the dev really took LIMBO and demaked it into a more colorful, warm and fuzzy 90s game, but still has that unsettling and dark kinda atmosphere (dark in a sense not actual dark), but it's more with chapters rather than going in a straight line you know what I mean.
Anyways check it out! You'll really like it if you like LIMBO and classic SEGA games.
DUDE I ALWAYS THINK THIS AS LIMBO OK!
IT'S FUCKING LIMBO! with a cute fox
First of all, ignore the "hours played" on my review as I have been playing this on my Genesis! Just the simple fact that I can do that in 2018 is amazing enough to me. That said, I have verified the game functions perfectly well on Linux. I would describe Tanglewood as a cross between the 16 bit "Lion King" game and Ecco the Dolphin. It's a platformer starring a quick fox who has to use smarts and the environment to evade danger. It has a story told in pantomime, like many other 16 bit classics. Decently done sprites and backgrounds. An evocative (but a bit sparse) soundtrack. Quick, responsive play control that feels good. Outside of its 16 bit conventions, I would describe Tanglewood as actually a fairly modern indie game and feels a bit casual--infinite lives and a good number of checkpoints, and more of a focus on taking in the experience. Unlike a lot of games from the era it's mimicking, it's relatively pacifist, with a focus on evading and avoiding enemies rather than confronting them (well, most of the time). That's not to say it's easy, you will definitely not breeze through it. The world itself is hostile, and you'll see the death animation many times!
I do have some criticisms, all of which are fairly minor. The levels are huge, but also a bit sparse and unpopulated. There are really only 3 enemy types and none of them are particularly difficult. There are only (what I'd describe as) two bosses in the game. Some of the level design has "gotcha" elements that will catch you on the first playthrough. Each level has a handful of puzzles to solve but outside of that the designs are mostly point-A to point-B. My biggest criticism is that there could have been more variety in the puzzles. The puzzle types are decently clever, but get reused a bit and once you've figured out the trick behind something, it's not challenging to see that puzzle come up again.
All in all, from the perspective of a retrogamer, Tanglewood is probably the all-around best 16-bit revival effort I've played. It feels authentic to its roots, but also has enough going for it to be fresh and interesting even to people who aren't nostalgia-afflicted like me. Outside of its "gimmick," it works on its own merits, which I think is the highest praise I can give it. Give it a go!
Captures the same feeling I got when I was four/five sitting in front of the TV with my original SegaMD. Music is great, exploration is satisfying, character is cute AF.
I was VERY pleasantly surprised about how good this game was! The graphics are outstanding, the platforming is challenging, and the soundtrack is great! My only issue is that there aren't more levels! AND THAT PLOT TWIST WHY MUST YOU DO THIS TO ME!
Tanglewood is a top-notch gaming experience.
In this 16-bit platformer (actually built, coded and assembled on original developer tools for the Sega Megadrive) you take control of Nymn, a fox-like forest critter, and navigate levels with puzzles, skill-based jump sequences and ruthless enemies in.
First and foremost there has to be some recognition of the game's construction – whilst there are many games that aim for a 'retro' feel and only achieve pastiche, Tanglewood is authentic and benefits hugely from this fact; this is no mere nostalgia trip with nods to old games – Tanglewood is a strong game in and of itself, not a game propping itself up against an older 'style' (though fans of the 16 bit era of platformers will certainly feel a lovely sense of familiarity when playing).
The game's design is excellent – the difficulty and learning curve are perfectly managed so that puzzles and situations are challenging without ever feeling unfair, allowing the player to garner what they need to know from playing the game rather than anything ever being hinted to them, be it a tricksome puzzle or an intimidating enemy. In terms of pure gameplay, Tanglewood is utterly accomplished; the gameplay is always fun and maintains its challenge without ever stepping over the line into any objectionable artificial difficulty padding.
Stellar artwork and design run through this entire game – the character model for Nymn is so adorable that one may find themselves reaching for the thesaurus to find other ways to describe him (to save some time you can choose from: lovable, charming, cute, sweet, enchanting, dear, darling, delightful, lovely, winsome, precious and a personal favourite, bonny). The animations for his movements add to this, making Nymn a delight to play as. On a technical level, too, his movements are responsive and accurate, especially when navigating some tricky elements of the game; there's no cheapness associated with any failures to progress, it's all down to the player!
Sound design's always been an important part of any game and Tanglewood succeeds in this department as well, quite bravely taking a stripped back approach where, at times, there will be no background music at all; only the sounds of the character's movements and the ambient noise of the world around you – thus when the player hits a point in the level where some of the soundtrack does kick in, it really 'means' something and enhances the moment significantly.
By its very nature, the expectation for this game may well be that it's going to be a warm blanket of nostalgia for a bygone era but Tanglewood is a success unto itself – a game that knows what it wants to do and is delightfully precise in attaining that – this is a game that would be fun in any era. Highly recommended experience.
As an addendum, a worthy nomination for the Labour of Love Steam Awards, 2020. Having talked to the developer and heard his passion for Tanglewood, I had no question that this would be the game I put forwards for that particular award.
Bought TANGLEWOOD today, Game runs at a steady 60 FPS even on my older hardware (considering that the steam version emulates a Megadrive system), If you're a Linux gamer hungering for great indie titles. I'll strongly recommend TANGLEWOOD.
The puzzles are nice, the graphics (especially in later stages) are gorgeous, the music is fantastic, it supports a FOSS platform (Linux), a cute story which (if you are in to such thing) can get you hooked quite quick.
Warning: if you don't like sobbing in public, you should probably play this game at home.
The only things about the game I really have a gripe about is how the music isn't looping creating many moments of silence, the sometimes floaty controls and the kinda dumb (but absolutely adorable) AI companion you get around halfway in the game (doesn't take in to account when you jump up ladders that well, it gets confused often and gets lost).
The camera is quite close to my taste, making it hard to make decisions quick, though this is more a limitation of the megadrive than actual design decisions and if you can live with going through levels at a moderate but non-hurrying pace, the camera won't be much of a problem.
Jumps also feel very rigid as you have to touch the ground precisely before you can jump, you can also get stuck on ledges at times. My suggestion for the developers is to make jumping allowed a few frames before hitting the ground as to not seem sluggish to the player.
TLDR
Pros:
- Nice Graphics!
- Nice Music!
- Runs on Linux!
- Good puzzles!
- Cute (and creepy) characters!
- Simple but immersive story!
- Seriously the playable characters are adoooraablle!
Cons:
- Floaty controls
- Stupid AI
- Many moments of silence
- Camera is quite close
[*] NYMN NOOOOOOOOOOO ;~;
An authentic Sega genesis game. I can easily imagine picking this up from my local videogame store in the 90's. Ignore my playtime here, I've taken the included ROM and an playing it on my real Sega Nomad, which is crazy impressive.
If you are looking for an indie retro game, get this one. Been following this since pre-kickstarter. It deserves all of the awards and nominations it has gotten. What they've done with the graphics/style/music for the megadrive (genesis) is amazing. And being able to play the game on PC is awesome sauce as well.
Don't let my steam play time concern you, I played the pre-release and beta candidates so have a lot of time logged into the game just not on steam as I was a backer :)
Good job, Tanglewood team!
Дополнительная информация
| Разработчик | Big Evil Corporation |
| Платформы | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| Ограничение возраста | Нет |
| Дата релиза | 20.01.2025 |
| Metacritic | 79 |
| Отзывы пользователей | 89% положительных (35) |