ANNO: Mutationem (PC) Preview

Ever since I first saw Anno: Mutationem at the Playstation State of Play a little over a year ago, I’ve been following it off and on. Cyberpunk and Anime aren’t the most original combo, but they’re two of my favorite things, and just that one trailer reminded me they can go together as great as peanut butter and jelly. It probably helps that it also gives off vibes of Ghost in the Shell, Akira, The Matrix, and a small existential splash of Neon Genesis Evangelion.

Did I also mention it has a pixelated style that seamlessly switches to 2D & 3D? I can’t help but think that this game sounds like a mix of all the popular genres you’ll find among indie games. Needless to say, this was easily the demo I was the most excited to play during Steam Next Fest.

The first thing you’re going to notice here is the visuals, so let’s talk about the visuals because this game is gorgeous! To be completely honest, I was already giddy at the sight of the main menu screen. The pixelated art is wonderful and it looks even better with motion. I played this demo for over an hour, and at least a few of those minutes were spent moving Ann (the main character) forward and backward because the game looks like an incredible 2D game, then your mind is blown by it turning into a 3D game.

Everything you see is perfectly cohesive with the setting and style of cyberpunk the game is going for. There are some repeating NPC models, but there’s a lot of unique ones and they all have a different style that manages to work in the world. You’ll see people wearing the likes of high-tech fashion, denim jackets, short dresses, sleeveless vests, and hoodies. Some people have cybernetic limbs. One lady has a small talking robot dog.

You’re introduced to a scummy-looking city street that has everyone from the snobby rich to shady drug dealers and potential religious cult members. The alleyways have even more drug dealers, people in trouble with the police, and an impromptu rock concert, but there are legitimate places of business if you go far enough. At night, in a different city, the skyscraper lights seem to replace the stars as giant holograms and screens equally vie for attention. Trains pass by above Ann and even higher are the flying vehicles. If you have a Blade Runner itch, this is sure to scratch it.

ANNO: Mutationem has the synth music to fit as well. Fawning over the main menu visuals allowed me to hear how great the theme is for the screen. While walking around the music has a light touch. It’s easier to hear the sounds of people and the city itself at times. In combat, however, the synth tracks step up with a more intense and fitting sound.

Audio effects are similarly well-suited to the game. Each slash, kick, and gunshot sounds great in combat. The sound for rolling is a bit muted, but chances are you’ll be using it to dodge louder attacks anyway so it’s not really a problem. I also really enjoyed the music lowering during finishers and giving the attack sound effects more chance to shine.

I’ve already mentioned it enough with the other aspects, so it’s probably best to get into the gameplay. The gameplay is split into two parts, walking around with 3D movement, and fighting on a restricted 2D plane. The first is to explore the surroundings by walking down streets and into connecting alleyways. Additional areas are available such as shops and Ann’s apartment building. Every place is filled with a colorful cast of NPCs who you can talk to or listen in on.

The action part of the game kicks in when the fighting starts. From the demo, this was apparent when Ann’s outfit changed from casual attire with some lit-up flourishes to a more provocative get-up with heels, stockings, and upper combat gear that exposes a bit of her chest for some reason. It didn’t feel overly fan-servicey and it is a trope of Anime and Sci-Fi so I wasn’t surprised, but I do hope there’s an in-universe reason for it at least. There’s a brief scene where she’s combat-ready with her casual jacket on and I thought that was a cooler look, but it only lasted for a moment.

Another tell is that the gameplay is restricted to left-and-right movement only. Ann attacks using a pistol for long-range and a combination of kicks and an energy sword for close combat. The gamepad controls mention a defend/deflect option, but that didn’t seem available in the demo. There is a dodge-like mechanic with rolling, although you can’t use it to cancel the animations of your attacks, so it’s best to keep an eye on your enemies. The same button is also used for finishers (the demo sadly only had one) which zoom in and tilt the camera for a short cinematic.

Combat…seems fun, but it is very limited in the demo. There was an upgrade shop that teased some different-looking weapons, including one with a charge attack and one that showed two swords. They also had different stats and seemingly elemental effects as well, so I’m led to believe the full game will have more extensive combat.

It’s a bit hard to gleam what the story is about from the demo, as it starts with a cryptic dream/flashback and then dumps you into what feels like the start of a second or third chapter. I certainly don’t mind being dropped in the middle of it all, especially for a demo, because I want to soak in the setting and what pieces I have of the story does make it seems pretty heavy.

Characters with corrupt values, mega-corporations, a weird back-alley underground doctor, and a dollop of mystery are the minimum that I need to settle in for a Cyberpunk story. Add in weird monsters (there is what seems to be an electric-spewing dragon on the cover) and the protagonist having ominous flashbacks to an environment that looks nothing like what I’ve played in, and I’m excited for the ride ahead.

I already had high expectations for this game due to the visual style and setting alone, and the little bit that I played exceeded my expectations. While the combat was the weakest part for me, the weapons shop does indicate a deeper combat system that simply wasn’t included in the demo. It’s also marketed for having RPG elements, of which there wasn’t much of to play with besides collecting a bunch of junk and selling it. I would have loved the chance to have a deeper go at the mechanics, but for now, I’ll just have to wait like everyone else.

If you have yet to try it yourself, the ANNO: Mutationem demo is still available on Steam! The developers have published it a few times now, each time updating after feedback, and it now seems to be permanently available on the game’s Steam page.