It’s unclear why Sega chose to delay the release of MadWorld follow-up Anarchy Reigns to 2013 here in the U.S. when the game is already out in Japan and localized in English. Maybe they wanted to polish up the multiplayer or maybe they just wanted to wait for the “big guns of 2012” to get out of harm’s way before unleashing this crazy brawl-a-thon. Regardless, we’ll be fighting with this game sooner rather than later and that’s good news for all involved.
Put together by Platinum Games (the same team behind MadWorld on the Wii, as well as Bayonetta and Vanquish) Anarchy Reigns features all sorts of bloody fighting action. The main story revolves around two main characters: Leo, a cyborg who works alongside his team trying to find justice against a certain criminal named Max, represents the “light side”. Meanwhile Jack, who’s more on the “dark side” of things, wants Max for different reasons and vows personal revenge against him. Both stories intertwine here and there but really it’s all about guiding both characters individually and seeing where they end up.
The single player stories really help you get a feel for the controls that Anarchy Reigns has to offer. You’ve got a number of powerful moves in your arsenal and it doesn’t take much to turn gang members into bloody pudding, whether you do it bare-fisted or pick up items in the environment like street signs and gas canisters. However, it isn’t long before bigger mutants start showing up that require you to change your tactics a little bit before you take too much of a pounding. It’s easy to dodge enemies to strike them from another angle, and once you build up enough energy, you can unleash a powerful attack that will send them reeling. Just remember to use it when you really need it the most because there are times these guys will pile on you quickly.
Along with a variety of missions that both tie into the story and help build up your experience in the game, Anarchy Reigns also involves multiplayer. Over the course of the single player storylines you’ll unlock a bevy of new characters, from a metallic bull gangster with a penchant for hammy jokes to full-blown psychopaths that won’t walk away from a fight – especially with a “pet” mech unit backing them up. (The final game will also include Bayonetta as an unlockable multiplayer character and she’s as unpredictable as she was in her own game.) The more multiplayer characters you unlock, the better variety you have to choose from when it comes to kicking your friends’ butts.
Though the rules of multiplayer are pretty basic – try to avoid getting killed during the match while finishing off all those who attack you – there are circumstances that manage to keep each match interesting. For instance, someone can easily call in an air strike from above that will force you to scramble to the lower platforms to avoid being killed by the devastation. Likewise, a sandstorm can set in and if you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time you’ll be knocked for a loop – right into enemy territory.
From what we played in the Japanese import the multiplayer sessions are both fun and over-the-top. It doesn’t take long for you to get cornered in the wrong area and beaten to a pulp by a group of enemies, but you always get a fighting chance to strike a lethal blow of your own so it’s never an unfair advantage. Furthermore, you can throw items in this mode and stock up super moves so you can really dish out a devastating blow when the situation calls for it. Some more mode types would’ve been ideal for a game such as this, but as it stands it’s entertaining enough that you probably won’t even care if you’re capturing a flag or not.
As for how the game looks and sounds, it’s levels above what the original MadWorld offered. It’s in full color compared to the stylized black and white (and red, counting the blood). Platinum Games has put a fair amount of polish on the game; the detailed maps you battle on are worth running through if only to find extra goodies to help turn the tide in your favor. The violence is also way over the top. What else did you expect?
It stinks that we have to wait a bit longer for Anarchy Reigns, but your patience will be rewarded by excellent multiplayer options and a whole lot of carnage. Be sure to check it out when it arrives early next year… if your skull isn’t caved in by then. Ouch.
