Anachronox

I was skeptical about this game being a masterpiece, but once I started playing it I couldn't put it down. This game has some of the best, intelligent humor I've seen in a game anywhere. I can't recommend it enough.

I'm going to repeat what everyone else has said: the writing is top notch, the characters are fantastic and the game has a great sense of humor. The combat system is actually really good, except the one glaring flaw the plagues this ENTIRE game: 5-10 seconds wait after doing anything. Just about every action you take both in and out of combat takes a long wait for you to get back into the action. Personally, I couldn't stand it and I stopped after the boss fight with the giant sentinel. Between that boss fight and the trash with multiple stare bears, which take 4-6 hits to kill, which also reset your ATB (for lack of a better term) meter when they use their stare attack, which also slows your ATB meter, which all of those things COMBINED with the 5-10 second wait between doing every little thing, made this a real slog that I couldn't bear to keep going through. Not to mention, when you're exploring outside of the battlefield, when you get on an elevator it takes about 5 more seconds after you get off to regain control of your character. If you go into a new area, it takes 5 seconds to regain control of the character. If you open a door, if you pick a lock, if you go into a cinematic... you get the picture.

Pro: -Interesting, creative levels -Lots of hidden secrets -Nice sidequests -Interesting story -Perfects voices -One of the few games which actually made me laught out loud -Some nice stressful escape sequences Cons: -The game is basically an errand boy simulator (run there, and there, get stuff, run back) -Fighting seems unnecessary and boring for me -Too much animation during fighting (feels like wasting time, also can cause motion sickness) Buy if: You like discovery simulators, story, and doing sidequests, and basically talking to every NPC.

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!!!!

I understand what this game is trying to do. It want to tell a story about a down on his luck detective in a wacky wonderful space world full of humor. To some extent it works. But the good parts are too few and spread out to justify the time spent playing the game. Characters are fun but interactions with them are pretty sparse. Combat is awful and grindy. Its hard starting out and very easy after that. There is no in game justification for the combat other than that a game like this ought to have it. Level design is large and empty and have no fast travel. It can be quite interesting due tyo the interesting world it takes place in but only the first time you see it. The first area is a long line with a lot of elevators with mandatory cutsceenes playing and thats just a waste of my time. There are a lot of things that wastes your time, with unclear instructions and trial and error. I might finish this game at some point, but sender station is where I jump off for now.