RIP Anthem: Incredible potential that was never reached

Anthem Source: Windows Key

When I reviewed Anthem two years ago, I fell in love with the game's core combat mechanics, globe design, and overall visual presentation. However, the egregious bug with the game's loot systems, lackluster endgame, and bland mission structure made it a title that I couldn't recommend at launch. I closed my review feeling hopeful about Anthem, though — after all, many games launch in a rough land these days, and many of those games terminate upward billowy back stronger than about ever imagined they would.

Unfortunately, this hasn't happened in Anthem's case, and it looks like it never will either. It has officially been announced that "Canticle Next," the full game-broad overhaul that aimed to fix the issues players had with Anthem'southward core systems, has been scrapped. BioWare studio director Christian Dailey cited resources demands and the strenuous impact of COVID-19 as the chief reasons backside why Anthem Next will never run into the lite of day. Moving forwards, BioWare plans to "laser focus" on Mass Issue and Dragon Age 4 instead.

It'due south sad to see the ambitious looter shooter fade away, mostly because while information technology'southward truthful that Anthem has some deep issues, I believe that the game's potential was sky-high. Here's a look at what I recall Anthem did right.

Living the Atomic number 26 Man fantasy

Javelins in Anthem Source: EA

Past far, the matter I loved nigh about Anthem was how information technology felt to command the "javelin" suits — boggling exoskeletons that cover your character head-to-toe with thick armor and give yous advanced mobility thanks to their congenital-in thruster jets. Everything nigh using the javelins were an accented joy; from the high-pitched whines of the suit's joints moving with you as you sprinted forward to the sudden tearing jolt of momentum you'd feel every fourth dimension your thursters roared to life. It's clear that a lot of effort was put into making you experience similar you lot were controlling something right out of Tony Stark's laboratory.

What I really appreciated, though, is how each course of javelin felt uniquely dissimilar. The Colossus javelin, with its larger frame and heavier chassis, created a thunderous boom every time it hitting the ground. Flight with the long-ranged Tempest javelin captured the sensation of floating in place perfectly cheers to the constant upward propulsion. The Interceptor javelin's zippy, snappy animations and explosive bursts of speed fabricated you lot feel like a true robo-assassin. FInally, the Ranger javelin combined elements of how all the other javelins felt, and the effect is the ultimate jack-of-all-trades.

Regardless of what other issues a game has, I believe that if it feels amazing to play at its core, it tin eventually abound to become great as other aspects of the game's design are improved. Information technology's why I believe Bungie's Destiny and its sequel, Destiny ii, ended up being and so successful, and information technology'south also why I was then hopeful for Anthem.

Emphasizing squad synergy

Anthem Source: EA

Another crawly thing nearly Anthem was its suprisingly complex and constructive gainsay loop. Specifically, I enjoyed the abilities (such equally arms strikes or bursts of freezing energy) yous could use every few seconds between bursts of gunfire. Aside from making you experience cool and powerful, these abilities also served to encourage working with your teammates with the "primer and detonator" mechanic.

For example, allow's say you lot freeze, poison, or burn an enemy. Not only will this reduce the foe'south combat effectiveness past immobilizing them or doing some harm over fourth dimension, but it will also "prime" them. Teammates can then apply a "detonation" ability, such as a missile or a blade strike, to detonate the primed enemy and do a huge harm spike. And since all of the javelin classes in Anthem have both primer and detonator abilities, you and your teammates tin can chain these combos several times throughout gainsay encounters.

This system was poorly explained in-game, but once players figured information technology out, information technology fabricated the combat even more fun than it already was. A big upshot with many looter shooters is how it often feels like you take to fight with your teammates to be effective with your gear and abilities (Destiny 2 players trying to exercise Strike bounties will know exactly what I hateful), but Anthem solved that problem by making a huge office of the gainsay experience tied to working with your allies straight. I love this arrangement, and I hope it goes on to inspire future games.

A world full of potential

Anthem Titan fight Source: EA

Lastly, I'm a huge fan of Anthem'southward world design. While the game's story left a lot to exist desired, the setting was fascinating. The game'southward planet, Coda, was teeming with flora and animate being that wait vaguely similar to things y'all'd encounter on World, but they're strange and dissimilar enough to make them feel distinctly otherworldly. There were as well enemies such as the insectoid Scar scavengers or the gigantic Ash Giants that looked completely alien, making them feel more threatening.

At the center of it all is the mysterious Canticle of Creation, an energy source that's said to be the essence of creation itself. What the Anthem is capable of and how factions attempt to collaborate with it is what drives both the game's core narrative too every bit its lore.

Despite how poor the vanilla story was, the foundation of what'due south there is interesting, and I really wish BioWare could have gotten a 2nd chance to play around in the sandbox it created. Coda is a beautiful, intriguing identify, and it's unfortunate that we'll never become to experience any more stories beneath its skyscraper-sized trees and mysterious alien ruins.

Your thoughts

What do you lot think of Canticle? Practise yous concord with me about what I think were its best elements? Let me know. Also, if you're looking for a new looter shooter to play, check out our roundup of the best looter shooters for Xbox.

It's undeniably sad to see Anthem let go, but thankfully, BioWare fans at least have Mass Effect: Legendary Edition to look forrard to. It's planned to release on May 14, 2022 for $60 on Xbox Series Ten, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PlayStation four and 5, and PCs.

The legend returns

Mass Effect Legendary Edition

Mass Issue: Legendary Edition

Commander Shepard's story

With Mass Effect: Legendary Edition, you can experience all 3 classic games similar never earlier. Improved graphics, gameplay and every fleck of DLC ensure this is a remaster worth grabbing.