Anthem

🔥 What is Anthem

Anthem is a science-fantasy action RPG that casts players as armored Freelancers navigating the dangerous and unstable world of Coda. These warriors operate high-tech Javelin exosuits, enabling them to fly through open-world environments, engage in combat, and complete cooperative missions.

The game combines shooter mechanics with RPG progression and movement-focused gameplay. Despite high expectations and impressive concept art, Anthem struggled after launch with technical flaws and lacked the narrative depth that players had come to expect from its developer. The planned overhaul, dubbed “Anthem NEXT,” was eventually cancelled.

Currently, the game continues in a limited state, with its final shutdown scheduled for January 2026. After that, Anthem will no longer be playable, which has reignited debates around the ownership and preservation of online-only titles.

👉 Features of Anthem

Javelin Classes and Customization

Players start with the balanced Ranger Javelin and later gain access to three additional suit types: Colossus for heavy tank-like combat, Interceptor for agile melee strikes, and Storm for ranged elemental attacks. Each of these classes promotes distinct approaches to both solo and cooperative encounters.

Customization plays a central role in how Javelins evolve. Players modify loadouts by upgrading weapons, installing specialized components, and unlocking passive bonuses. While visual cosmetics are optional, strategic part selection becomes essential for taking on tougher missions and endgame content.

Dynamic World Events

Open-world exploration includes spontaneous events known as Shaper Storms, environmental hazards, and enemy strongholds. These elements encourage players to explore freely, whether through public sessions or smaller squad-based runs.

In between missions, players return to Fort Tarsis, a story-driven hub where interactions with various factions take place. This location allows for upgrades, side quests, and inventory management before heading back into the field.

Co-op Combat Integration

Up to four players can team up in real time, executing combos, flanks, and synchronized takedowns. The ability system rewards coordination, especially when pairing elemental powers for amplified results. This mechanic reinforces the value of having a well-balanced squad.

Some missions are designed to scale with group size, and while matchmaking is available, players also have the option to restrict sessions to friends or solo runs. However, most missions remain online-only regardless of chosen difficulty or team size.

Gameplay

Flight and Mobility in Combat

Javelin flight defines the rhythm of Anthem’s gameplay. Players glide above enemies, dive into tight quarters, and use aerial perspective to reposition or escape. Flight adds vertical strategy to otherwise grounded firefights.

The core combat loop revolves around chaining weapon damage, abilities, and aerial maneuvers. When executed well, these combinations create a fast-paced, acrobatic experience that distinguishes the game from standard shooters.

Loot Progression and System Feedback

Gear is acquired through mission completion, world events, and chests hidden in the environment. Each piece of loot affects not only damage output but also status effects and ability cooldowns, encouraging build experimentation.

Unfortunately, inconsistencies in loot scaling and poor reward pacing were common complaints. Players often felt that effort and difficulty were not reflected in the quality of post-mission drops, especially at higher difficulty levels.

Technical Stability and Player Frustration

At launch, the game was marred by performance issues, including frequent crashes, long loading times, and broken quest triggers. While later updates improved stability, several bugs continued to affect player experience long-term.

Audio dropouts, animation freezes, and mission tracking failures persisted for years. These problems, combined with repetitive mission design, contributed to a declining player base and ultimately, the cancellation of long-term development plans.

Graphics

Environmental Design and World Atmosphere

The visual direction leans heavily into lush sci-fi design, with verdant jungles, cavernous ruins, and swirling weather patterns that complement the game’s mysterious setting. Particle effects and lighting contribute significantly to immersion.

Each biome presents unique textures, foliage, and elevation. These differences matter not only aesthetically but also in terms of traversal, cover use, and line of sight, especially in flying segments that demand spatial awareness.

Visual Fidelity and Presentation Details

While environments are generally impressive, facial animations and cutscene transitions often fall flat. Character expressions sometimes fail to convey emotion, and stilted motion detracts from the narrative sequences in Fort Tarsis.

The user interface is functionally sound but occasionally cluttered. Navigating loadouts, skill trees, and mission briefings requires too many inputs, and players often reported that even basic tasks felt unnecessarily time-consuming.

Pros and Cons

✔️ Pros

• Javelin flight introduces exciting vertical combat and navigation
• Four unique exosuits support multiple combat styles and tactics
• World events and storm systems create a living, reactive environment
• Core combat loop feels powerful and visually rewarding
• Updates addressed many early technical concerns

❌ Cons

• Loot progression lacks long-term engagement and satisfaction
• Mission repetition becomes noticeable after campaign completion
• Character writing and story depth feel underdeveloped
• Persistent bugs undermine immersion and playability
• Server shutdown in 2026 will make the game permanently inaccessible