One of EA"s most anticipated games got its fair share of time in the spotlight today during its EA Play conference, with the publisher dedicating almost 20 minutes to a deep-dive into the mechanics and gameplay of Anthem. We also got a detailed first-look into the story of Anthem"s world and its mythology.
What may first strike you when you see the new and exciting trailer shown off by the company will be the slightly muted graphics compared to previous looks we got for the game. The trailer shown today did, however, showcase real footage from the game engine.
Anthem also marks the return of Casey Hudson, formerly the director of the Mass Effect trilogy, to Bioware, and his imprint seems to be evident on the game"s development. In a deep-dive into the game, Hudson discussed the game"s emphasis on crafting meaningful stories alongside its multiplayer experience. That means players who wish to do so can play the entire game on their own. In a bid to increase the longevity of the game, Bioware also promised to regularly add more story content in the future.
There"s also an AI companion called Owen, à la Ghost in Destiny. Hopefully, this companion will be better received than Ghost (initially) was.
The mythology of Anthem boasts a world abandoned by its gods, yet filled with the remnants of their tools and a mystical force called the Anthem of Creation. This has led to a tumultuous world with violent storms and colossal mutated creatures for the player to survive. The primary antagonists in the game, a faction about whom we know little more than its name (the Dominion), have learned how to manipulate the Anthem in their pursuit of conquering the world.
The player character will be a freelancer, individuals uniquely suited to piloting the exosuits so prominently featured in the game. These exosuits, called Javelins, will be available in four different varieties suited to different playstyles, and users will be able to cycle between them at will.
There will be no loot boxes in the game, nor any other pay-to-play schemes that give players unfair advantages. EA will, however, monetise the game through paid cosmetic modifications to Javelins, much like the skins in Fortnite.
Anthem is set to release early next year, on February 22.