ANNO: Mutationem has at all times seemed good, with its mixture of pixelated characters and 3D environments. The query was, may it ship a fascinating expertise to match that type? It kind of does, however it has a couple of too many tough edges.
The sport is a mixture of two fairly completely different elements. There’s 3D journey gameplay, by which you management protagonist Ann as she investigates her brother’s disappearance all through varied dystopian districts. Throughout these phases, you possibly can freely discover, speak to NPCs, and go to retailers to purchase and promote gear. The opposite half swaps to 2D motion, the place she trades within the skill to traverse a 3rd axis in favour of platforming and fast-paced fight.
The storyline is suitably darkish, albeit with fast injections of goofy humour, and the cyberpunk cityscape offered right here is an attention-grabbing setting to discover. Nevertheless, we would say the 3D factor of the sport detracts from the expertise; you will usually get caught on objects or in doorways simply making an attempt to get round. Mixed with mounted cameras, navigating every location might be slightly tedious.
Fortunately, the side-scrolling fight segments are higher. Some barely stilted leaping apart, partaking enemies utilizing mild and heavy swords, in addition to a pistol, is enjoyable and pretty difficult, and will get higher with every new skill unlocked from the talent tree.
There’s stunning scope within the sport — you possibly can dismantle gadgets to get supplies, which you’ll be able to then mix into new weapon modules. There are aspect missions and mini-games, like serving cocktails to earn cash. It is also kind-of open world, albeit a really small one. Whereas the ambition is admirable, total we really feel the sport comes throughout as fairly unfocused. It is an gratifying expertise, and every thing right here in all fairness good, however the result’s a sport that does not actually shine, save for its wet, neon-infused aesthetic.
