ANACHRONOX
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A cyberpunk console-RPG - on PC?

By WILLIAM BARKER

Anachronox is a funny word. Is it even a word? It wasn't in the dictionary, it doesn't really roll off the tongue and speculation around the office was rife as to its meaning.

One suggestion was that it could perhaps represent a spider with a clock or similar time-keeping device genetically-spliced into its lower thorax.

Another idea was that the name, when split in two, represented anarchy (Anach) and darkness (nox), but then what of the missing 'ro'?

In the end, it's actually an important component of the plot. Speaking of which, Anachronox has a rather detailed and intricate plot, but at what cost? The game is focused on the story more than in most PC role-playing games and, consequently, you must sit through what seems like weeks of dialogue. Sure, some of the stuff is quite funny, but only the cut-scenes feature spoken dialogue - the rest you'll have to read…

Ion Storm's latest work, after the tragically inept Daikatana and the impressive Deus Ex, is a cyberpunk RPG set in a universe not unlike scenes from Blade Runner. You take on the persona of Sly Boots, born to a champion shoe-shiner and known for little else but his bodies' remarkable tolerance to alcohol.

Initially you'll have no clue as to what's going on. This is a little unnerving as the intro sequence sees Sly thrown through a top-floor window -- of your own office.

Yeah, old Boots got himself into a bit of trouble. But not only must he sort things out on a domestic level, but as the plot unfolds you'll discover there's much more to Anachronox than meets the eye.

Getting used to the controls took a good 10 minutes. Now, don't balk, please, because this title hasn't just ripped off the old ASDW controls. Well, it has, but whenever you move your mouse pointer while on the run, it will control your aim/direction, but move it around slowly and bang - up pops a cursor. This is used for interacting with the gameworld - click on a sentient life-form and you'll instigate a conversation, for instance. It can be a little cumbersome at first, so a little practice is recommended.

Getting around the gameworld is no great problem and operating switches, picking up items and picking locks will become second nature before too long. The third-person perspective, or over-the-shoulder-cam, works extremely well and I could remember very few camera problems. One facet of the game that is copping a bit of flack, both good and bad, is the combat system.

Personally, I love it. The game is made all the more engrossing with the Squaresoft-inspired turn-based battle system. Basically, when a fight initiates you'll be facing your opponent(s). Like the Final Fantasy games you can only harass your foe after a small gauge (timer) has filled up. The more levels you pass after beating baddies and accruing experience points, the faster this will tick over.

Then it's a fight to the death where both parties will use all at their disposal, such as spells, lasers, guns, grenades, knives, sharp sticks, rotten fruit plus a veritable cornucopia of phuturistic assault weapons.

On the whole, the gameplay is top class and, apart from the rather monotonous dialogue sections, will have most cyberpunks grinning from ear-to-ear. There are a few brain-teasers, some logic-based puzzles and the old 'talk to everyone in the entire game' puzzles.

You'll have to interact with a lot of characters and while the unending text-based dialogue can be a pain in the bee-hind, it is kind of cool meeting aliens and making new friends. The game is quite linear and this can become a problem, particularly when you get stuck. But in the long run the game had to be set up like this, otherwise it would have taken eight, not three years to develop.

As far the graphics go, this isn't going to overload your oculars, or your GeForce 3 for that matter. Even though it runs off a modified Quake II game engine, there are a number of breathtakingly cool moments in the game. When the camera pans around and gives you a better look at the surrounding mega-city, you'll hear the 'drip-drip' of drool hitting the keyboard. Watch as floating cars whiz by, complete with fancy exhaust trails and pretty lights.

However, the character models don't look half as good as the level architecture. For instance, Mister Boot's hand actually has more in common with a meat-hook than a human hand. Special effects have been put to good use, however. In the fighting mode, using MysTech-powered spells often results in a dazzling array of volumetric lighting, transparent colours and sometimes even a few fried cadavers.

The game has great pacing, although it does take a little while to get into the meat of the game, past the beginners stuff. Before long, you'll be checking your watch to see when you can leave your job/school/jail and beat the next boss in Anachronox, or perhaps purchase that new Gattling Laser of Butchery.

There are pros and there are cons, but the pros win in the end. Anachronox has basically cloned the console RPG, but the result is pleasing, to say the least. Perhaps a little more character could have been injected into the NPCs plus some of the humour is down-right painful, but apart from these small quibbles, the game is good fun.

The mix of exploration and combat is spot on and this title is a refreshing change from more orthodox RPGs. It will run on almost any PC, has pleasingly atmospheric music and one of the best turn-based battle systems ever conceived. Anachronox is a journey well worth embarking upon.

ORIGINALITY 95%
SOUND/GRAPHICS 75%
PLAYABILITY 80%
ADDICTION 95%
ENJOYMENT 85%