#15. ANTHEM
Anthem is emblematic of everything that’s been going wrong with BioWare over the last few years- it’s a game that suffered a disastrous development cycle, and the final product that was delivered into our hands shows that. Technical issues that hamper the experience every step of the way and a disheartening lack of content are only the tip of the iceberg.
Anthem also reeks of a game that doesn’t know what it wants to be- it wants to be two games at the same time, but is unable to be either one successfully. All the BioWare hallmarks of old – a tight story, a solid cast of characters, sharp writing to pull you in – all of it is missing from the game, while the content that it does have feels repetitive and grindy.
There are a few mechanics in there that deserve plaudits for their ideas – like flying, and its focus on flashy abilities – but even those mechanics are never utilized to their full potential- not even close. Anthem has the benefit of being a live service game, so for all we know, BioWare might still be able to salvage it- but as things stand right now, it is, without a doubt, the most disappointing game this legendary developer has ever made.
