Despite not living up to expectations at launch and amidst the recent upheaval surrounding BioWare itself, there is still life left inAnthem, especially if EA is keen on pushing live-service multiplayer games. While BioWare saw significant success between the conclusion of itsMass Effecttrilogy andDragon Age: Inquisitionbecoming Game of the Year in 2014, its efforts to break into new ground with games such asMass Effect AndromedaandAnthemfailed to perform as well. Yet despite its faults,Anthemhad and still has good qualities that could justify BioWare’s interest in areboot.
Though not too dissimilar toMass Effectin terms of genre and design,Anthemreflected BioWare’s efforts to expand beyond its current flagship franchises and create a new cooperative experience for players. However, despite receiving praise for elements such as aerial gameplay and a contiguous open world, issues between its development and player expectations for better storytelling ultimately held the game back upon its release. Should BioWare and EA work toresolve these issues and rebootAnthemwith a stronger focus on story, characters, and gameplay loops, then the game could redeem itself a second time around.
Anthem is Still BioWare’s Diamond in the Rough
While BioWare did intend to commit to reworking and moving forward withAnthemthrough seasonal updates and post-launch content, such as “Cataclysms” to advance its story, by 2021 it had been confirmed thatfuture development forAnthemhad stopped. However, despite this,Anthemis still available to play as both single-player and multiplayer, something which has helped revive interest in the game years later.
What most separatesAnthemfrom other BioWare games likeMass EffectandDragon Ageare its flight mechanics, Javelin exosuits, and world design. In particular, while Motive Studios works on its newIron Mangame, it might want to take notes fromAnthemfor setting the standard for flying gameplay, given that it’s the game’s most well-regarded feature. In addition to this,Anthem’s four Javelin exosuits (which parallel traditional RPG classes) allow players to customize and tailor their gameplay to suit their individual styles.
Why Anthem Deserves a Second Chance From Both Players and Developers
WhileAnthemmight be held back in areas like a lack of mission variety and an underdeveloped story, its core gameplay is as much ahead of its time as it is fun to play. With BioWare’s future uncertain beyond its nextMass Effectgame, players who are prepared to giveAnthema second chance could help with its revival since it already has the foundations of a good game. After at least one ofAnthem’s producers suggested a rebootcould be a good move, players might ultimately have the power to make this a reality and shape BioWare’s future beyondMass EffectandDragon Age.
AfterDragon Age: The Veilguard’s mixed reception,EA suggested its lack of live-service elementsled to the game falling short of expectations. However, it would arguably make more sense for EA to have focused onAnthemif this was the goal it had in mind. If EA is committed to pushing more live-service gameplay in BioWare’s games, thenAnthemwarrants a second chance, as its current issues can be resolved with a relaunch. While BioWare fans may still advocate for story-driven single-player experiences,Anthemcould be the studio’s best compromise between its players and publisher.
