For a lot of the time that Science Adventure followers have identified of its existence, Anonymous;Code has been extra of a ready recreation than, effectively, an precise recreation. First introduced all the way in which again in 2016, this sci-fi-heavy visible novel was smacked with delay after delay till it lastly noticed a Japanese-exclusive launch on Switch in 2022. Now, Western gamers have their likelihood to expertise the sport, and we’re glad to report that it was (principally) definitely worth the wait.
Developed by Mages — the corporate behind standard titles like Steins;Gate and the Famicom Detective Club remakes — Anonymous;Code is the sixth mainline entry within the developer’s loosely linked Science Adventure sequence. The recreation brings the motion to the far-flung 12 months of 2037, a hyper-futuristic period dominated by augmented actuality, world simulators, and AI girlfriends. You are launched to protagonist Pollon Takaoka, a teenage hacker with a coronary heart of gold and a want to assist these in want. After an opportunity encounter with a mysterious woman named Momo Aizaki, Pollon finds himself caught in an earth-shattering conspiracy revolving across the thriller of Cicada 3301 and the prophesied finish of the world.
There’s a cause why Mages’ Science Adventure video games are thought of a few of the finest VNs within the enterprise. Like its predecessors, Anonymous;Code predicates its narrative upon a mash-up of real-world historic mysteries with a few of the most thought-out, well-developed explorations of onerous sci-fi mechanics on the market. It’s completely mind-bending stuff, constructing upon advanced concepts from earlier entries whereas tossing in just a few revolutionary bombshells of its personal. The quantity of long-winded scientific explanations that get tossed round might show overwhelming to newcomers, however these extra accustomed to the franchise’s overarching universe will discover its solutions to sure longstanding conceptual questions rewarding.
Anonymous;Code explores these sci-fi concepts within the service of crafting a sprawling, emotionally resonant narrative that weaves between zippy motion sequences and heavy bouts of existentialism. The ensemble forged of characters, whereas a tad underdeveloped and much from probably the most memorable SciADV group, are a likable bunch, and their characterization is bolstered by the addition of a stellar English dub possibility for all spoken dialogue. Pollon significantly stands out as an instantly endearing protagonist, due partially to an all-timer of a efficiency from his English voice actor, Max Mittelman, who gamers might acknowledge because the voice of Ryuji in Persona 5. Yes, he does belt out a “For actual?!” or two.
In phrases of presentation, Anonymous;Code principally shines. The recreation adopts a cel-shaded artwork type for its character fashions and backgrounds, and it completely pops on Switch, particularly in handheld mode. What’s extra, the title often switches to stunning 2D stills and comedian book-style panels for pivotal story moments. The latter sequences are a deal with nearly each time they present up and assist preserve the sport’s visuals dynamic. The solely obvious concern graphics-wise appears to be a case of well-intentioned over-ambition. Character fashions are semi-animated, and whereas we’d usually recognize that additional flourish, the animation itself typically seems gaudy and unnatural.
All of that is effectively and good, however there’s nonetheless a serious query in want of answering: What precisely do you do in Anonymous;Code? The Science Adventure video games have at all times strayed on the facet of limiting participant interactivity to a singular or small group of mechanics, and Anonymous;Code is not any totally different. In truth, this newest entry could be probably the most non-interactive VN within the sequence but, because it largely eschews the branching narrative paths and plethora of alternate endings that different entries are identified for. That would possibly show disappointing to some, however Anonymous;Code partially makes up for it by introducing what’s arguably the franchise’s most inventive and narratively integral mechanic to date.
Early on within the recreation, Pollon stumbles upon Anonymous;Code’s save display screen — the exact same one which the participant has been utilizing to leap out and in of the sport — and learns that he can create his personal saves and cargo them of his personal volition, all whereas retaining his reminiscences. This skill successfully grants Pollon the ability of time journey, permitting him to leap again to a earlier save if issues go south and check out a unique tactic. Save and Load is what facilitates the primary supply of participant interactivity, as they’ll pull up the display screen at essential moments and persuade Pollon to load a earlier save with a purpose to keep away from one of many recreation’s many ugly fail states.
Save and Load is a delightfully meta mechanic that enables the story of Anonymous;Code to progress in some sudden instructions. However, it’s not an ideal implementation — the junctions at which Pollon can Save and Load are tightly scripted, and it may be irritating to try to lock down the precise line of textual content it’s good to be on to persuade Pollon to load. This mechanic can also be iterated upon in some cool methods afterward within the recreation, however these adjustments aren’t clearly telegraphed, and may often depart you at a loss by way of learn how to transfer the story ahead.
Revealing the narrative significance of Pollon’s Save and Load skill could be a spoiler-y step too far, however we will confidently say that the payoff is immensely satisfying. Through this mechanic and different inventive ideas, Anonymous;Code takes the thought of the meta online game to its logical conclusion. The result’s a compelling thesis assertion for visible novels as a style — a narrative that would solely be most successfully instructed in an interactive recreation format.
Conclusion
Just because the Science Adventure video games posit that human notion impacts actuality, not each participant will expertise Anonymous;Code the identical means. For these new to the franchise, this newest entry is an imaginative if conceptually dense sci-fi romp. For those that have performed the opposite entries, it’s one thing extra — a gratifying fruits of thematic and narrative strands roughly 15 years within the making. Either means, Anonymous;Code has one thing particular to say concerning the universe, the soul, and video video games as a medium.
