Anthem Gaming Beasts: A Review of the Co-op RPG Shooter
Anthem is a game that promises a lot: a vast, beautiful world to explore, a compelling story to unravel, and a thrilling co-op combat system to master. But does it deliver on these promises, or does it fall short of its potential? In this review, we will take a look at the pros and cons of Anthem, and see if it is worth your time and money.
The Good
- The graphics are stunning. Anthem’s world of Bastion is a gorgeous sci-fi landscape full of lush jungles, ancient ruins, and dynamic weather effects. The game runs smoothly on both PC and consoles, and the animations and facial expressions of the characters are impressive.
- The combat is fun and varied. Anthem’s core gameplay revolves around flying and fighting in your customizable exosuit, called a javelin. There are four types of javelins to choose from, each with its own abilities and playstyle. You can switch between them at any time in Fort Tarsis, your home base. The combat is fast-paced and satisfying, especially when you team up with other players and combine your skills.
- The voice acting is charming and expressive. Anthem’s characters are well-written and well-acted, with some notable exceptions. The main cast of Freelancers, the heroic exosuit pilots who protect humanity from the dangers of Bastion, are likeable and relatable. They have their own personalities, quirks, and stories that you can learn more about by talking to them in Fort Tarsis.
The Bad
- The story is dull and disjointed. Anthem’s plot is a generic sci-fi adventure that fails to captivate or surprise. You play as a Freelancer who has to stop a villainous faction called the Dominion from harnessing the power of the Anthem of Creation, a mysterious force that shapes the world. The story is full of clichés, plot holes, and unexplained lore. It also feels disconnected from the gameplay, as most of the story happens in Fort Tarsis, where you have no agency or impact on the events.
- The missions are repetitive and boring. Anthem’s main story missions consist of doing the same tasks over and over again: fly to a location, fight some enemies, collect some items, stand on a point, repeat. The game tries to spice things up with occasional boss fights or puzzles, but they are too few and far between. The side missions and contracts are even worse, as they are randomly generated and offer no variety or challenge.
- The endgame is lacking and unbalanced. Anthem’s endgame content consists of three activities: strongholds, legendary contracts, and freeplay. Strongholds are long dungeons that require teamwork and coordination to complete. Legendary contracts are harder versions of regular contracts that reward better loot. Freeplay is an open-world mode where you can explore Bastion and find random events and secrets. The problem is that these activities are not very rewarding or fun to do. The loot system is frustrating and stingy, as most of the items you get are useless or duplicates. The difficulty scaling is also broken, as enemies become bullet sponges that can kill you in one hit.
The Verdict
Anthem is a decent game with a fair amount of content but it falls short in many areas, which inevitably led to its downfall. It has some great elements, such as the graphics, the combat, and the voice acting, but they are overshadowed by the flaws, such as the story, the missions, and the endgame . Anthem is not a terrible game, but it is not a great one either. It will no doubt get better as time goes on, but this isn’t a great starting point. Anthem is an adventure best saved for a later date.