14 DAY TRIAL // People finally had a chance to play Bioware’s Anthem, and there is still some dispute whether the game is good, bad or anything in between.
There is something wrong with Anthem, but I can’t put my finger on it, and I can’t pinpoint what’s not working, exactly. Sure, people trying to play it encountered all sorts of technical problems that persisted for the entire duration of the VIP demo. But let’s back up a little bit.
In case you didn’t already know, Electronic Arts and Bioware allowed a select few to play the Anthem demo, which is all good. In fact, it’s nice to see that they have enough confidence in their game to let people try it ahead of time.
On the other hand, with games like Anthem, a public demo is kind of a requirement. And by games like Anthem, I mean Destiny 2, The Division, Warframe, and all the rest in the same category. While it’s classified as a third-person shooter, it’s a team-based PvE game, that revolves around micro-transactions.
I would love to tell you that micro-transactions play a small part, but it’s difficult to tell their role just from the demo. My guess is that EA wants your $60, and then it’s going to want some more. That’s what happened with Destiny 2 and The Division, and let's not forget the EA’s Battlefront 2 debacle.
Unfortunately, the first casualty in PvE games and most multiplayer-heavy titles for that matter is the story. For the most part, it’s just delivery system for the gameplay, maps, bosses, and loot. In most single player games, the direction is reversed. The gameplay is the result of a story being told.
Is it any good?
This is where confusion settles in. For most of the weekend, I couldn’t play it. First, I couldn’t even get in, and then I was stuck for an entire day watching a loading screen. And when I did manage to play, I got kicked out at least once.
To say that Anthem had a rocky start is an understatement. Putting all of these technical problems aside, I had fun playing it. But I wasn’t ecstatic about it, and the game never really stood out. I’ve been thinking about that, and I believe I finally figured out why.
Bioware has been making great games for a long time. They’ve been in the zone for years. The first impressions were always strong ones, even if the game itself wasn’t a 10 out of 10. For example, Mass Effect 3 ended weirdly (they wanted a 2001: A Space Odyssey ending, but they’re not Arthur C. Clarke), and Mass Effect Andromeda, for all its shortcomings, was taking place in another galaxy, and it felt awesome.
It’s strange that Anthem doesn’t feel impressive, even though I can objectively admit it looks and seems great, from a technological standpoint. The problem is that Anthem is not original, or better yet, it’s not original enough.
For the most part, Anthem is a combination of Mass Effect 3 multiplayer, Mass Effect Andromeda, and some good old-fashioned corporate greed. I find it difficult to imagine that a company that’s been making exceptional single players for so many years is suddenly shifting its focus towards a genre that’s especially profitable for publishers.
That’s when I figured out why I wasn’t all that impressed. I played it before, albeit in other games from the same developers. It’s just wrapped up differently and has a wildly different story.
And this leads up to the story itself. I know that the demo only covers a little bit of the story, but it’s without context. You’re dropped at level 10, and players have a few clues to figure out what’s going on. It’s like reading The Two Towers directly without reading The Fellowship of the Ring. Nothing makes sense.
I can’t make head or tales of it, and I can only hope the full version is going to be easier to understand. The conclusion is that I’m still hopeful it’s going to be a good game. The gameplay is solid and fun, and my only reserve is the story.
Anthem is scheduled to be released on February 22, 2018, on PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4.
