ANNO: Mutationem

 PlayStation 5
User Score
6.9

Mixed or average reviews- based on 24 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 12 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 24
  3. Negative: 3 out of 24

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  1. powerdrillverde
    Mar 29, 2022
    6
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It's hard to rate this game. The visuals and the art of the game its a 10/10 but in other aspects the game deflates. At the beggining Anno is very promising, the open world, many citys, missions...etc
    When you keep playing the game all these things are only a lie. The craft and other mechanics are unnecesarys and useless. The open world its only a way to be a popular game because in the middle of the story you go to a mission and never back to the world. The game kidnap you! If the the main missions last 7h i cant back to the city to shop weapons complete the secundaries or just farm and enjoy the different cities. The difficult its strange some bosses fight like dark souls and other boss are to easy. The game has to many boss. You avance and a boss and another and another ... it is bored, some boss are longs and this feel heavyweight.
    There are a lot of items, weapons and etc that you don't use in the whole game except 3 times.
    The plot its cool and the ambience. The inspiration of Evangelion, the cyberpunk citys, the mystery about the nature of the protagonist. But it gets long and in some parts it's boring.
    The game is all the time giving you information and presenting characters you don't understand for 8 hours. There comes a time when you don't care about the story, you just want to know the end and understand what is happening.
    Until you get to the end you don't really understand what is happening, you kill two bosses and it's over
    it feels incomplete.
    However, the combat, the 3d pixel art and the setting make it an entertaining game.
    If the game had a better pace and corrected certain bugs it would be a 10/10    … Expand
  2. Ughhh
    Jul 21, 2022
    0
    Honestly, just dont buy this game. Its pretty cool at first, but ultimately just a waste of time. It tries to be too many things, and ends up being either boring or frustrating
  3. Naedeslus
    May 27, 2023
    5
    +Great visual style that blends 2D sprite work with 3D environments in a great cyberpunk aesthetic.
    +Simple but good combat.
    +Great city designs. - Bad-level design that makes it very easy to get lost. The map is useless. - Pixel-perfect platforming segments that are frustrating. - The perspective of environments change a bit too quickly and can make it disorienting. - Some frame    +Great visual style that blends 2D sprite work with 3D environments in a great cyberpunk aesthetic.
    +Simple but good combat.
    +Great city designs.

    - Bad-level design that makes it very easy to get lost. The map is useless.
    - Pixel-perfect platforming segments that are frustrating.
    - The perspective of environments change a bit too quickly and can make it disorienting.
    - Some frame rate drops on the PS5.
    - The story is poorly written and is very convoluted. It makes no sense and it has no idea if it wants to be a cyberpunk search and rescue story or a weird multiverse plotline that comes out of nowhere.
    - A massive difficulty spike in the final area that makes it very frustrating to finish.

    I wanted to like this. At first, I did but about half way through the problems show up. The level design is very annoying, repetitive, and easy to get lost in. The map is useless. The plot makes no sense and has an identity crisis on what it truly wants to be. The final area has a huge difficulty spike that felt unfair if you're not 100% prepared for it. It does have its moments but I personally don't recommend this game, even if the art style does look very, very appealing.    … Expand
  4. bbtothe
    Mar 19, 2022
    9
    Okay was not expecting this game to be this amazing… The world building and characters are sooo well done! You can tell the devs put a ton of love into this game. The graphics are phenomenal, soundtrack is just as good too - lots of chilled ambient tracks and really ramps up during combat.

    100% recommending this to anyone even slightly interested. Honestly probably the best cyberpunk    Okay was not expecting this game to be this amazing… The world building and characters are sooo well done! You can tell the devs put a ton of love into this game. The graphics are phenomenal, soundtrack is just as good too - lots of chilled ambient tracks and really ramps up during combat.

    100% recommending this to anyone even slightly interested. Honestly probably the best cyberpunk themed game I’ve ever played    … Expand
  5. iMustang
    Jul 31, 2023
    7
    Anno Mutationem is a piece of art in several definitions of the word. Subjective, intriguing, and something you have to stop and stare at. Being comprised entirely of pixel artwork in a futuristic setting, this game can sometimes be more fun to stop and watch at than it is to actually play with delightful foot-tapping music and smooth beats that will carry you to another plane. TheAnno Mutationem is a piece of art in several definitions of the word. Subjective, intriguing, and something you have to stop and stare at. Being comprised entirely of pixel artwork in a futuristic setting, this game can sometimes be more fun to stop and watch at than it is to actually play with delightful foot-tapping music and smooth beats that will carry you to another plane. The presentation of this game is downright stunning from the visuals and music to the setting, and you’re hooked from the beginning with an amazing protagonist and her delightful sidekick.

    While the characters and their backgrounds are incredibly charming, the story is admittedly a bit on the weak side. What starts as an interesting plot about our protagonist’s missing brother and his involvement with a gang quickly turns into a convoluted government conspiracy plot. It was not until much later in my playthrough did I learn that apparently it was originally an SCP fan game, and the story suffered because of it. I’ll admit I’m biased since I do not care for SCP, but the core problem is the game and it’s story was already good without its inclusion. Rather than use SCP as inspiration it was used instead as a crutch, almost as if the game writers did not have confidence in their own storytelling without it, when in fact the story was just fine without it. What starts as a cool cyberpunk adventure with unique cities and upbeat music quickly turns into uninteresting sewers and old laboratories, and it’s a shame because the opening act proved they could do so much more with their own ideas.

    I could get into more details filled with spoilers, and perhaps I would if this game left a more rotten experience, but honestly… In spite of its flaws, it was an incredible ride. The ending really brings the whole game back home, reminded me why I loved the strong cast of characters, and made the whole journey worthwhile. The combat never blew me away, but was always good enough and rarely frustrated me, and overall I walked away from this experience with a smile on my face. The saying goes you have to walk before you can run, and this was definitely a long walk, but a walk I enjoyed and felt proud to go on. Anno Mutationem was a solid, beautiful effort, and one I hope they continue into a full series as time goes on.    … Expand
  6. Aokana
    Feb 27, 2023
    8
    I honestly didn't expect much when I bought the game but overall this a really solid game. The narrative is really good only you actually have to follow the dialogue (all of it, not just the voices) and pick up and read any texts you find along the way and then you gotta put 2 and 2 together. Which is a refreshing change of pace from modern AAA games like Tales of Arise where the game isI honestly didn't expect much when I bought the game but overall this a really solid game. The narrative is really good only you actually have to follow the dialogue (all of it, not just the voices) and pick up and read any texts you find along the way and then you gotta put 2 and 2 together. Which is a refreshing change of pace from modern AAA games like Tales of Arise where the game is constantly dumping you with 10min story/lore scenes.

    There is side-quests to pad out the time.. but not so many of them that it overtakes the main story. They become more or less little detours and the levels are well enough designed that they allow you to explore a sub-sect of a "dungeon" but you will unlock a door or otherwise find a way to make your way back easily to a save point. This makes it feel more explore-able rather than just a winding tunnel with save points.

    So overall from a small indie dev its a solid game and deserves high marks. However you need to temper your expectations. I think what happens with a lot of small/indie dev games is people go in expecting AAA but your not going to get that since the team size and budget are so small in comparison.

    Now onto the problems... 1 - Combat. The combat is fluid enough and doesn't feel "Janky" but on the other hand it isn't exactly polished either. For example some of your combat moves overlap like theirs some unlock able kick moves but they get tied to the same attack as your heavy weapon that has similar inputs which can cause you to use a different ability than intended. These skills should have been put onto the dodge button instead.

    2 - Mistranslated text/speech...overall it's not a big issue and some of its humorous but it is present a bit more than it should be.

    3 - It just feels... like it was meant to be more. There is many aspects of the game that make it feel like they started it and then cut it off. Overall it makes the game feel like they started and then some investors pulled out or something. Prime example is the entire "Chip" socket enhancements, there's only like... a dozen chips but then a crafting and enhancing section so it feels like this was going to be a full on customization system that was cut off as it was about to hit development launch so instead of scrapping the system they just..left it there in its infantile state.

    All that said at its core it was still a fun time and that's the important part.    … Expand
  7. TenchiSenpai
    Mar 20, 2022
    8
    This game is hard to describe. 3D environmental exploration dividing up 2D Metroidvania style action hack and slash. RPG elements are in there. Skill points and a skill tree, crafting both weapons and items, and a tree used for upgrades to your stats. The action is fun and you are regularly given traversal moves to make platforming more fun and challenging. I beat it. Took me about 11This game is hard to describe. 3D environmental exploration dividing up 2D Metroidvania style action hack and slash. RPG elements are in there. Skill points and a skill tree, crafting both weapons and items, and a tree used for upgrades to your stats. The action is fun and you are regularly given traversal moves to make platforming more fun and challenging. I beat it. Took me about 11 hours and I did a lot of side quests. Story is confusing, but interesting. You really have little idea of what's going on most of the time, but the character interactions are mostly funny and enjoyable. A small team made this and I would love a sequel!… Expand
  8. Tsiphone
    Mar 31, 2022
    6
    I played this game fully and it´s true, the art and soundtrack is amazing, the cyberpunk atmosphere is incredible and love the design of the main character... but after that all the game crashes down, don´t get me wrong, the game works and that´s it, it´s not even good, just works; the items are just accessories that are never used, the weapon system is useless (you don´t need to craftI played this game fully and it´s true, the art and soundtrack is amazing, the cyberpunk atmosphere is incredible and love the design of the main character... but after that all the game crashes down, don´t get me wrong, the game works and that´s it, it´s not even good, just works; the items are just accessories that are never used, the weapon system is useless (you don´t need to craft anything) all bosses use that "hit and run" tactic that it will be interesting to counter with your in game tactics IF the game controls were good, but they just work, the map is lineal and you don´t get to explore the cities at fullest, it´s just go and kill some dudes and repeat... the game has this SCPsque tone and you can feel the creators passion in show it, but they are just accesories in a game that is not SCP, not full cyberpunk, not full explore-your-city, and that just works.… Expand
  9. Slaynii
    Aug 11, 2023
    6
    I was very surprised by the animation, soundtracks and the little open world. I don't like the story/plot and combat. It started really good but became weirder and weirder. Most of the characters felt like "filler" characters because you don't know anything about them and they just...disappear. I wanted to know more about them. I expected this game to be a cyberpunk like game but in theI was very surprised by the animation, soundtracks and the little open world. I don't like the story/plot and combat. It started really good but became weirder and weirder. Most of the characters felt like "filler" characters because you don't know anything about them and they just...disappear. I wanted to know more about them. I expected this game to be a cyberpunk like game but in the end it felt like I played some kinda fantasy game.I don't like how the story unfolded. The combat was way too easy in my opinion. I played it on normal (there is only easy and normal mode) and honestly the majority of the fights were boring. The weapon system, the shops in general are useless. There was nothing left to do in the open world after I finished the Sidequests (beside the main quest of course). Overall the game was okay.… Expand
  10. Larryhow
    Jul 18, 2022
    10
    Beautiful 2.5 cyberpunk world, great vibe, loved the character, songs, combat, 10/10.

Awards & Rankings

97
#97 Most Discussed PlayStation 5 Game of 2022

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
71

Mixed or average reviews - based on 10 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 3 out of 10
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 10
  3. Negative: 0 out of 10
  1. PLAY
    May 3, 2022
    70
    The game never outstays its welcome, but in addition to some spotty localisation, its promise of greatness is held back by its unpolished execution. [Issue#14, p.78]
  2. RPGamer
    Apr 8, 2022
    60
    Despite its issues and a perplexing plot that fails to answer nearly all of its pressing questions, ANNO: Mutationem has the makings of a strong ongoing property. The mixture of 2D and 3D works nicely with its visual style, and it establishes Ann Flores as a strong protagonist well worth spending more time with. As it currently is, ANNO: Mutationem is a solid but not spectacular title and should be able to establish a fan base, with the scope to expand it in the future.
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  3. WellPlayed
    Apr 8, 2022
    70
    I really did want to enjoy Ann’s story, it’s visually beautiful and has some clever little in-game tricks to its aesthetics. It’s just a damn shame the narrative couldn’t quite keep up, leaving ANNO: Mutationem a visually stunning but muddled, confusing game.
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