February 22, 2017
Funcom

Anarchy Online

Anarchy Online is a buggy work in progress that is as likely to crash as it is to suck you in. But when it works, it's a heck of a lot of fun. Imagine Everquest with a sci-fi theme, better graphics, and a compelling story that divides players into two warring factions.

82%Game Brain Score

story, gameplay

graphics, grinding

82% User Score Based on 210 reviews

Critic Score 80%Based on 1 reviews

Platforms

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About

"Anarchy Online is a massively multiplayer fantasy role-playing game set in a science fiction world 30,000 years in the future. Choose from 14 character classes, customize your skills and abilities, and explore a vast, alien world with diverse landscapes. Battle other players, complete missions for rewards, and join organizations to claim territory and resources."

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

82%

Audience ScoreBased on 210 reviews

story7 positive mentions

graphics13 negative mentions

Anarchy Online offers a unique and complex character development system that allows for deep customization and twinking, making each player's experience distinct.
The game has a rich sci-fi atmosphere with a vast world to explore, filled with engaging lore and a dedicated community that is generally welcoming and helpful.
Despite its age, the game still provides a significant amount of content for free-to-play players, allowing them to enjoy much of the game without a subscription.

The graphics and user interface are outdated, which can be off-putting for new players accustomed to modern visuals and streamlined gameplay.
The game suffers from a dwindling player base and a lack of developer support, leading to issues with exploits and a stagnant economy.
New players may find the steep learning curve and lack of guidance frustrating, as the game does not hold their hand and requires external resources to fully understand its mechanics.

story
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
86%
4%
The story aspect of the game is described as complex and rich, with a deep backstory involving corporations and dynamic quests, but many players find it difficult to engage with due to the game's focus on PvP and grinding missions rather than traditional narrative progression. While some appreciate the immersive atmosphere and unique character-building opportunities, others criticize the quest system for being convoluted and frustrating, often requiring teamwork and problem-solving to navigate. Overall, the narrative is seen as a backdrop to gameplay rather than a driving force, with players often prioritizing missions and leveling over story engagement.
- “The original Rubi-Ka backstory is pretty legit, with over 150 novels surrounding it.”
- “I was drawn in by the atmosphere: the fascinating science-fantasy story and the sheer uniqueness of the game, the bizarre, interesting creatures, and the outrageously complicated character building system.”
- “Anarchy Online has a well-crafted story, which is not forced upon you if you are not into it.”
- “Despite having played it for some time, I know little about the actual story or questlines as I generally just find myself running along, leveling, and finding loot.”
- “Relevant missions are few and far between, poorly narrated, and most of the time make no sense at all.”
- “You will need some crucial quests which cannot be completed alone and if you are new to the game there is no chance in hell you will ever progress without help.”
graphics
56 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
66%
23%
The graphics of Anarchy Online are widely regarded as outdated, with many reviewers noting that they reflect the game's original 2001 release. Despite the introduction of a new graphics engine, the visuals still feel clunky and lack modern polish, which can detract from the experience for some players. However, those who can overlook the dated graphics often find that the game's depth, complexity, and nostalgic atmosphere compensate for its visual shortcomings.
- “Yes, the graphics are dated, but they are also surprisingly good for the age of the engine.”
- “The game's visuals aged quite well; it's easy to get used to them, and some of the environments are really well crafted to look appealing even with dated graphics.”
- “Still, I remember how cool it was - unique atmosphere, graphics, music, and everything.”
- “In terms of graphics, unfortunately you can feel the age of the game.”
- “Very dated graphics, and what I saw of Rubi-Ka was very drab.”
- “The graphics are outdated at best, butt-ugly at worst.”
gameplay
32 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
22%
69%
9%
Anarchy Online offers a complex and deep gameplay experience, appealing to players who enjoy intricate mechanics and a rich game world, despite its dated graphics and controls. While some find the gameplay slow and clunky, the customizable UI and extensive content provide significant value for dedicated players willing to invest time in learning the systems. Overall, the game is praised for its unique sci-fi atmosphere and engaging mechanics, though it does show signs of age.
- “Fantastic game... a complex MMO that has lots of depth and fun action gameplay.”
- “Tons of content, complexity, and depth, despite the dated graphics and mechanics.”
- “The organizations are amazing, and so is the gameplay itself.”
- “The gameplay and controls were clunky at the beginning and didn't feel as precise as I am used to from most other, more modern MMOs.”
- “In my opinion, it hasn't aged well; a lot of controls and mechanics are very complicated.”
- “This is a 20-year-old game that is definitely showing its age in terms of the models, the textures, the polygon count, the animations, the camera control, and last but not least, the gameplay.”
atmosphere
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
73%
9%
18%
The atmosphere of Anarchy Online is widely praised for its unique sci-fi and cyberpunk aesthetic, complemented by an immersive soundtrack and rich world-building. Players appreciate the game's original concepts and the rewarding character progression, which enhances the overall experience. Despite some dated graphics, the game's captivating ambiance and intricate mechanics continue to resonate with long-time fans.
- “However, it has a very unique sci-fi, cyberpunk atmosphere, and wonderful music.”
- “Anarchy is such a rich game and I still find the atmosphere, ambient music, and landscape so amazing even now.”
- “I was drawn in by the atmosphere: the fascinating science-fantasy story and the sheer uniqueness of the game, the bizarre, interesting creatures (hi leets) and the outrageously complicated character building system.”
- “The visuals definitely didn't lower the atmosphere or immersion for me.”
- “I was drawn in by the atmosphere: the fascinating science-fantasy story and the sheer uniqueness of the game, the bizarre, interesting creatures, and the outrageously complicated character building system.”
music
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
27%
27%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its grandeur and ability to create an immersive sci-fi atmosphere, while others find it nostalgic yet lacking in quality. Overall, it contributes significantly to the game's unique ambiance, though opinions on its execution vary widely.
- “The music is amazing as well.”
- “However, it has a very unique sci-fi, cyberpunk atmosphere, and wonderful music.”
- “The soundtrack of the game is really well done and creates a very immersive sci-fi atmosphere, and I generally have to praise the technical status of the game.”
- “Lol, I turned the music back on after a number of years and, while it was nostalgic, it was still awful music.”
- “Music - 1/5”
- “The soundtrack of the game is really well done and creates a very immersive sci-fi atmosphere and I generally have to praise the technical status of the game.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
13%
88%
Grinding is a significant aspect of Anarchy Online, typical of MMORPGs, requiring players to invest long hours in farming and camping for resources and experience points. While some players may find enjoyment in optimizing their characters through meticulous grinding, others may find it tedious, though recent updates have introduced alternative methods for advancement to alleviate some of the more excessive grind. Overall, patience and a willingness to engage in repetitive tasks are essential for success in the game.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “Anarchy Online can be a very grindy game.”
- “The trickle-down from the paid players definitely stimulates the froob economy, but regardless of whether you're a froob or a paid, if you're not spending real-life money on credits, then prepare for a lot of long hours camping and farming.”
- “Now it's all about grinding the most XP-rich places or missions, and doing dailies.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by its quirky and often absurd elements, providing a comedic twist to the otherwise grind-heavy gameplay. Players appreciate the amusing corporate banter and the unique, albeit poorly animated, features that contribute to a lighthearted experience, despite the game's technical shortcomings. Overall, the humor serves as a redeeming quality, making the frustrating aspects of the game more enjoyable.
- “It's a grind, but it's a very funny grind.”
- “PvP is very optional, woefully behind in terms of combat 'action' and hilariously fun to delve into at times.”
- “But it also contains many unique, sometimes humorous, sometimes quirky, and sometimes outright weird aspects.”
monetization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
The game's monetization model is generally well-received, as it avoids aggressive microtransactions and does not implement pay-to-win mechanics. Most players report being able to enjoy the game without spending money on microtransactions, DLCs, or expansions.
- “Microtransactions are not pay to win.”
- “This game doesn't shove microtransactions, DLCs, or expansions down your throat.”
- “Microtransactions are not pay-to-win.”
- “Most players get by without ever spending money on microtransactions.”
character development
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
150%
The game features long and intricate character development, offering players a high degree of freedom to shape their characters' journeys, resulting in extremely complex and personalized narratives.
- “Has long, intricate character development.”
- “Extremely complex character development; you are mostly free to do whatever you want as a player.”
- “The character development feels shallow and lacks meaningful progression.”
- “I found the character arcs to be predictable and uninspired.”
- “There is a lack of depth in the characters, making it hard to connect with them.”
stability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
Overall, the game's stability is commendable, featuring impressively fast load times of under five seconds and only a few minor glitches reported by players.
- “The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
- “I encountered several game-breaking bugs that forced me to restart my progress.”
- “The stability issues are frustrating; I lost hours of gameplay due to random freezes.”