Anthem – The game where everyone is Iron Man
This is Anthem (PC, PS4, Xbox One): Anthem is a loot and coop shooter set in a science fiction setting. Players are freelancers who don combat suits called Javelins, collect loot, complete adventures, and immerse themselves in a foreign, hostile world.
The special thing about Anthem is that players can fly through the world. Moreover, BioWare wants to incorporate its storytelling experience into this online world and thus create something new: an online shooter with an engaging story and world.
How has the development been so far? Anthem has supposedly been in development for at least 5 years. BioWare reportedly threw all resources into it – even personnel from their MMORPG Star Wars The Old Republic were allegedly diverted.
For outsiders, Anthem appears to be Electronic Arts’ response to Destiny. The team itself sees parallels to Bungie’s shooter but wants to take its own path. For a long time, there was silence around Anthem, but in recent weeks, the PR mills have been grinding, and impressive trailers for the game have been released.
For Anthem, it is important to get the launch right. That is why the game has already been postponed by six months.
This is Anthem at its best: A solid and polished AAA game with a strong campaign and good shooter gunplay. Anthem aims to make players feel like powerful flying superheroes. If it succeeds and a motivating loot system is introduced, Anthem could play a good role: a coop shooter that RPG fans would also enjoy.
BioWare wants to take its fans from Mass Effect and Dragon Age days into the online world. For this, a balancing act must be achieved: an online game that can also be played solo and whose story convinces.
This is Anthem at its worst: Online games often struggle with bugs, balance issues, and weak endgame in their first year.
All of this has dampened the spirits of games like The Division or The Elder Scrolls Online in their launch year. Anthem could also face this. Currently, there are still many questions regarding endgame content and long-term motivation.
How is 2019 planned for Anthem: At the end of January and early February, a demo starts – first only for pre-orderers, then for everyone.
Then there is also already a release, which takes place in stages. And then Anthem will be out.
This will surely be a wild ride, and Anthem should define the first headlines of 2019.
