Some video games attempt to ease you in, maintain your hand, and politely clarify themselves. ANTHEM#9 will not be a type of video games. It throws model, techniques, and perspective instantly at your face and dares you to maintain up. There’s an nearly cocky confidence in the way it presents itself, prefer it already is aware of it’s doing one thing completely different and doesn’t want your approval. That power can really feel overwhelming at first, but it surely’s additionally precisely what makes it so instantly intriguing.
At its core, ANTHEM#9 is doing this wild hybrid factor the place match-three puzzle mechanics crash headfirst into deck-building technique and all wrapped up in a roguelite construction. You’re not simply matching colours for enjoyable; each gem is tied to expertise, combos, and timing choices that may both make you’re feeling like a genius or an entire clown. The system encourages you to assume quick, plan forward, after which instantly panic when the board doesn’t cooperate. It’s that scrumptious type of stress the place you already know you tousled, but additionally wish to attempt once more instantly. With every run reshuffling your choices, the sport always nudges you into experimenting with new builds.
What actually hooked me although, is how satisfying the gameplay loop turns into as soon as all of it clicked. Early on, it feels such as you’re juggling too many concepts directly, however ultimately, every little thing begins to sync up into this rhythm of chaining combos, triggering skills, and watching enemies soften. Once you land an ideal sequence, it’s borderline euphoric. The sport has that “only one extra run” power that sneaks up on you, and all of the sudden it’s previous midnight, and also you’re questioning your life selections. It’s addictive in a dangerously informal manner.
Let’s discuss presentation, as a result of ANTHEM#9 has model. The anime-inspired visuals are clear, daring, and dripping with character. The soundtrack completely feels prefer it wandered out of a Persona sequence and determined to remain. There’s this slick, nearly jazzy confidence to the audio-visual combo that makes even fundamental fights really feel dramatic. Menus pop, colours hit, and every little thing feels prefer it’s making an attempt to impress you. Truthfully, I’ll let you know that it succeeds in doing so. It’s a type of video games the place you linger on screens longer than essential simply because the vibe is immaculate.
That mentioned, the model generally overshadows the substance, particularly in the case of the story. Calling the story of ANTHEM#9 minimal is being beneficiant. It’s extra like a story suggestion than an precise story. You’re a undercover agent doing undercover agent issues for a shadowy group, and that’s about as deep because it will get. The characters positive look cool, however they don’t get a lot room to breathe or evolve. It’s not offensive, simply forgettable, which appears like a missed alternative given how robust the presentation is.
After which there’s the UI…. Look, I get what ANTHEM#9 goes for, however generally it feels just like the interface is making an attempt to struggle you. There are moments the place half your display screen is roofed in textual content, icons, or timers, and it will possibly get overwhelming quick. Once you’re already managing combos and technique below strain, the very last thing you want is visible litter screaming for consideration. It’s not game-breaking, but it surely completely provides friction the place there shouldn’t be any.
Talking of strain, ANTHEM#9 doesn’t mess around with its problem. The usual regular runs can already get tense, however when you begin pushing to the exhausting diificulty, it turns into borderline unhinged. Enemies hit more durable, restrictions pile on, and all of the sudden each resolution feels prefer it might finish your run. It’s the type of problem that may both make you’re feeling like a tactical mastermind or have you ever looking at your display screen like, “Oh, so we’re simply struggling now.”
Nonetheless, I respect it. The problem isn’t unfair a lot as it’s demanding, and it forces you to actually perceive the techniques as a substitute of coasting via them. Once you lastly overcome a brutal encounter, it feels earned in a manner that plenty of video games don’t fairly handle. ANTHEM#9 isn’t energy fantasy, however reasonably a ability verify wrapped in neon lights. However yeah, in case you’re not into high-stress gameplay, this may really feel extra exhausting than thrilling.
That mentioned, I can’t ignore how spectacular ANTHEM#9 is. This can be a recreation bursting with concepts, even when not all of them land completely. It’s trendy, mechanically fascinating, and clearly constructed with a ton of ardour. You possibly can really feel the ambition in each system, each animation, each beat of the soundtrack. It might not be flawless, but it surely’s completely memorable. I’ll take that over protected and boring any day.ANTHEM#9 is messy, addictive, trendy chaos in the very best and worst methods. It’s a recreation that swings large, often misses, however nonetheless manages to allure you into coming again for one more run. If you happen to’re into roguelites that demand your consideration and reward your effort, that is price your time. Simply be ready to get humbled repeatedly.
This assessment relies on a retail copy of the sport supplied by the writer.
ANTHEM#9
- Gameplay 8/10
- Model 9/10
- Story 7/10
8/10
ANTHEM#9 is a trendy, addictive roguelite that blends puzzle mechanics with deck-building in a manner that feels each chaotic and deeply satisfying as soon as it clicks. It stumbles with a skinny story and brutal problem spikes, however its Persona-like aptitude and rewarding gameplay loop make it exhausting to place down.
