2012 | Platinum Games | Playstation 3
The chainsaw revs again in this gore filled follow-up to Platinum Games’ Madworld from 2009. The monochromatic tones broken up by the contents of arteries are now replaced with a hyper stylized cast of characters and gameplay that is as heavy as the biceps are big. Anarchy Reigns is a particular oddity that serves as a sequel (not sequel) to Madworld, and broadens the scope of the games’ world and gameplay. While primarily developed as a multiplayer brawler, Anarchy Reigns, or Max Anarchy, features a surprisingly extensive single player campaign. The multiplayer mode primarily centered around two characters duking it out in against a post apocalyptic background. This also explains the wildly diverse character designs. Unfortunately the multiplayer no longer works, so we’ll be taking a look at the surprisingly fleshed out campaign.
Directed by Madworld’s character designer, Masaki Yamanaka, Anarchy Reigns does a solidly weird attempt at expanding the universe of Madworld. It wasn’t quite intended as a sequel, but rather a spiritual successor that aimed to expand the first game with a few extra dimensions. These are mostly added to the ridiculously oversized arms on most characters. The best way I can describe Anarchy Reigns is as “What if Ultimate Ninja Storm, Fist of the North Star, and God Hand had a baby?” The game follows two main characters as both of them try to figure out the intentions behind the betrayal of Max. Jack Cayman returns from the first game, once again voiced to an absolutely marvelous degree by Steve Blum, as he is asked by Max’s daughter to retrieve the fugitive. Our second main character is Raiden, I mean Leo. Let’s face it, it’s Raiden sans the blonde, with a bit of Leon Belmont from Lament of Innocence.
Leo is part of Max’s former team, and is tasked with bringing in Max dead or alive for the murder of his wife. The story is divided into two major viewpoints, Black Side and White Side, with a third, Red Side, unlocking after finishing both. Right from the start it’s evident that a lot of love and care went into the characters and, in particular, cutscenes. The way the camera moves through the scene as Jack mourns his adoptive daughter at her grave is something that feels deeply reminiscent of the opening of Metal Gear Solid 4. These cutscenes feel oddly out of place in a game as ridiculous as Anarchy Reigns, but do a fantastic job at giving the bloodshed some motivational backbone before it gets scattered across the dirt.
On the Black Side route we follow Jack Cayman, a member of the Chaser Guild. A bounty hunter organization that’s tasked with pursuing the most dangerous criminals for a fee. After Max seemingly murdered his own wife, he broke out of prison. Jack gets asked by Max’s daughter to find Max and the truth behind her mother’s murder. While on the White Side we follow Leo, as he’s trying to chase down Max to find out why he betrayed his squad. Each side has their own supporting cast that you get to try out on certain stages, allowing you to try out some of the other characters. Red Side converges both storylines, and delivers a quick and surprisingly short finale.
While the story gets a bit lost within the plethora of over the top characters that derail the plot, it is really well done when it is in focus. Jack and Leo are excellent counterparts to one another, with them finding a common ground near the end of the game. I expected something over the top, and got that and a heartfelt drama about revenge and redemption. The voice acting is as good as it is ridiculous at times, which provides some relief from the heavier undertones. For something that wasn’t part of the original development plans, Platinum sure exceeded expectations with what they made here.
After a good few hours of mashing light attacks and heavy attacks with reckless abandon, I seemingly randomly stumbled across my first full combo. I launched an enemy into the air and managed to carefully dissect his health bar with zero regard for gravity. This made the one neuron in my brain that’s still functional fire on all cylinders. This wasn’t just a brawler, this is a fighting game as well. While it is shallow when directly comparing it to the likes of Marvel vs. Capcom, or Street Fighter, there is a fundamental fighting game layer that comprises the foundation of Anarchy Reigns’ gameplay. You’re not expected to learn various inputs, but you do combine spacing and timing to deliver devastating amounts of damage on any opponent that might have the misfortune of meeting your fists. Suddenly the monotony shifts to a gleeful glint in the eyes, as the true identity of the game unravels like the wrapping paper on Christmas Eve. I got it, I understood Anarchy Reigns.
This is also the point where the God Hand inspiration starts showing up. Anarchy Reigns doesn’t have the same learning curve, nor difficulty, but the fundamental principle is the same. You can rely on basic combinations of light and heavy attacks, or mix it up with a spectacular grab. By hitting enemies your meter fills up, which allows you to unleash devastating attacks on whatever is in front of you. If you’re really enthusiastic you can activate Rampage mode to deal extra damage, while remaining invulnerable.
The basics get the job done (unlike in God Hand), but what sets Anarchy Reigns apart is the ability to find long combinations of attacks that allow you to turn even the most difficult enemy into a volleyball with a more deliberate sequence of button presses. Sure, you can just repeat light attacks into heavy attacks, but each character has different moves to really create something flashy. Leo has a specific kick that propels him forward like he’s breakdancing, if you time this correctly you can catch a falling enemy and go into a new string of attacks. From there you can re-launch the same enemy and jump after it to hit it in the air. It may seem rudimentary from this description, but event rudimentary can go a long way to make a game go from brain-turned-off hack and slash, to a proper brawler. Anarchy Reigns is firmly the latter. The single player doesn’t require you to learn the exact ins and outs, but it does give the game a ton of a variety and replay ability.
Anarchy Reigns is an unexpected delight that manages to completely meet the expectations of a heavy footed brawler, but exceeds on things like story presentation. It’s not exactly the most difficult game to brute force yourself through. However, the combat system does allow for a modicum of depth, with lots of moves to combine. I found it to be a bit too situational to intuitively start hammering out lengthy sequences of moves to great effect, but I did find myself accidentally juggling the enemy into a depleted health bar from time to time. It’s a satisfying game that can only be described as meaty. Not the ground supermarket beef, but rather a tomahawk steak slapped straight into your face. Don’t worry, it’s a room temperature steak, not a frozen one. Platinum Games generally emphasizes the slick, and lightning fast, action with games like Metal Gear Rising and Bayonetta, but I’m glad they made the game feel the way the characters look. The whole game feels remarkably similar to the Playstation 2’s best brawler; God Hand. Though, with less technical demand from its player to not get steamrolled. Unless you get steamrolled by the actual steamroller.
Overall, Anarchy Reigns is a rather satisfying brawler that scratches very specific types of itches. It oozes style, not just with the over the top designs we’ve come to know and love from the studio, but also through the games’ soundtrack. The music that plays in each stage has is themed to the stage, with the lyrics cheering you on as you pound enemies into piles of viscera. Imagine the sushi shop theme from No More Heroes 3, but as an entire soundtrack. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, then go play No More Heroes 3. Anarchy Reigns isn’t the best at what it does, but it is one of the flashiest. I love the character design, the presentation, and the gameplay. The story itself is a bit of a weaker element to it, but the game more than makes up for it with a level of care to its presentation that punches way above its pay-grade. Some of the characters are surprisingly well fleshed out and carry their motivations with consistency. If you’re starting to feel that specific itch in a particularly hard to reach spot, then Anarchy Reigns might be your perfect backscratcher. Even without the multiplayer to complete the package, it’s still offering quite a punch.
MAXIMUM ANARCHY/10
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