Posted on: September 18, 2016

atarirob

Games: 132 Reviews: 11

The best RPG of it's era-Better than FF7

Ion Storm Dallas' last effort was Anachronox, and although it shows in places, it's still the best RPG of it's era. The story is funny, with dark undertones, then characters are very fleshed out for a game using the Quake II engine, and overall is a blast to play. Compared to FF7 which is, in my opinion, a poor game (more a technical feat than a gaming feat) it holds up very well. I could easily play through the majority of Anachronox and come out very pleased, than play 10 minutes of FF7 and come out feeling bored and useless. Tom Hall really outdid himself with this game, and feels like a fitting end to Ion Storms, bitter-sweet legacy. Following in the footsteps of Deus Ex and Diakatana was both a blessing and a curse. No one was sure if Anachronox was going to be good or bad. Sure, it's following Deus Ex, (one of) the greatest video game(s) ever made, but it was also wallowing in the trainwreck/aftermath of the awful Diakatana, also developed by Ion Storm Austin. Unfortunately, although hype was moderate and reviews were very positive, Anachronox faded into obscurity and didn't sell all that well. Despite this, it's up on GOG and I couldn't be happier. The game is undeniably a superlative experience, unlike most RPG's from it's era, Anachronox is actually fair, allowing you to progress at whatever speed you like, but, like Deus Ex, rewards you for your exploration allowing you to do sub-quests for random passer-by's that, although can result in a big reward, are often time consuming and aren't needed to complete the overall game. Battling feels very nice, even today. What most 3D, turn based RPG's lack(ed) was that you never felt very powerful. In the Final Fantasy series for example, although I was doing crazy attacks and spins, I never felt like I hurt the guy, whereas in this, you do, even if you come out with hp: 30/400. One of my favourite games ever made, PERIOD. Fantastic experience, I'm having so much fun with it. Get past the dated graphics and enjoy!!!!

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Posted on: January 4, 2025

ratpak

Verified owner

Games: 147 Reviews: 72

A hidden gem

Anachronox is one of the best RPGs ever made, a hidden gem. It's got a fairly unique take on the genre, with heavy JRPG influences. The cast of characters are fun and memorable and there's a good deal of humour in the game. Exploring the different planets on your quest will remind you of Mass Effect, but of course this game came long before before Mass Effect! However, I didn't gel with the turn-based combat and the game is definitely showing its age. If you can get past all that, then this is a game definitely worth checking out.

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Posted on: February 25, 2013

bradr29

Verified owner

Games: 242 Reviews: 17

Behold!

This game is on GoG for a reason. I still have the original CD and box, and I hate searching for patches, so GoG comes through again. Anachronox was absolutely one of the most memorable games I've ever played, granted it was closer to the time of its release when I did. The game was full of delays but had total commitment from its developers and designers. It's a cult popularity game, for old school PC gaming types, and the last big hurrah from the (heavily modified) Quake II engine. I enjoyed the combat and adventure puzzles, it was a nice mix/twist of gaming with a great story that kept you focused on it until you finished it. If you haven't played it, but are a regular here at GoG, you really need to get it.

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Posted on: April 9, 2013

crackedegg

Verified owner

Games: 195 Reviews: 3

Classic

I'm part of the way through my first play through. I did not experience this game when it was new. It's a combination of point'n'click adventure and turn-based CRPG, and executed amazingly well. It just keeps getting better. A few tips for using it on modern systems, though: 1. Use a mouse with adjustable DPI, via button. While running around, high-DPI is nice, but when clicking on everything in sight, or while in combat, low-DPI is easier on the wrists. 2. Play with AA settings, if you need AA. I found light SGSSAA, mixed with FXAA, to look the best, for me. Some AA settings don't work quite right, and may result in artifacts. Due to the futuristic look, with lots of black and near-white lines, plain old supersampling doesn't quite do it. 3. Set the vertical resolution to the closest setting possible for your monitor, then, in your driver settings, set scaling to be 1:1, rather than doing any stretching. 4. Don't bother with Glide. nGlide supports it, and that's cool, but it looks really off, sometimes. Some games, like Rayman 2, are JUST RIGHT with Glide wrapping, but the "flatness" of OpenGL is a bit better, for this game.

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Posted on: May 11, 2013

Toffeyman

Verified owner

Games: 42 Reviews: 1

Genius.

Anachronox is a masterpiece of RPG joy. As a lover of RPG's you really, truly should get it - bargain of the decade for such a fun and funny, complex and intelligent game :) The quake 2 engine now looks so bad it is brilliant and feels like stylized cartoon graphics. You can speak to almost everyone in the game and get unique responses. Combat is like Final Fantasy but the game itself is one of the best written and well realised Sci-Fi universes in the RPG genre, rivalling mass effect for imagination. It is in my top 10 games of all time, and top 5 RPG's.

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