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Anachronox
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Stats
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Genre:
RPG
Release
Date:
Available
Publisher:
Eidos
Developer:
Ion Storm
ESRB:
Teen
Requirements:
PII
266 MHz
Windows 95B/98/ME
64 MB RAM
12 MB 3D card with full OpenGL support
DirectX 7 (included)
4X CD-ROM drive
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As the development studio perhaps most (in)famous for
including ex-id superstar John Romero, Ion Storm has
put out a PC title that pays homage to a console genre.
Though one of its biggest players put out one of it’s
worst titles in Daikatana, no one can dispute
the goodness of Warren Spector’s Deus Ex. Add
now to that list Tom Hall’s Anachronox, billed
as “an epic sci-fi RPG adventure,” and a title that
seems rushed. The subsequent list of bugs, incompatibilities,
no “official” Windows 2000 support, and gameplay quirks
are attributable to this. More telling of the title
is that despite the major glitches its qualities outshine
some glaring technical issues and converge to produce
an experience that’s well-worth having.
Anchored by a heavily modified version of the Quake
II engine, Anachronox was in development
for more than three years. And though a PC RPG that
borrows heavily from its console brethren, namely those
produced by Square, the core team numbered in the teens
for most of the development period - something far from
Square’s 100 plus person Final Fantasy crew.
Considering the aesthetic detail and polish alone then,
Anachronox is quite an accomplishment, and one
mistake to avoid is assuming that the game closely resembles
the look and feel of Quake II. The engine has
been altered to allow for the fully functional third
person perspective that the game plays from, and a smooth,
free-roaming camera that is utilized to add a cinematic
dimension to the many cut scenes. Tight indoor environments,
populated cities, a museum with interactive displays,
and a trash-ridden junkyard are examples of the remarkably
diverse environments that are encountered over the game’s
expansive and epic feeling story line. Within the game
world there are entirely unique planets, on each of
these a unique populace and buildings, and even dialogue
clues about political and social systems. In Anachronox
the player isn’t limited to a world, but journeys across
a universe. From travel through hyperspace to exploring
an underground electrical infrastructure, from the third
person perspective to some quick camera cuts and stylized
presentation of an exotic dancer doing her thing, this
isn’t the Quake II engine that we’re accustomed
to.
With all of the time spent and attention paid to creating
an overwhelming visual experience, however, it’s a shame
that some major technical and gameplay glitches often
make Anachronox a lesson in frustration. As an
example, there is a character in the game that the player
is required to meet and gather information from. In
order to find him, a sub-quest is initiated where an
informant for this character must be stealthily followed.
At the point where this informant enters into a new
area and the player follows, the loading screen appears,
then disappears with the game ending on a false pretense
that the party has died. A perusal of the official Anachronox
forum reveals that quite a few players have had this
problem, and the only way around it is to bring up a
debug mode and skip an entire chapter of the game. This
is not a mild glitch, but a game breaker (and not the
only one). Crashing at load screens and random times
during play seems to happen more frequently for some
than others, but seems an issue that anyone who plays
the game for a decent amount of time will encounter.
The best advice for now is to save, and save often.
One patch has already been released, though the problems
mentioned above were encountered after applying it as
well. Here’s hoping that the demise of Ion Storm Dallas
won’t prevent other patches from following, because
on every other front the game is fundamentally solid.
Anachronox falls far from the realm of traditional
PC RPG, though it doesn’t play exactly like a title
from the console genre either. Combat is turn based
with an active meter that fills before each character
is allowed an action. The pacing and strategy of combat
is very similar to the newer Final Fantasy installments
and various clones in this way. But because the gameplay
is much more exploration dependant, players spend comparatively
less time actually engaged in combat. Also unlike most
console RPGs, battles are not random but take place
at set locations, with a limited number of enemies that
can be completely cleared of an area so that exploration
can take place unhindered. With every successful battle
the three player characters that engaged in it receive
an amount of experience points, and when enough have
been acquired, a new level is reached and categorical
affinities such as attack power (in this case called
simply “beat”) and magic blocking are increased. Unlike
a more combat-intensive system where random battles
are the order, there is no need to worry about being
at the correct levels to defeat the tougher enemies,
as moving through the explorable areas requires unavoidable
battles to be fought. In this way the sense of accomplishment
and will to make party characters stronger by engaging
in battle after battle is diminished. The many different
and large areas to explore make up for this however,
and the drive to play on stems from wanting to see what’s
around the next corner, where the next weapon upgrade
or “TACO” may lie. Having played through plenty of combat
centered RPGs and a seemingly infinite number of individual
random battles, Anachronox comes as something
fresh, cutting out this mind-numbing quality that so
many RPGs have and not killing the player’s sense of
purpose with an impossibly illogical string of random
battles. The above-average story line is allowed to
progress fluidly, the stunning universe of Anachronox
able to be fully explored and enjoyed without the nuisance
of random, flow breaking battles.
There
are plenty of action mini-games packed into the game,
from Galaga inspired arcade machines that can
be played for a “loonie”(Anachronox’s form of
currency [Maybe Canada has taken over in this future?
- EiC]) to a game that is initiated every time a
unique character skill is used. Sly has a lock picking
ability that, before being successfully employed, requires
the player to figure out a certain number sequence within
an allotted time. Grumpos can influence NPC characters
with his “yammer” skill. In order to pull it off, a
small game in which the correct arrow button must be
rapidly pressed at the right time is initiated. This
follows for each of the seven playable characters and
their unique skills. None are very challenging however,
and function well in breaking up the lengthy exploration
sequences.
Attached to every planet and its various major areas
are unique pieces of atmospheric music, some average,
some better, and all appropriately complimentary. In
Sundar Station’s red light district the music is pumping
and electronic. On the monastically themed Hephaestus
the tunes are melodic and drawn out, much like you’d
expect from a place with a strong religious presence.
Much of the music is actually pleasing, and all of it
perfectly non-obtrusive so as to preserve the tension-free
feeling of exploration. Where the action sequences are
involved, the music often matches with an increased
tempo. As all of the planets have much area to explore,
it is well that tunes change when certain areas are
entered; the auditory experience never grows monotonous.
Certainly consider the many glitches and possible headaches
that the game can cause before considering a purchase.
If they are overcome, Anachronox stands as a
superb PC translation of the console-styled RPG. A massive,
visually detailed universe is waiting to be explored,
a decent sci-fi tale spun, a mediocre combat system
engaged; this over the course of a lengthy single player
only adventure. Here’s to Ion Storm’s latest offering
in all of it’s bitter-sweet goodness.
Concept
A PC RPG influenced greatly by its console counterparts. |
80
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Gameplay
Slightly bland combat system with heavy exploration
of engaging environments. Action sequences nicely
break the typically slow pacing.
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85
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Graphics
Blocky characters, passable animation, and detailed,
diverse environments. |
85
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Sound
Mostly good and unobtrusive music; appropriate
sound effects.
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85
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Technical
Some major, game-breaking issues encountered
here. |
60
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Overall
There
is a lot to like, and some particularly rewarding
moments. Past the technical issues and bland combat
system is a universe that’s worth exploring.
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79
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