ANNO: Mutationem, developed by Lightning Games and Thinking Stars and released for PC and PlayStation consoles as part of PlayStation's China Hero Project, is a brand-new game from China. Over the last several years, neon cyberpunk environments have grown increasingly prevailing in the media. Since it first made the news, numerous indie games have attempted to capitalize on Cyberpunk 2077's scenario and design popularity. In this game, intricacy is brought in and weaved through with grace and subtlety that left me in astonishment and filled me with delight. If you're seeking an indie game with range and intricacy, that would be ANNO: Mutationem. With a unique cyberpunk look, it sets itself out from the others right away; the game, however, suffers from an overly complicated plot.

Ann Flores is the protagonist of ANNO: Mutationem, who follows her adventures as a private investigator in the Skopp City, taking place in a future cyberpunk world where many of its residents have been affected by the Mechanika Virus, which effectively converts them into cyborgs, while Ann herself suffers from her ailment named Entangelitis. The tale revolves around Ann's brother Ryan's disappearance when he sets off in quest of a cure, setting the stage for the rest of the story as Ann searches for him. In contrast to Ann's icy attitude, her hacker buddy Ayane offers a burst of energy and optimism to the otherwise somber character. Many characters contribute significantly to the plot, creating a complex environment throughout the game, and they effectively establish the tone for the Metropolis' gloomy surroundings.

Thinking Stars defies conventions by limiting the story to create a layer of confusion. Consequently, the game fails to provide a steady stream of information to unravel the different strands of the story. A diverse cast of personalities inhabits this landscape, offering a unique perspective on the larger plot. Despite its lack of cinematic flair, it provides adequate direction for your journey while its firm reliance on speech. ANNO: Mutationem begins in a cyberpunk world, but its SCP Foundation-inspired supernatural elements take center stage as the game progresses.

In aspects like the logs and computer displays Ann may discover strewn throughout, these effects are most potent, but it works much less well when the secrecy becomes the central focus of a linear story. The story becomes disjointed, with situations that create more questions than they solve, and no one's true intentions or relationships are ever fully exposed. Although the game's finale delivers no closure and the sheer number of things that are left unanswered makes for a disappointing overall storyline, there is some planned epilogue material.

Sadly, things immediately spiral out of control in the story's first few phases based on that assumption. The narrative of this game utterly lost me on several occasions. There are way too many chuckle moments jammed into the 15-hour plotline, which results in a nonsensical story that will have you rolling your eyes by the time the game ends. Despite this, the story has some compensations. Ayane's interactions with Ann are entertaining throughout the game. Ann is an influential figure, full of affection for and from her adoptive family. The ensemble is diverse and multi-faceted, with each pursuing their aims and reasons, even if those objectives are obscure.

On the gaming front, things are a little better. ANNO: Mutationem is a hack 'n' slash RPG at its core. The gameplay takes you over the city's rooftops, clubs, and shady alleyways, deep below where the underclass of Mekanika patients reside and beyond. You'll pilot Ann through several underground installations, slashing adversaries with light and powerful laser sword slashes or gunning them down with a sidearm. Some Metroidvania characteristics, collectible side tunnels, and the like, but level advancement is primarily straightforward. As you accomplish narrative objectives and beat foes, you will earn points that you may use to upgrade your skills in two different skill trees. The first provides new attack combinations, while the second boosts your health and defenses.

Stereotyping ANNO: Mutationem's mechanics isn't easy because Thinking Stars has preferred to mix different types of games. Part of it feels like a 3D adventure in this game because we have open, explorable areas. The combat is 2D, like a two-dimensional hack 'n' slash game, and in some places, there are sections for platforming. In addition to this, you will learn combos, customize our swords and guns, play mini-games, and do optional missions to take a break from the main story. Hacking is always present in this game, and optional missions will also be there. The game Cyberpunk 2077 has a lot of influences that make it look like a small world, but it's deeper than you think. It's not as well-developed as Cyberpunk 2077; while its narrative kept me guessing, it didn't always satisfy me.

While in combat, there are alternatives such as evading assaults and carrying out flying attacks aided with bullets or explosives. If you don't understand their fighting styles, robots, giant monsters, and other fanciful creatures will also pose a threat. ANNO: Mutationem's combat isn't its strongest suit. Still, the way it's sprinkled throughout the narrative and exploration ensures that the game never seems repetitive. Instead of being a straight-up action game, it breathes life into the story and provides context for Ann's journey.

However, even once players have worked out their attack patterns, bosses may be frustrating because of the difficulty in avoiding or blocking particular strikes. When numerous opponents are assaulting at once, this is particularly true. There are no difficulty settings but sufficient healing supplies, which the game is not too stingy on delivering. The game allows players to cope and nearly fight their way through even if they may require Ann's temporary invulnerability power-up mode to tip the scale.

Some weapons and abilities may be upgraded and customized for action-packed battles. Ann's attributes and techniques may also be improved, allowing you to customize your battle style. You're always on your toes since each enemy has different assault patterns and defenses. Platforming might well be necessary to go ahead in some of these areas. You'll find a lot of damaged mechanical junk, but few of them will be helpful for anything other than selling or dismantling. With the resources you've gathered through dismantling, there is also the opportunity to create something new. Even if you locate enough junk to purchase one or two upgrades during your whole playing, the scales are stacked against you here. Complexity and mechanisms are unneeded for a game of this size and longevity. Instead, a series of fundamental enhancements or somewhat less expensive crafting alternatives would have made the gameplay more enjoyable.

To keep things interesting, ANNO: Mutationem offers a fair amount of extra content, including a bartending mini-game in which Ann needs to rapidly serve drinks and a few side missions that keep things exciting but aren't very noteworthy. These rewards are minimal, but they do an excellent job of breaking up the rest of the game and providing players with something else to do in the environment. Its' exceptional voice acting, fitting music, and sound effects create a solid auditory accompaniment.

The aesthetics and diversity are praiseworthy, and that goes for pixel art. Although ANNO isn't a long-running game, it offers a lot. Thanks to an outstanding team of artists, ANNO: Mutationem has created an animated world that's a treat for the eyes thanks to its stunning 2.5D pixel graphics and deceptive depth. You may go from a lively city setting to a desolate, sad slum to a dark and unsettling sewage system in minutes. The sheer number of options is awe-inspiring. The locations and graphics will compel you to explore even if the story and gameplay don't.

This first title from developer Thinking Stars is a mixed bag. Some of it works, while others don't. It's as though the game is only the beginning of something greater, like an anime pilot or a prequel to a novel. There's a hint that more could be on the way, but we can only anticipate for now. ANNO: Mutationem is still a work in progress, yet despite its problems, I found myself returning to it repeatedly because of the game's scale, ambition and engaging combat. Despite its flaws, the game makes up for it with a solid RPG feature and an excellent prospect.

Azfar Rayan (@AzfarRayan)
Editor, NoobFeed