Hideo Kojima has always been a topical name within (and outside of) the video game industry. Whether he’s introducing never-before-seen video game concepts, creating wacky reveal campaigns for his latest project, releasing a brilliantly edited trailer, or gushing over the latest Paddington Bear movie, Kojima’s name is impossible for gamers to get away from. And now, with Kojima’s PlayStation relationship ending in favor of a new collaboration with Xbox for the previously announced OD and a fresh vision for Physint, all eyes are on what the visionary director will do next. However, it’s no secret that Kojima games spend a lot of the time in the oven, so for those tired of waiting for a release window for OD and Physint, checking out new PC games like Anomalith could be worthwhile.
Anomalith’s similarities to Hideo Kojima’s celebrated Metal Gear franchise are apparent; the protagonist sneaks around to spy on enemies, chats with other characters via codec calls, and battles against unique machine foes. However, these aren’t the only properties that Anomalith can be compared to. Its third person survival horror element is most similar to the Resident Evil series, after all, with the presence of violent creatures in hallways and the need to scavenge for resources sure to remind gamers of the gameplay seen in the critically acclaimed remakes. Speaking of hallways, there is some imagery that’s hugely reminiscent of The Backrooms’ endlessly twisting hallways, with empty rooms full of floating furniture sure to keep those uncomfortable with liminal spaces on edge. And yet, it’s also rooted in the popular extraction shooter space on PC. This healthy balance of diverse influences should, hopefully, result in one of the most intriguing extraction shooters yet.
- DIVE into highly replayable singleplayer combat zones to find and extract useful gear.
- SNEAK through a world full of strange anomolies to meet a cast of memorable characters.
- WIELD and customize a range of weaponry, managing ammunition carefully to survive.
- CUSTOMIZE protagonist Reona fully with different outfit pieces, creating your ideal look.
- ANOMALITH releases on October 28
“…a survival third-person shooter set in Japan, steeped in the atmosphere of liminal spaces and Showa-era retro aesthetics. To search for her missing friend, a girl steps into a world writhing with anomalies.”
While Hideo Kojima got his feet wet in the horror genre with the top-notch Silent Hills demo PT, diving in even further with OD, third person survival horror hasn’t been attempted by the visionary director. And with Kojima’s schedule very much full, there’s no telling when or if such a game will ever happen. With that in mind, Anomalith could be the closest players ever get to a cross between Resident Evil and Metal Gear Solid, with both of these influences being clearly visible at every turn.
Anomalith’s narrative seems just as complex as a Hideo Kojima game, as players take control of Reona, a super-powered Diver for the Anomaly Zone Countermeasures Office. Trying to hunt down her missing best friend and discover where this mysterious power, which manifests as a monstrous claw arm, stems from will make up a key part of Reona’s character arc. However, she’ll interact with numerous characters in her FOX Unit-like faction, from heads of security to researchers to expert guides. All of these characters will be interacted with via some Metal Gear Solid-like codec calls, which could feel like a blast from the past. There also seem to be some twists in store, like the year the game is set in, which is another classic Kojima tactic.
Scratch & Peek
Identify the cover art while scratching off as little foil as
possible.
Reona will be sneaking around the environment like Solid Snake to avoid gigantic creepy anomalies, and when paired with her headset and mission gear, it may look like the kind of tactical espionage action MGS mastered has made a comeback. However, while the game has its share of sneaking, it’s more of a survival horror game than a stealth one. For instance, Zombie-like anomalies serve as one of the main threats players will encounter, which is where the Resident Evil element starts to come into play. Additionally, the inventory management looks just like Capcom’s most beloved IP, with players having boxes of various sizes to sort in order to make space. Ammo is scarce, too, and weapons are upgraded in a similar fashion as players acquire attachments.
However, while Anomalith has storytelling similarities to Metal Gear Solid, and its core mechanics feel very reminiscent of Resident Evil, its environments resemble an internet creepypasta that has blossomed into a franchise of its own: The Backrooms. With tons of white hallways that may or may not be flipped on their heads, as well as skyboxes that are entirely void of details beyond floating chairs, the game has a distinct look that leans into the increasingly popular concept of liminal spaces. That said, none of these franchises that Anomalith is being compared to are extraction shooters.
Whether Anomalith can make a single-player extraction shooter work remains to be seen, as part of the appeal is emergent gameplay caused by multiplayer interactions and the chaos that comes from resets emptying vaults. Still, Anomalith is aiming to fill that void with new lore on each dive, a wide range of machine-monster hybrids, and a whole lot of cosmetics. Players will be able to customize Reona’s jacket, undershirt, pants, gloves, shoes, hats, glasses, backpacks, and even accessories like dogtags. These customization items can be found during dives, forcing players to choose between outfit pieces and useful upgrades for future runs. Fortunately for cosmetic lovers, fashion choices don’t impact stats, allowing players to use all of Reona’s powers while wearing their preferred clothing. Whether this bold hodgepodge of genres works out for developer Furyu Corporation remains to be seen, but interested players will be able to find out in October.
