Review: Aniquilation – Movies Games and Tech

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The idea that you are flung miles away from your home and safety is daunting. However, with some guts and bravery, maybe you can right this wrong, and understand why things have happened. This is the crux of Aniquilation. It is a sci-fi title that relies heavily on its action and not so much on its story.

Developed by R-Next and published by Gamera Game, this is a futuristic twin-stick shooter. What’s more, it can be played solo or with others, and it is unfairly hectic. In short, it’s a game that doesn’t let up, not even for one minute. Now, this could put off some players, but I enjoyed the madness even if the core mechanics were somewhat well-trodden. Yet, familiar elements shouldn’t put you off, as long as they are well executed. So, shall we jump in and see how this game performs? Yeah, why not?

Aniquilation has a throwaway story.

I’m not a gamer that demands an epic story in order to enjoy myself. In fact, at times, I like to be chucked in the deep end with a little explanation of what is going on. Consequently, when this clichéd story of sci-fi terror unfolded, I was neither bothered nor was I impressed. Instead, I awaited the start of each micro mission, without caring too much for the characters or their plight.

You are a pilot of an advanced ship that is lost in space. Sadly, this is preventing you from returning home, and solving the mystery that impacts your people and your homeland. However, there is light at the end of the tunnel as you complete an array of missions and piece together your journey and its root cause. If you do this, you’ll discover why you became lost in the first place and potentially you’ll save your people.

As you can see, it’s not that original, and it lacks oomph. However, I still enjoyed it on a rudimentary level, and I liked how well the pace flowed. Yet, it won’t win any awards, and you are likely to dislike most of the clichéd characters. As such, its central story is pretty forgettable, and this was a shame. 

Challenging gameplay.

So, the story isn’t fantastic, but could the gameplay save the day? Well, yes, and no. If you love relentless and almost unfair action, then Aniquilation will be right up your street. From the off, the alien vessels are never-ending, and each mission is awash with destruction, fast robots, and giant mechs. Subsequently, the only time you get to take a break is when you die, or the mission is complete. This may seem like an interesting idea, but sadly, it is poorly executed, and exhausting to experience. Therefore, what should have been enjoyable is not! Instead, it is tedious, uncomfortable, and poorly balanced.

The action revolves around micro missions on small planets. During each stage, you’ll have to overcome robotic aliens while destroying buildings, collecting new ammo, and grabbing power-ups. In between this, you’ll “enjoy” a strange mini-game that asks you to avoid asteroids and gather collectables. This was a nice break away from the combat elements, but it was too detached from the core concept that it felt like an afterthought. This aside, you are expected to use your guns, a sword, and your enemies as projectiles. If you can master the use of your weapons, you’ll complete each level. If, on the other hand, you struggle, you’ll die and you’ll fail that stage.

This doesn’t seem like a big ask, but the main elements are too messy to fully comprehend. Furthermore, with so many robots vying for your blood, it can be hard to work out what to do. Accordingly, it quickly becomes a headache and the enjoyment levels are all but diminished before you even begin. 

Aniquilation doesn’t look great. 

Sadly, another shortcoming is Aniquilation’s poor graphics. The lack of details, the OTT explosions, and the tough-to-follow action make it really difficult to play. What’s more, the zoom function isn’t smooth enough, and the gameplay is far too clunky. It’s a shame, as the concept is phenomenal. It’s just poorly executed at every opportunity. However, I did like the rich colour palette and the attempt to vary the settings. On top of this, I enjoyed the random nature of the terraforming planets. Subsequently, I wish the developers had maintained this level of quality throughout.

Another area I adored was the awesome audio. The loud and aggressive soundtrack was surprisingly good, as were the excellent sound effects. Though I didn’t enjoy the madness that unfolded, the audio worked perfectly to set the scene.

It was tough to play. 

In theory, the controls weren’t complicated. However, with so much going on, you often lost track of what you were doing. Consequently, you’d forget to swing your sword, be shooting for no reason at all, or just fall into a fiery pit. Whatever happened, it was annoying as hell. Alongside this, it lacked finesse. Like an early hack ‘n’ slash title, you just smashed the buttons and hoped for the best. Disappointingly, this is another example of where Aniquilation falls way short of the standard required. 

Multiplayer action always enhances longevity and replay value. However, I couldn’t find anyone to experience this game with. As such, I can’t comment on the scale of cooperative fun, or if it even worked at all. Other than this, you’ll enjoy some longevity, as the core story is bloody hard work. If you can stomach repeated destruction and death, then you’ll love what’s going on. However, if this isn’t for you, you’ll probably tire of Aniquilation pretty quickly. 

Aniquilation didn’t impress me. 

On paper, I should have adored Aniquilation. The short, sharp rounds combined with a basic story should have caught my attention. Yet, instead, I was left frustrated by a poorly executed game that should have done much more. It is for these reasons that I don’t recommend you buy it. However, more information can be found here! Can you solve the mystery and save your people? Complete each mission, piece together the facts, and become a hero.