Anomaly Investigations: An Exercise in Self Trust
Images by McFlyGold.
“Anomaly Investigations” by indie developer McFlyGold walks the fine line between creepy and scary, pushing players into a space where no matter what, you have to keep going. I found myself having to learn to slow down, trust my instincts, and be okay with knowing that sometimes, I’ll have to wait to learn the “why.”
“It started with me watching a YouTuber by the name of JackSepticEye who was playing a game called ‘The Exit 8,’” McFlyGold begins, on the topic of his spark for the creation of Anomaly Investigations (AI). “Many times, game ideas are born out of curiosity. ‘Can I make that game?’ ‘Let's find out if I can!’ Even if the experiment fails, you still learn something along the way that helps you in future game projects.”
Inspired by unconventional gameplay and a desire to test personal limits, the game pushes players into the role of a volunteer investigator tasked with spotting anomalies. Once placed on a floor, you must traverse the entire hallway and log if there were any differences from the hallway you just experienced and that of the control.
If correct, you move on to the next floor, if incorrect, you are sent back to the beginning. Without spoilers, sometimes the anomaly could be as simple as the lights being dimmer than expected, or a new addition to a poster on the wall. Other times, all you can do is hope you can make it to the elevator before the anomaly makes it to you.
“In AI, you're forced to navigate around the anomalies whether you like it or not. You must be brave and move forward!” McFlyGold says, explaining the game's unique approach to immersion and challenge.
The development of “Anomaly Investigations” was not without its tribulations. “All my previous games were simple in comparison. Just saving high scores and overwriting the scores when a new high score was reached. But this game definitely forced me out of my comfort zone when it comes to programming.” He said, noting the challenge of a heightened gameplay experience.
At the same time, he acknowledges the importance of having an idea in mind from the beginning, “It took me just over two months from start to finish. I'm sure it would've taken me much longer if I didn't already have an idea of what the gameplay was going to be. But since I already had a blueprint of sorts, it made working on the game quicker.”
Visually, the game diverges from mainstream aesthetics, opting for a gritty, abandoned atmosphere punctuated by unsettling details, inspired by old-school PS1 games such as Silent Hill. “A place that looks like it's been forgotten about that makes you feel a little uneasy,” McFlyGold describes, hinting at the narrative's subtle manipulations of player perception. “Random trash locked away in a storage space, boxes of unknown items, used tanks of unknown gas off in the corner. Posters on the wall that give you more questions than answers.”
“Anomaly Investigations” shows us bits and pieces of the lore as you play through, even though it is always shrouded in a certain sense of mystery and unease. "In the end, I feel it explores the fact that there are things in life that are out of your control, things that happen even if you don't understand them... but you have to move forward.”
Easter eggs and hidden features invite exploration and discovery, letting you discover more about the floors and the world in which it lives. Sometimes, these manifest as anomalies, and other times, as seemingly innocuous decor items.
One of our personal favorites includes a teddy bear, something we always ran to check on for each floor just to make sure that it was still there. McFlyGold let us know the origins of the bear, saying that “The ‘Teddy’ bear in the box was modeled after my son's real Teddy.” You can also find many references to other games he’s enjoyed throughout the years, such as Portal.
"I just hope that the game finds an audience (no matter how small it may be) that will enjoy it,” McFlyGold shares, hopeful for a community that will embrace the game's quirks and intricacies. From its eerie atmosphere to some of its more truly terrifying anomalies, this is a game that you can play for hours and still find new things to marvel at.
We enjoyed playing it in a duo, but it would be just as fun to play in a small group or on your own, depending on your preferences. If you’re looking for a game to spice up a few hours of your next free evening, we couldn’t recommend it more.
You can find McFlyGold’s game, and a demo that features 5 anomalies unique to it, on itch.io.
