Most people I’ve seen just solve puzzles through trial and error. You might also be asked to spin some pillars as part of a puzzle, but there’s little in the way of guidance or engagement. Oh, and sometimes you get to fly to collect glowing orbs to put them in the said glowing sphere. Others require you to pick up lunchboxes to put them in a glowing sphere. Some mission phases require you to stand in a green circle and wait. Teleporting happens quite frequently, and it gets incredibly annoying. But it can be quite jarring because it’ll still try to throw a load screen at you when you’re relatively close by. It deters AFKers and keeps teammates from lagging too far behind. If a teammate happens to reach a new area, you’ll be prompted to fly to them quickly or you’ll get teleported via loading screen.
Often, you’ll need to wait for NPCs on comms to finish their dialogue before the next waypoint appears. Almost all of them involve going from point A to point B, shooting stuff, then going to point C to shoot more stuff. If repetitive combat doesn’t get you down, then the mission structure will. This lack of air combat challenge and misuse of existing verticality mechanics show a design that wasn’t fully realized. They’re just regular-sized lizards with wings. These aren’t enormous creatures reminiscent of Game of Thrones. Outside of floating wizards, the only flying enemies are fire-breathing wyverns. Given that Anthem allows you to combat opponents while flying around the battlefield, you might think there are dozens of enemies in the air. Most players I’ve encountered seem to randomly spam attacks.Īnthem may have epic environments, but epic fights are few and far between. Sometimes it happens, sometimes it doesn’t. Like any game with this mechanic, you don’t actually get combos every time. Elemental abilities include flame, ice, acid, and lightning attacks along with ultimates, and you can do combos on enemies. You can mix and match weaponry and skill sets to complement your play style. Do yourself a favor and play with surround sound on because it’s amazing. The sound of clanking footsteps echoes in your ears and boosting to fly with your Javelin is accompanied by a thunderous sonic boom for good measure. Meanwhile, the Storm Javelin is reminiscent of Destiny’s Warlock class, frying opponents with space magic. The Interceptor is a sleek and agile suit, dashing to and fro with hit-and-run moves.
The Colossus is a beefy tank capable of shield-bashing enemies and unleashing a torrent of flame, and the Ranger is an all-rounder that emphasizes versatility. Each has unique traits and capabilities in combat. Freelance FighterĪs a Freelancer, you don a Javelin exosuit.
Many of Anthem’s environments are unique, and some seem like throwbacks to other brilliant franchises.
Except, none of it is enough to keep interest going. Also, bumping into pillars means the complete loss of character controls with Freelancers flailing their arms wildly.Īnthem is a visual joy, offering unparalleled verticality and locations that will leave you staring with awe. Flying to dizzying heights adds a unique perspective, but that freedom is marred by winds buffeting you as an invisible wall. Make no mistake, Anthem is a gorgeous game, although that beauty also meant occasional frame rate drops. It’s a living, breathing world that enraptures you the moment you step foot in it. You seamlessly transition from one area to the next, and can even dive into the cool, dark waters below. When you soar, the glaring sunlight strikes at your vision as birds and other creatures flutter around. Some facets, such as giant platforms known as Striders, might even remind you of Star Wars’ AT-ATs. Adding to these are other thematic locations from burned-out ruins and ancient temples, to futurescapes evoking a sense of sci-fi fantasy. From lush, green fields to rocky mountain crags, the scale is enormous. Anthem’s environments are nothing short of breathtaking. A single button press after jumping boosts you to the welcoming skies. In Anthem, the movement is as fluid as it gets. Let’s get this out of the way: Look, microtransactions! Smooth Flight, Clear Skies