Anomalous
- September 22, 2024
- Byron Dunwoody
- 6h median play time
Get on Steam"Anomalous" is a single-player action game with good graphics and stunning music. Set in the grim industrial city of Kosolov, the game takes place in a highly controlled and secretive society where citizens are brainwashed and overworked. After a catastrophic disaster resulting from unethical scientific experiments to create the ultimate workforce, players must battle their way out of the city.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- Anomalous features a nostalgic retro FPS vibe with solid gameplay mechanics reminiscent of classic shooters like Doom and Quake.
- The game has impressive graphics and level design, creating a visually appealing dystopian environment that enhances the overall experience.
- Despite its flaws, Anomalous offers a fun and fast-paced shooting experience, especially for fans of the genre, and is considered a good value for its low price.
- The game suffers from numerous bugs, including inconsistent enemy AI, hitbox issues, and problems with weapon sounds, which detract from the overall enjoyment.
- Level design can be confusing and often requires excessive backtracking, with some areas lacking clear direction or signposting.
- Many weapons feel weak and lack impact, leading to unsatisfying combat experiences, and the overall enemy design is considered generic and uninspired.
- music28 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 43 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its solid and fitting soundtrack, often compared to the heavy metal style of Mick Gordon, enhancing the overall experience. However, players have reported issues with the music randomly stopping or looping awkwardly, which can detract from the immersion during gameplay. Despite these flaws, the soundtrack is considered a highlight, contributing positively to the game's aesthetic and atmosphere.
“The soundtrack is great and fitting.”
“The graphics are incredible and the soundtrack slaps.”
“But, the gameplay, how it feels to shoot, in those lovely locations, when that music blasts, and you have an open vertical arena where you bounce from jump pad to jump pad at breakneck speed blasting enemies around you, that feels really solid and juicy.”
“- the music loops a bit oddly at times and takes me out of the heat of the moment (a metal riff can stop abruptly and go into silence for a bit, before the ambiance starts)”
“- music sadly has some very rough triggers, it can stop abruptly and you're left wandering the streets in silence for extended periods of time until it can maybe kick back in.”
“I experienced few minor bugs like the music would stop working or some enemies can glitch and become invincible.”
- graphics24 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game draw heavy inspiration from Half-Life 2, featuring a cyberpunk and apocalyptic aesthetic with a mix of pixelated visuals that evoke a nostalgic feel. While some players appreciate the unique art direction and immersive environments, others criticize the inconsistent lighting and occasional graphical glitches, suggesting that the visuals may not meet modern standards. Overall, the graphics are seen as decent and fitting for the game's style, though they could benefit from more originality and polish.
“The graphics are incredible and the soundtrack slaps.”
“Graphics are beautifully pixelated!”
“The visuals are unique and immersive.”
“The graphics look bad; the lighting in particular seems to oscillate between too bright and too dark, and the flashlight doesn't help much.”
“Game just wasn't fun enough to keep playing past the first couple of levels, largely due to the boring enemy design, very basic AI, and graphics which were probably too ambitious for a solo project, so they ended up being distractingly bad in places (trees in particular).”
“Visuals have here and there z-fighting textures flickering around some corners that have gone unnoticed in such complicated large levels.”
- gameplay18 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 17 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Anomalous is rooted in classic retro FPS mechanics, featuring level progression, enemy encounters, and secrets, reminiscent of titles like Dusk and Prodeus. While the fast-paced action and smooth controls are praised, some players note a lack of impactful weapon feedback and inconsistent mechanics, suggesting room for improvement in making the experience feel more visceral. Overall, it offers a solid and enjoyable experience, especially for fans of the genre, despite some comparisons to more innovative shooters.
“The gameplay is super fast and tight, with complex stages brimming with secrets.”
“But, the gameplay, how it feels to shoot, in those lovely locations, when that music blasts, and you have an open vertical arena where you bounce from jump pad to jump pad at breakneck speed blasting enemies around you, that feels really solid and juicy.”
“Haven't played every 10 levels of the episode yet, but at this super low price this game is still very very much worth it, I mean it manages to combine Half-Life 2 style gameplay and visuals with Doom Eternal style design, and it still feels fun.”
“The lack of a satisfactory game feel is evident; the weapons lack punch and are not that fun to play with. The enemies don't provide much feedback when hit or killed, and there's a lack of flinching mechanics.”
“The ledge grab mechanic feels inconsistent, which can disrupt the flow of gameplay.”
“Gameplay could use a few improvements to make it more visceral and punchy.”
- optimization6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews; while some players report solid performance with no frame drops on high settings, others experience significant issues, including poor performance in combat, low jumping mechanics, and bugs that hinder gameplay. Overall, the game's optimization appears inconsistent, with some users unable to achieve expected frame rates despite having capable systems.
“Performances were rock solid during my playthrough, no frame drops with everything on epic, it's well optimized.”
“Performances were rock solid during my playthrough, no frame drops with everything on epic, it's well optimized.”
“Given the above, performance was not good, especially considering how far above the suggested specs my system is.”
“Optimization in some combat encounters is awful and I can barely play.”
“But judging at the standstill, all the levels are lit pretty well and don't seem to take priority over gameplay performance.”
- story5 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The story is largely considered weak and unengaging, culminating in a boss fight that leads to an ambiguous train departure, leaving players indifferent to the narrative. While some elements hint at inspiration from other games like Doom Eternal, the overall plot lacks depth and coherence, with players more focused on gameplay mechanics than the storyline itself.
“***Disclaimer: The story about the game's origin may not be 100% accurate, but it is true to the best of my imagination.”
“There's no real story.”
“The disclaimer about the game's origin may not be 100% accurate, but it is true to the best of my imagination.”
“The story and lore clearly show an appreciation for Doom Eternal.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is considered low due to its short length, limited levels, and lack of achievements, making it less appealing for multiple playthroughs. While some users find it enjoyable enough for a low price, others feel it would benefit from a roguelike structure to enhance replay value.
“The game has good replay value.”
“Personally, I would advise waiting for a sale since it is a fairly short game with little to no replay value, as there's only a handful of levels and a lack of achievements. It's not the worst thing I've gotten for less than $5.”
“If this was a roguelike, it would be fantastic, but as a standalone experience, replayability is low.”
- stability4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game has been released in a buggy state, with notable issues such as lackluster enemy death animations and glitches, although the frame rate remains stable. While the overall experience is enjoyable and visually appealing, the current technical problems detract from its potential. Future updates are anticipated to address these stability concerns.
“Definitely stoked to see how this turns out because so far it looks nice, runs great, fun as heck, and the music was actually really good.”
“Unfortunately, it's been released in a buggy and janky state that brings the experience down.”
“Enemy death animations are lackluster, with them kind of just falling over. The developer mentioned that ragdolls with impact velocity will be implemented in the future, but currently, the zombie enemies have buggy death animations where they often just end up standing, looping in their positions.”
“I experienced glitches quickly, yet the frame rate was steady.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious due to poorly placed enemy triggers, which complicate the process of achieving 100% kill completion.
“Weirdly placed enemy triggers make getting 100% kills tedious.”
“The grinding feels endless and repetitive, with little reward for the effort.”
“Leveling up takes far too long, making the experience feel like a chore.”
