«Command a squad of adorably fierce warriors in Anomaly Collapse, a turn-based Roguelite strategy game that offers a fresh twist to an old formula! Face off against otherworldly beings and uncover the dark secrets of supernatural calamities. Immerse yourself in a story where every move counts!». We’ll see what it’s about.
Story and Gameplay:
This time we find a game developed by RocketPunch Games and published by Spiral Up Games. In this sense, this game takes us through Episilon, a city ravaged by monsters and strange anomalies. Forming a team of three characters, you’ll travel through each winding area of the city in an attempt to reach the epicenter of the outbreak. What will this game bring us? We will see it below.
The story takes a backseat. While the initial tutorial provides context, dialogue is repetitive, and lore is hidden in the library. Character backstories, unlocked through area progression, feel shallow and disconnected. This might be surprising considering the detailed character designs. Even the true ending requires multiple playthroughs.
We started by choosing a leader from eight unlockable characters, each with unique abilities. Glitch, the dog with a sword, is your starter and a reliable choice. As you progress, you gain access to tanks and healers, building a well-rounded team. Runs consist of four areas. In this sense, our goal is to fill an investigation bar by completing encounters and acquiring money and equippable items called Abnormalities.
For it´s part, the combat unfolds on a grid where positioning is crucial. Characters use Movement Points (MP) to move and a shared pool of Action Points (AP) to use abilities. Mastering this resource management is key, especially in the beginning. On the other hand, Abnormalities are where things get interesting and complex. These equippable items grant active and passive abilities. However, the number of slots limits your customization. While some items expand these slots, it’s the Abnormalities themselves that make or break your runs.
What is the problem with all of this? the answer is that rarity doesn’t always reflect usefulness. Success often hinged on finding specific combinations rather than strategic play. For instance, one winning run involved stacking AP-generating Abnormalities on Glitch, allowing for constant attack spam. Conversely, many non-AP options felt situational, hindering experimentation. Sadly adding to the unbalance are Area Factors (random modifiers applied to encounters, pushing units or reviving enemies). The potential benefits rarely outweigh the frustration of these punishing effects, making players avoid them entirely.
While challenges offer some mitigation by unlocking permanent upgrades for each character, the progression feels shallow compared to similar games. In this sense, the biggest offender, however, is the information presentation. Buffs and debuffs are cryptic, relying on generic icons. Understanding effects requires excessive menu navigation, especially cumbersome on controllers. This makes an already difficult game even more confusing to learn. Despite these issues, Anomaly Collapse has potential. The core combat offers strategic depth, with positioning and flanking maneuvers playing a significant role. New enemy encounters keep things interesting as you learn their attack patterns.
Graphics and Sound:
Visually, this game adopts a charming art style. The characters, despite their fierce weaponry, boast a certain adorableness that adds a touch of whimsy to the bleak backdrop of the anomaly zones. The environments are varied and detailed, with each zone boasting a distinct visual identity that reflects the corruption brought about by the anomalies.
The game’s soundtrack deserves equal praise. The music is a blend of upbeat, adventurous tunes and tense, atmospheric pieces that perfectly complement the on-screen action. Sound effects are crisp and impactful, effectively conveying the weight of each attack and the otherworldly nature of the enemies.
Conclusions:
Anomaly Collapse is an intriguing roguelite, but one that might benefit from some patches to address it’s information presentation and balance issues. With it’s adorable facade hiding a brutal challenge, it’s best suited for experienced roguelite players who don’t mind a steep learning curve. Even so, new players are also invited to venture into this great challenge.
My Score is 7.5
Hen Games 