ANNO: Mutationem GBAtemp review
Computer
Product Information:
- Release Date (NA): March 17, 2022
- Release Date (EU): March 17, 2022
- Publisher: Lightning Games
- Developer: ThinkingStars
- Genres: Platformer, action, adventure, RPG
- Also For: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5
Game Features:
In a world recovering from a viral outbreak - no, not COVID-19, but the Mechanika Virus that essentially turns humans into cyborgs - we take control of a young combat-trained woman named Ann Flores. Upon learning about her missing brother Ryan following dealings with some shady gang, Ann sets out to find him as she feels responsible for his disappearance.
You see, Ryan got into this predicament as he was seeking for a cure for Ann’s ailment, Entanglelitis. As Ann proceeds with her quest, she learns that it is more about herself and the behind-the-scenes activity of the world she lives in than she would have initially thought of.
While the blurb above gives an overall taste of ANNO: Mutationem’s plot, the actual narrative is more convoluted than meets the eye; and not always in a good way. The pacing often feels off. Relationships with some characters aren’t made clear, with some just popping up at random to save the day (or scene). This perpetuates later where, towards the mid-mark of the 8-10 hours of playthrough, a host of new characters are introduced with confusing naming conventions. Later on, their intentions unravel but it’s a whole lot crammed towards the end of the game to feel like a proper pacing.
In addition to the poor pacing, ANNO: Mutationem does not maintain the overall tone of the game. What started as a detective quest in a cyberpunk dystopia turns into a supernatural tale with portals, dragons, a talking monkey, Yetis and Santa (yes, no typo here and these appearances sort of make sense but wildly divert from the tone initially set up from the outset).
I give it to the writers that the plot is original but having it better focused would have helped with the pacing and avoid resulting in a weird mashup that doesn’t condense very well. They could have toned down on the convoluted aspect and focus on other plot segments that are interesting like the Mechanika Virus and the people whose lives have been changed by it. These are only lightly touched upon but could have served a better purpose to build on the game’s lore, rather than cram genres haphazardly midway through the game.
That said, the artstyle is probably ANNO: Mutationem’s forte. Developer ThinkingStars hit the right colour palette for its cyberpunk universe, with crowded neon-drenched areas like Noctis City (with aspects that definitely appeal to the stereotypical male fantasy). One of my favourite side activities in Noctis City, besides taking in the detailed environs, was to eavesdrop on the citizens’ conversations. It’s always intriguing to hear what trouble people are getting into in our cyberpunk future and what woes they're complaining about.
But ANNO: Mutationem’s scenes aren’t stuck to neon fests. Its landscapes are varied with scenes ranging from sewers to a secret underground city; and each scene is laden with intricate details, often covertly hiding easter eggs from the devs’ open admiration for retro games.
The presentation is also enhanced with the professional performance of the voice-acted segments. Cutscenes have voice overs for the most part but that’s not always the case. Nevertheless, as ThinkingStars’s first game, they hit the mark with the presentation; at least audiovisually.
As for the gameplay, ANNO: Mutationem is a mix of platformer (and the expected occasional frustrating bits), puzzler, exploration and beat ‘em up with RPG mechanics. Surprisingly, this mash-up of gameplay types is much better executed than the narrative genre-bending of the plot. Exploration is encouraged as you’ll be able to gather relics of the past to craft new items or stumble across side quests. Interspersed along those exploration segments are mini-games (mostly puzzles but also bartending and Mortal Corn Tournament battles) and combat sequences.
Combats play out in a side-scrolling beat ‘em up fashion, where you’ll get to test Ann’s wits against various types of fantasy creatures and sci-fi enemies. During those sequences, you’ll get to use Ann’s weapons which range from swords to rocket launchers. You can also unlock new skills and offensive manoeuvres using the GROM system (or the game’s version of a skill tree). As expected, levels often culminate in a boss fight. These can pose tough challenges, requiring your full focus, careful monitoring of the enemy’s attacks and proper use and combination of your skills and weapons. Even if it might take a few tries to best ANNO: Mutationem’s bosses, getting through these feels satisfying.
While ANNO: Mutationem faces noticeable issues with the plot, it’s a decent effort for ThinkingStars’ debut title. Its blend of gameplay mechanics is well executed and the gorgeous visuals are a major draw to the title. With what the developers delivered in this first title, it bodes well for what they’ll come up with next.
ANNO: Mutationem - Official Launch Trailer
Verdict
- Gorgeous visuals
- Blend of gameplay mechanics
- Challenging but satisfying boss fights
- Plot pacing is off
- Narrative tone is not well maintained
- Some underdeveloped story segments
