At first glance, The Anacrusis, with its aesthetic funky and its retro-futuristic, pastel-colored looks, led us to believe it would be a refreshing and personality-packed entry into the co-op shooter. We must admit our disappointment after having tested the version in early access, available since mid-January on the Xbox Game Pass. This first title from the Stray Bombay studio, yet full of potential, still has a long way to go to hope to make a name for itself alongside titles like Back 4 Blood Where World War Z.
It is that beyond appearances, and under its colored varnish, The Anacrusis finds it very difficult to stand out from the competition, who gives more and who does better. The murky urban environments of a Back 4 Blood are replaced here by plain and tasteless decorations of a space station. The hordes of zombies, by lifeless, identityless humanoid aliens.
The game loop does not bring any major innovation: four players must collaborate to progress from one save point to another, while facing waves of enemies. In the midst of this multitude of rather harmless little guys since they have a wobbly AI, we will also face unique categories of enemies. Some have quite original skills, such as the very annoying Flasher, which emits a blinding light. Others are a little too reminiscent of the special enemies of other games in the same genre, such as the Brute, which inflicts a lot of damage, or the Gooper, which spits out a kind of goo that immobilizes us until a teammate released.
Its levels, often uninspired, do not give the impression of being in places that were previously inhabited. We rather have the impression of crossing a vast hospital transformed into a shooting gallery. Unfortunately, its shooting mechanics do not redeem the experience. None of the weapons on offer pack any real punch. The range is typical: a pistol, a submachine gun, an assault rifle, a shotgun, etc. It was difficult to differentiate them at first as their design was similar, in accordance with the disappointing visual design of the sets.
This gameplay is at the service of a story modeled more or less on that of a television series. From one episode to another, we learn more about the characters as well as the enemies we face. Only problem: both the story and the characters who carry it are sorely lacking in verve. Most lines, even those thrown in action, convey no emotion. Enough to further swell the pile of flaws that make it, in our opinion, one of the dullest games of its kind.
It’s a shame, since the potential is there for Stray Bombay to create a unique setting with endearing characters and a fresh tone for the co-op shooter genre. We can only hope that things will tighten up and that at its full launch the game will have a gameplay and narrative worthy of its appealing concept and aesthetic.