Anomaly Agent
- January 24, 2024
- Phew Phew Games
- 154h median play time
Anomaly Agent combines its stylish presentation and addicting combat into one of the best indie experiences I've ever played.
In "Anomaly Agent," play as Agent 70 and use anomaly weapons to stop otherworldly threats. Upgrade your character, engage in melee and firearm combat, and perform acrobatic moves to evade pursuers. Your decisions will impact the story's outcome in this action-packed adventure featuring unique bosses and character development.
Reviews
- Anomaly Agent features engaging gameplay with smooth combat mechanics and a variety of combos that keep the action exciting.
- The game's pixel art and synthwave soundtrack create a captivating atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.
- The humorous dialogue and intriguing story elements add depth and charm, making it enjoyable for players.
- The game suffers from pacing issues, with some sections feeling overly long and repetitive, which can detract from the overall enjoyment.
- Combat can become chaotic due to the overwhelming number of enemies, leading to frustrating moments where players may feel overwhelmed.
- Some players have reported control issues, particularly with double jumping and responsiveness, which can hinder the gameplay experience.
- story204 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of "Anomaly Agent" is generally described as engaging and humorous, with a unique premise involving time loops and quirky characters. While some players found the narrative to be somewhat superficial and lacking depth, many appreciated its entertaining dialogue and the blend of action and storytelling. Overall, the game offers a fun, albeit short, experience that keeps players invested, despite some criticisms regarding character development and plot complexity.
“The story is unique; you essentially play as an SCP Foundation agent dealing with an anomaly.”
“The storytelling and worldbuilding are equally surreal and fun, and I love it!”
“The game effortlessly combines stunning visuals, immersive gameplay, and an intriguing storyline, creating an atmosphere that keeps players hooked from start to finish.”
“However, in terms of storytelling and character development, 'Anomaly Agent' can sometimes feel superficial.”
“The depth of the story and the background of the characters could have been elaborated further.”
“The story is honestly really not interesting at all even though they try to make a little plot twist in the end; all I thought was 'oh well, this was called for and not interesting or anything that makes the story rich at all.'”
- gameplay188 mentions
- 48 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Anomaly Agent" is generally praised for its fluid mechanics, engaging combat, and enjoyable platforming elements, though some players note issues with enemy synchronization and repetitive mechanics. While the combat is described as snappy and rewarding, the game can feel chaotic due to tightly packed enemy placements, leading to a reliance on dodging rather than building momentum. Overall, the game offers a satisfying experience with a blend of retro aesthetics and modern gameplay, despite some criticisms regarding its platforming and occasional clunky controls.
“The gameplay progression is amazing, the story is fun, and the music is a banger.”
“The gameplay is very fun and immersive, the dialogues are entertaining, the music is great and the use of emotions as an asset is very creative.”
“Anomaly agent is a wonderfully weird adventure, full of strange and interesting characters and fluid mechanics that are satisfying to execute.”
“The gameplay is sometimes confusing, like walls coming at you. The developer decided it would be a brilliant idea to sometimes show how long the wall is going to open, and sometimes not. Other than that, on city levels, it is way too confusing to see which buildings are supposed to be floor and which aren't. It is quite frustrating that I've died more than 20 times, and all of them were because either I got confused by what floor is and what isn't or I was killed by a wall I didn't know how long was going to be when it opens.”
“A big culprit is the use of environmental hazards: one-hit instakill mechanics absolutely litter the game, which get very annoying very quickly.”
“The most disappointing part of the game is platforming; I expected more in terms of both challenge and platforming mechanics.”
- music163 mentions
- 63 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The music in "Anomaly Agent" is widely praised as one of the game's standout features, with many reviewers highlighting its captivating synthwave soundtrack that enhances the cyberpunk atmosphere and complements the gameplay. Players appreciate the catchy and immersive tunes, which contribute significantly to the overall experience, although some note that the music can become repetitive over time. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a major draw for the game, making it a must-play for both music lovers and fans of the genre.
“The music in each level successfully draws the player into the game and perfectly complements the action.”
“The immersive and pulsating tunes not only enhance the cyberpunk aesthetic but also play a crucial role in intensifying the gaming experience, making Anomaly Agent a must-play for both cyberpunk enthusiasts and music aficionados alike.”
“Anomaly Agent is such a nice blend of good story, music, art, and gameplay, making it a delightful recipe for a brilliant game experience.”
“The volume and intensity of the music should have varied more with the action scenes to enhance the experience.”
“There is only one issue I could point out that is non-stop repetitive music which started bothering after a while.”
“The music could have been better.”
- graphics61 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 49 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Anomaly Agent" are characterized by a blend of retro pixel art and modern design, creating a nostalgic yet immersive cyberpunk atmosphere. While many players appreciate the detailed character designs and vibrant environments, some criticize the graphics for being repetitive and lacking variety. Overall, the visuals are praised for their smoothness and artistic style, complementing the engaging gameplay and soundtrack.
“The visual design of 'anomaly agent' takes players on a nostalgic journey with pixel graphics inspired by old games.”
“The retro feel from the pixel graphics and the cyberpunk environment along with the music makes the experience even better.”
“The graphics are cool, the character design is great, and everything feels very smooth.”
“The game world and character designs are detailed and meticulously crafted, but some players may find the graphics repetitive and lacking in variety.”
“The art style, while captivating at times, has many rookie mistakes; for example, when the airship descended from the sky, the model clearly looked upscaled with a scale ratio from the game engine, making it appear really out of place.”
“The visuals are very basic pixel graphics, but the artists and designers managed to give life to the environments, making each location feel distinct from the previous ones.”
- humor58 mentions
- 98 % positive mentions
- -3 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised, with many players finding it to be a standout feature that enhances the overall experience. While some reviews note that the humor can be hit or miss, the majority appreciate the witty dialogue, funny character interactions, and engaging storytelling that elicit genuine laughter. Overall, the game's comedic elements contribute significantly to its charm, making it enjoyable for a diverse audience.
“The humor was the top feature for me in this game, and I had a lot of fun with the story in this manner.”
“The story is short, but well written and funny.”
“The dialogue in this game is hilarious!”
“I really hope the jokes aren't this unfunny in the original version. If they are, I'll have to take back my positive remarks and add another minus for the whole game.”
“The German localization is terrible, as usual in other cases. I really wonder if the people translating games to German nowadays are even German.”
“I couldn't stand the German version so much that I switched to Turkish after just 45 minutes of playing.”
- atmosphere24 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 29 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of "Anomaly Agent" is widely praised for its captivating cyberpunk aesthetics and immersive synthwave soundtrack, which enhance the overall gaming experience. Players appreciate the vibrant retro-future setting and dynamic environments, although some note a lack of intricate details and humor that may detract from immersion. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered a standout feature, effectively drawing players into its engaging world.
“Anomaly Agent boasts an atmospheric and captivating soundtrack.”
“The game's cyberpunk aesthetic and synthwave music offer players an attractive and immersive atmosphere.”
“The game effortlessly combines stunning visuals, immersive gameplay, and an intriguing storyline, creating an atmosphere that keeps players hooked from start to finish.”
“I had difficulty immersing myself in the atmosphere of the game because it contained too much humor. Perhaps if it had been a bit more serious, it could have been more engaging for me. However, the game's humor is genuinely well-made.”
“The game has some weak points, but I believe that they are not big issues and the overall atmosphere compensates for them.”
“Good concept, various and beautiful environments that will suck you into the atmosphere with brilliant looks and music.”
- replayability10 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 30 % neutral mentions
- 30 % negative mentions
The game offers some replayability through multiple story paths, two endings, and a new game plus mode, but opinions vary on its effectiveness. While some players find the combat mechanics engaging and the overall experience enjoyable, others feel that the endings are underwhelming and do not significantly enhance replay value. Overall, the game provides a short but potentially rewarding experience, depending on individual preferences for exploration and narrative depth.
“There appears to be replay value based on the different story paths you encounter throughout the game, as well as a new game plus that I unlocked after beating the game the first time.”
“The combat mechanics are smooth and addictive, making for great replayability.”
“It's a short adventure that is enjoyable and replayable.”
“There appears to be replay value based on the different story paths you encounter throughout the game, as well as a new game plus that I unlocked after beating the game the first time, but the ending I did get was ultimately uneventful and underwhelming.”
“I was expecting multiple paths or endings that encourage replayability.”
“Content-wise, you'll get about 8-9 hours of fun on normal difficulty, depending on how good you are; and you do have 2 endings and a new game + to help a bit with replayability.”
- character development9 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Character development in "Anomaly Agent" is a mixed bag; while the game features detailed character designs and an engaging choice-based dialogue system that enhances player involvement, some players feel the overall storytelling can be superficial. The combat variety and humor contribute positively to the experience, but the depth of character growth may not meet everyone's expectations.
“Anomaly Agent's story, combat variety, humor, and character designs are really great.”
“The controls are very good, and the in-game character development mechanics are very enjoyable.”
“I enjoyed the choice-based dialogue system, allowing the player to become a part of the story and affect character development.”
“However, in terms of storytelling and character development, 'Anomaly Agent' can sometimes feel superficial.”
“The game world and character designs are detailed and meticulously crafted, but some players may find the graphics repetitive and lacking in variety.”
“Character design:”
- grinding8 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Players consistently express that grinding in the game is excessively time-consuming, often requiring an unrealistic amount of effort to progress. Many find the final battles and specific sections, like the dance bar, particularly tedious and frustrating, detracting from the overall experience.
“However, towards the end of the game, the final battles were a bit tedious at best and a horrible and frustrating slog at worst.”
“The dance bar sections in particular were excruciatingly tedious to go through.”
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- optimization3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The game is generally well-optimized, running smoothly without significant bugs or performance issues. While it offers a solid beat 'em up experience, some players feel it lacks a unique or engaging element. Overall, it presents a strong price-performance ratio, making it a worthwhile purchase.
“Definitely worth buying, the price-performance ratio is unbeatable.”
“Very good optimization.”
“Normal game, without bugs and optimization problems... but it's just a normal beat 'em up. You can complete it without any emotions; there's just a lack of something special.”
- stability3 mentions
- 67 % positive mentions
- -67 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability is rated highly, with many users reporting it as bug-free and running smoothly on the Steam Deck. However, some players have experienced minor visual glitches and occasional character responsiveness issues during intense combat scenarios.
“Bug free: 10/10, a flawless game experience.”
“Runs great on Steam Deck.”
“There are some visual glitches and bugs, such as the character not responding to your button spamming in intense combat.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable during longer sessions.”
“I experienced several instances of frame drops and stuttering, which really detracted from the overall experience.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game primarily revolves around microtransactions, which involve in-game purchases that players can make.
“Microtransactions are well-balanced and don't feel intrusive.”
“The in-game purchases enhance the experience without being necessary to enjoy the game.”
“I appreciate that the monetization model allows for free play while offering optional purchases.”
Critic Reviews
Anomaly Agent review
Anomaly Agent is a genre-bending, time-twisting, gun-toting, knuckle-crackin’ badass of a game, waiting to chuck you around and leave you breathless on the floor, ready for round two.
80%Anomaly Agent Review – I Know Kung Fu
Anomaly Agent combines its stylish presentation and addicting combat into one of the best indie experiences I've ever played.
95%Anomaly Agent (Nintendo Switch)
Anomaly Agent is a fast, slick adventure through time. This small indie team has done a great job with this, its first game, paving the way for a promising future. Despite a few little technical glitches, this is one title worth checking out.
85%