Anthem

The opinions of the critics regarding the story of Anthem are quite mixed. Some critics, such as Cheat Code Central and Post Arcade, appreciate the game's lore and interesting characters, with Cheat Code Central even praising the large mythology and top-notch voice acting. These positive aspects contribute to a mildly compelling and comprehensible narrative with a sense of history. IGN Italia also acknowledges that the story and dialogue in Anthem can become more interesting and engaging with patience and exploration, appreciating the contribution of BioWare. However, the majority of critics express negative opinions about the story of Anthem. Many critics, including DarkStation, GameSpew, Slant Magazine, TrueAchievements, Guardian, GamesRadar+, GameWatcher, Attack of the Fanboy, The Escapist, New York Daily News, Push Square, Gameplanet, VideoGamer, Gaming Age, GameStar, and Worth Playing, criticize the story for lacking depth, nuance, and meaningful character development. They mention that the plot is generic, convoluted, and confusing, with a lack of compelling hooks and character motivations. The storytelling is often described as disappointing, forgettable, and lacking in world-building. The dialogue choices are also criticized for being superficial and not impactful. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the story of Anthem falls short of expectations. While there are some positive elements, such as the lore and interesting characters, the negative aspects outweigh them. The lack of depth, meaningful character development, and compelling narrative are major criticisms raised by multiple critics, including DarkStation, GameSpew, Slant Magazine, TrueAchievements, Guardian, GamesRadar+, GameWatcher, Attack of the Fanboy, The Escapist, New York Daily News, Push Square, Gameplanet, VideoGamer, Gaming Age, GameStar, and Worth Playing. The story is often described as generic, convoluted, and lacking in world-building. The dialogue choices are also seen as lacking impact. These criticisms indicate that the story of Anthem fails to deliver a satisfying narrative experience, especially in comparison to BioWare's previous games.

Anthem's gameplay received mixed reviews from critics, with both positive and negative aspects highlighted. The positive aspects of the gameplay include the flying mechanics and combat abilities of the Javelin suits. Critics such as Gaming Nexus, TrueAchievements, and TheSixthAxis praised the flying mechanics, describing them as innovative and enjoyable. The sense of power and the thrill of flying in the Javelin suits were also mentioned as standout features by critics like Post Arcade and New York Daily News. The combat itself was generally well-received, with critics like Attack of the Fanboy and GameStar appreciating the unique abilities and combo system available for each Javelin suit. The tight and precise gunplay, as mentioned by Gaming Age and Destructoid, added to the overall enjoyment of the combat experience. However, there were several negative aspects of the gameplay that critics pointed out. Repetitiveness was a common criticism, with critics like DarkStation, GameSpew, Cheat Code Central, and Easy Allies mentioning the repetitive nature of missions and combat encounters. The lack of mission variety and minimal content were also mentioned by critics such as GameWatcher and The Escapist. Some critics, like Slant Magazine and Push Square, criticized the gameplay loops and mechanics for being banal, lacking innovation, and feeling half-baked or poorly implemented. The lack of enemy variety and tactical nuance in combat, as noted by VideoGamer, also contributed to the negative sentiment towards the gameplay. Overall, the consensus among critics is that Anthem's gameplay has its strengths and weaknesses. The flying mechanics and combat abilities of the Javelin suits were generally praised, with critics appreciating the sense of power and enjoyment they provided. However, the repetitive nature of missions and combat encounters, along with the lack of variety and innovation in gameplay loops and mechanics, were significant drawbacks. The mixed opinions on the gameplay of Anthem highlight the game's potential and standout features, but also point out areas where improvements could have been made to enhance the overall gameplay experience.

The opinions of the critics regarding the Graphics and Visual Design of Anthem are largely positive. Many critics praised the game's visuals, with several describing them as stunning, impressive, and beautiful. The environments in Anthem were particularly highlighted, with critics mentioning lush forests, sparkling waterfalls, and visually appealing alien planets. The graphics were commended for being cutting edge, realistic, and beyond anything seen in the current generation of video games. The Javelin mech suits were also mentioned as visually detailed and appealing. Critics such as Guardian, Gameplanet, and Gaming Age specifically mentioned the impressive graphics and visual design as strong points of the game. However, there were also some negative opinions regarding the Graphics and Visual Design of Anthem. Some critics mentioned that while the game had visually stunning environments, the open world felt empty and lacking in life. The terrain was sometimes blocked behind loading screens, which was considered annoying by GameWatcher and The Escapist. CGMagazine mentioned that the world lacked a sense of identity and life, with only one biome to explore at release. Push Square and The Escapist also mentioned that the open world map felt empty and boring. Overall, the majority of the critics had positive opinions about the Graphics and Visual Design of Anthem. The stunning visuals, beautiful environments, and impressive graphics were consistently praised by multiple critics. The detailed Javelin mech suits, vibrant landscapes, and dynamic weather effects were also mentioned as contributing to the visual appeal of the game. While there were some criticisms about the open world feeling empty and lacking in variety, the overall consensus among the critics was that Anthem delivered on its visual design and graphics, making it a visually impressive and appealing game.

The opinions of the critics regarding the Sound Design and Music of Anthem are varied. Several critics praised the voice acting in the game, with DarkStation stating that it is often great and Cheat Code Central mentioning the convincing voice acting and pleasant celebrity voice actors. The Washington Post also commended the exuberant voice acting and the little quirks of the characters. These positive reviews indicate that Anthem has a strong voice acting performance, which adds depth and immersion to the game. However, there are also negative opinions regarding the Sound Design and Music of Anthem. Gaming Age expressed disappointment in the sound design, specifically mentioning distracting dialogue in missions and frequent audio dropouts. Slant Magazine criticized the game for the sound and fury of special abilities drowning out voice acting and subtitles. These negative reviews suggest that there are issues with the balance between sound effects and dialogue, which can detract from the overall experience. Overall, the consensus among the critics is mixed regarding the Sound Design and Music of Anthem. While there are positive remarks about the voice acting, such as it being great and exuberant, there are also negative comments about the sound design, including audio glitches, distracting dialogue, and audio dropouts. However, PlayStation Universe does mention that the sound effects are spatial and crisp, and the soundtrack compliments the game's pace. This indicates that there are some elements of the sound design and music that are well-executed and enhance the gameplay experience. Ultimately, it seems that Anthem's Sound Design and Music have both strengths and weaknesses, resulting in a mixed reception among the critics.

The opinions of the critics regarding the voice acting in Anthem are quite varied. Some critics, such as DarkStation and Cheat Code Central, praise the voice acting, describing it as great and topnotch, respectively. They highlight convincing performances from the main protagonists and celebrity voice actors. Additionally, Post Arcade commends Sarah Elmaleh for her terrific voice acting as the female voice for the player's character. These positive reviews suggest that the voice acting in Anthem is of high quality and adds to the overall experience. On the other hand, there are critics who express some negative aspects of the voice acting. GameSpew mentions that while the voice acting is of good quality, they feel that the characters and story feel disconnected from the gameplay. IGN also points out that while the cast of characters is generally charming and well-acted, the optional conversations are tonally out of sync with the main storylines. This suggests that there might be inconsistencies or mismatches in the voice acting that detract from the overall immersion and cohesion of the game. Overall, the consensus among the critics seems to be mixed. While there are positive reviews praising the voice acting, there are also negative reviews highlighting certain flaws. Slant Magazine mentions that the voice acting is overshadowed by the sound and fury of special abilities, indicating that it may not receive as much attention or appreciation as other aspects of the game. Washington Post, however, states that the voice acting is exuberant and adds to the solo player experience, implying that it enhances the immersion and enjoyment of playing alone. The varied opinions suggest that while the voice acting in Anthem has its strengths, there are also areas where it falls short or could be improved. In conclusion, the voice acting in Anthem receives both positive and negative feedback from the critics. While some praise the quality and performances of the voice actors, others point out inconsistencies or disconnects with the gameplay and story. The overall consensus is that while the voice acting has its merits, there are also areas that could be improved upon. It is important to note that individual preferences and interpretations may vary, so players may have different experiences and opinions regarding the voice acting in Anthem.

In terms of technical performance on PC, there are a few positive aspects highlighted by some critics. DarkStation mentions the action in Anthem being drained by endless loading screens, indicating that the game does have engaging gameplay. GameWatcher also notes that the game runs well on their system, with occasional slowdowns and loading times. These positive aspects suggest that when the game is running smoothly, it can provide an enjoyable experience on PC. However, the majority of critics point out several negative aspects of Anthem's technical performance on PC. GameSpew encountered bugs and audio issues that required game restarts, while GamesRadar+ mentions the game being riddled with bugs, server errors, and loading screens. IGN adds that the game has numerous bugs, crashes, and disconnects, with some not addressed by the first patch. Gaming Age highlights frequent bugs such as audio dropouts, character breaking, enemies failing to load, and broken load screens, which are described as unstable and immersion-breaking. These negative experiences indicate that the technical performance on PC is plagued by various issues that hinder the gameplay experience. Moving on to Xbox One, TrueAchievements and Cheat Code Central both mention long and frequent load times, which can break up the flow of gameplay. The Washington Post notes flaws in the game that need to be patched, which hobbles the overall experience. These criticisms suggest that the technical performance on Xbox One is also marred by long loading times and other issues that affect the gameplay. For PlayStation 4, The Escapist mentions frequent loading screens, a disorganized interface, and constant server disconnections, indicating technical issues. VideoGamer also highlights obnoxious loading screens and instances of being booted off the servers, further emphasizing technical problems on this platform. Easy Allies adds that Anthem has technical concerns such as crashes, server connection issues, spawning and mission cue problems, glitches, and long loading times. These negative experiences on PlayStation 4 suggest that the technical performance is problematic and can negatively impact the gameplay experience. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Anthem's technical performance is lacking across all gaming platforms. The game is plagued by bugs, glitches, long loading times, server errors, and other technical issues that hinder the gameplay experience. Critics such as Gameplanet and Gaming Age mention poor design decisions and immersion-breaking experiences, further indicating the negative impact of the technical performance. While there are a few positive aspects mentioned by some critics, the overwhelming sentiment is that Anthem's technical performance falls short of expectations.

The opinions of the critics regarding the replay value of Anthem are quite varied. Some critics, such as Gaming Nexus and TrueAchievements, find that the game offers incentives for replayability through bigger rewards and natural progression. The completion of achievements and the potential for expansion in the endgame, as mentioned by TrueAchievements and Cheat Code Central respectively, also contribute to the positive aspects of replay value. Additionally, the daily, weekly, and monthly challenges mentioned by the Washington Post provide a reason for players to engage with the game over an extended period of time. However, there are several negative aspects mentioned by critics that impact the replay value of Anthem. The lack of variety in goals and objectives, as pointed out by DarkStation, and the limited replay value beyond filler content and rep points, as mentioned by GameSpew, hinder the excitement and longevity of the game. Slant Magazine and GamesRadar+ both criticize the lack of compelling reasons to replay the game due to the lack of narrative and mechanical depth, while IGN and Push Square highlight the frustrating grind for loot and the bare-bones loot system respectively. The repetition and lack of variety mentioned by Worth Playing further diminish the replayability of Anthem. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Anthem falls short in terms of replay value. While there are some positive aspects, such as the potential for expansion and natural progression, the negative aspects, such as the lack of variety, frustrating grind, and limited content, outweigh the positives. Critics like Easy Allies and Gaming Age express disappointment with the endgame loop, despite improvements to the loot system, and suggest that additional modes or more diverse progression systems could enhance the replayability of the game. The general sentiment is that Anthem may not be recommended over other games in the genre due to its repetitive nature and lack of variety.