Anachronox

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Anachronox
Anachronox logo.svg
Anachronox logo
Studio Ion Storm
Publisher Eidos (North America / Europe)
Infogrames (Australia)
Senior Developer Tom Hall
Erstveröffent-
lichung		 North AmericaNorth AmericaJune 27, 2001 June 29, 2001 June 30, 2001
EuropeEurope
AustraliaAustralia
platform Microsoft Windows
Game engine Modified id Tech 2
genre Computer role playing game
Subject Science fiction , cyberpunk
Game mode Single player
control Keyboard , mouse
system advantages
preconditions
medium 2 CD-ROMs , download ( gog.com )
language English German
Current version v1.02 build 46
Age rating
USK released from 12

Anachronox [ ənækrənɒks ] (formed from anachronism and noxious ) is a 3D - computer role-playing game developed by Tom Hall and the development studio Ion Storm . It was founded in 2001 by Eidos for Windows - Platform published.

action

The protagonist , led by the player, is Sylvester “Sly Boots” Bucelli , a burned-out private detective who works in the slums of an alien world called Anachronox. This world sits inside a huge shell called Sender One , which is the center of a galaxy-wide network of spatial connections. Although recruited against his will, he is investigating a secret that goes back to the origins of the (anachronox) universe. For this, the protagonist roams the universe and meets many bizarre characters who can also become part of his team.

Gameplay

The gameplay has been greatly from game consoles - RPGs like Chrono Trigger inspired, one of Tom Hall's favorite video games. However, in Anachronox the focus of the game is on telling and discovering the background story instead of RPG-typical character development and equipment hunting .

technology

A heavily modified version of the game engine id Tech 2 ( Quake II ) was used as the technical basis . It has been expanded to allow for improvements such as a larger color palette and more complex character animations (such as more realistic facial expressions ).

Development history

The development up to the (forced) release in 2001 took about three and a half years and was thus three years behind the first release date in 1998. The development team was able to complete about half of the originally targeted game scope, which is why it ends with a large cliffhanger . The story should be completed in the successor Anachronox Prime , but this has not yet been developed.

Later support

After publishing three unofficial were patches available - two of Joey Liaw (one of the game programmers), the improvements such as taxis between distant positions, improved stability and convenient storage introduced - and a so-called community patch of fans, the most remaining bugs removed . Unofficial translations into other languages, e.g. B. German, were also developed by the fan base.

Machinima

After the release created Jake Strider Hughes, who is responsible for the scenes of the game, from the scenes a two and a half hour of the game machinima film. It was awarded in the categories of Best Picture, Best Screenplay and Best Technical Achievement at the Machinima Film Festival 2002 .

Republication

In March 2012, Anachronox was republished by the digital distribution gog.com .

reception

Meta-ratings
Database Rating
Metacritic 77/100

Anachronox was received mixedly or positively by the press and in game reviews; at GameRankings.com it achieved a value of 80.15%, obtained from 35 reviews. The US game magazine Computer Gaming World awarded the game a special prize for the best humor in a computer game in its annual review:

“Tom Hall's epic RPG was bursting with lough-out-loud, throwaway dialogue and cut-scenes that, as in the best LucasArts adventures, had nothing to do with the story but everything to do with keeping us entertained. A classy exit for gaming's favorite whipping boys. "

“Tom Hall's epic role-playing game overflowed with loud laughter, throw-away dialogues and cutscenes that, like in the best LucasArts adventures, had nothing to do with the plot, but rather were supposed to entertain us. A first-class finish for the favorite whipping boys in the gaming scene. "

- Computer Gaming World

A lively fan base also developed; the weird humor, the convincing cyberpunk game atmosphere and a good soundtrack were often given as reasons for this.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Craig Pearson: The Wait Is Over: Anachronox Is On GoG.com . Rock, paper, shotgun . March 15, 2012. Retrieved December 22, 2012.
  2. ↑ a b Anachronox German Language Pack Project . www.easy-fos.de/anachronox. August 29, 2004. Archived from the original on August 29, 2004. Retrieved on September 11, 2010.
  3. ↑ Anachronox patch 1.02 build 46 . patches-scrolls.de. April 13, 2004. Retrieved January 3, 2011.
  4. ↑ Planet Anachronox: Frequently Asked Questions . planetanachronox.com. April 14, 2008. Archived from the original on April 14, 2008. Retrieved on September 11, 2010.
  5. ↑ a b Shannon Drake: Ion's Other Game (PDF; 3.8 MB) The Escapist Magazine. 2007. Retrieved September 11, 2010.
  6. ↑ Anachronox . eidosinteractive.com. November 11, 2007. Archived from the original on November 11, 2007. Retrieved on September 11, 2010.
  7. ↑ Planet Anachronox: Frequently Asked Questions . planetanachronox.com. April 14, 2008. Archived from the original on April 14, 2008. Retrieved on November 10, 2010.
  8. ↑ 3D Realms News: The Apogee Legacy # 4 - Tom Hall . 3drealms.com. January 30, 2006. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  9. ↑ Planet Anachronox: Frequently Asked Questions . planetanachronox.com. April 14, 2008. Archived from the original on April 14, 2008. Retrieved on September 11, 2010.
  10. ↑ Dave Wadler: ION Storm's Gaming Legend John Romero Unveils His Dream Creation at E3 . Game-Over !. May 26, 1997. Retrieved September 12, 2010.
  11. ↑ Anachronox Review ( English ) In: Shacknews . November 30, 2001. Archived from the original on February 2, 2009. Retrieved on December 28, 2012.
  12. ↑ Planet Anachronox: Anachronox Patch . planetanachronox.com. April 14, 2008. Archived from the original on March 31, 2008. Retrieved on September 11, 2010.
  13. ↑ Anachronox will not start any more! . vogons.zetafleet.com. December 25, 2009. Retrieved November 10, 2010.
  14. ↑ Vince Horiuchi: Rise of the machines - Serious gamers make films with 3-D platforms; Video gamers make movies . In: The Salt Lake Tribune , MediaNews Group , January 25, 2005, p. D1. 
  15. ↑ Azeem Azhar: The Guardian: Play it again, Sam: Forget Hollywood special effects, hip film-makers are using PCs to create a new type of cinema, reports Azeem Azhar . In: The Guardian , Financial Times Information Limited, November 20, 2003. 
  16. ↑ August 29th - Best of the Fest! . Academy of Machinima Arts & Sciences. August 29, 2002. Archived from the original on February 5, 2003. Retrieved on December 28, 2012.
  17. ↑ Meta-evaluation Anachronox (Windows). In: Metacritic . CBS Corporation , accessed April 21, 2015 .
  18. ↑ Anachronox . gamerankings.com. Retrieved September 12, 2010.
  19. ↑ CGW editorial team: Best Use of Humor: Anachronox . (Article scan) In: Ziff Davis (Ed.): Computer Gaming World . No. 213, April 2002, p. 76.