Reviews// Anarchy Reigns

Indeed, a multiplayer game is really what Anarchy Reigns is, at its very core. And an infinitely more enjoyable mode it is too - if you can find players to fill the online lobbies, that is. There’s no convoluted plot to concern yourself with, no world exploration. Just crazy, all-out action that won’t fail to bring a smile to your face with the right company.

Besides the cutting of all the chaff, the premise stays the same in the game’s multiplayer mode. You’re still pummeling the crap out of major characters (only this time they’re human opponents) and working with rather clunky controls to rack up a high score. There are a few extra rules in place that tries to keep things balanced.

One of these is a button-mashing mini-game that activates whenever two players are in their charged ‘Rampage’ mode and attempt to use their Killer Weapons on one another. Both fighters must press the correct button (displayed on screen) as quickly as possible to beat their opponent in a ‘tug of war’ situation. Whoever wins gets a massive combo in - maybe even a kill.

Another such balancing failsafe involved sudden 1v1 cage matches between two players that clash with each other in a spectacular way. While they’re duking it out, the rest of the match continues with the remaining players, meaning that you have to finish your rival as quickly as possible to avoid losing out on too many points.

While these can confuse - and at times irritate, particularly as putting players’ button-smashing skills to the test isn’t the most balanced way of resolving a deadlock - you start to learn the rules of etiquette when it comes to Anarchy Reigns’ multiplayer mode. Whereas in the single-player mode you most likely ran headfirst into enemies (and danger), doing so in multiplayer is a sure-fire ticket to death. Particularly if you’re in a 16-player battle royale.

Hanging back, reading your enemy’s moves and how their character animates on the battlefield is key to success, along with picking a character that suits your attack style (really, character choice does make all the difference). The unique environmental hazards that occur during play mean a lot more online than they ever did in single-player too, and range through missile attacks, poison gas, runaway trucks and a spotlight on the current match winner (offering everyone the chance to gang up on them).

There’s an insane number of play modes to engage in too, from an all-out no-holds-barred Battle Royale, to Deathmatches of all kinds (4v4, Teams, Tag, Squad-based) and co-operative Survival stages which pit you against waves of opponents. One of the most entertaining is Death Ball, which is a little bit like Anarchy Reigns’ version of Speedball - a ball game that encourages player brawls.

You can unlock characters through the single-player, but thankfully it seems Platinum has allowed for players to unlock everything via the multiplayer mode as well. Collecting points earned in each match will raise your battle rank and give you access to a vast array of characters to experiment with.

Ultimately, Anarchy Reigns is a multiplayer diamond shard in a rough, dirty burly rock. It doesn’t have anywhere near the flair and elegance of Bayonetta or Vanquish, this much is true. While the single-player is something of a chore, there is a depth to the multiplayer that holds a glimmer of that classic Platinum Games genius. And with enough friends, you’re guaranteed a fair amount of fun.

SPOnG Score (Multiplayer): 7/10

Overall

Pros:
+ Great multiplayer fun with friends
+ Large variety of competitive and co-operative modes
+ You can just about ignore the single-player campaign

Cons:
- Turgid, dated, oddly-structured campaign mode
- Lacks the flair of previous Platinum titles
- Finding online matches can be difficult

Yes, the single-player's a wreck. However, because Anarchy Reigns is only 15 quid you can just pretend the campaign's not on the disc and still have a pretty good time, the overall result is...

SPOnG Score: 7/10