A Primer For Anarchy Reigns’ Online Multiplayer (PlayStation 3, Xbox 360)

Get to know the combat world of Platinum Games' action game before you pick it up tomorrow.

We’ve waited quite a while for Anarchy Reigns, Platinum Games’ follow-up to its twisted, bloody Wii brawler MadWorld.  It was originally supposed to come out last summer, alongside its Japanese counterpart Max Anarchy, but Sega opted to delay it to this month for some reason.  Regardless, the wait will certainly be worth it, especially to those who like their action over-the-top, and with plenty of carnage to go around.

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To go along with the single player campaigns, which revolve around returning chainsaw wielder Jack Cayman as well as special agent Leonhardt Victorion, Anarchy Reigns will also be packing in online multiplayer, where you’ll be able to take on friends in all-out warfare, kicking them until there’s nothing left.  There are multiple variations to choose from in multiplayer matches, and a couple of them even rely on steady teamwork when it comes to winning the match.

The first thing you should understand about Anarchy Reigns’ versus match-ups is that the playing field is pretty much leveled.  You don’t have to worry about powering up your character over the course of various matches, as each one – big and small – bring something unique to the battlefield.  No matter who you choose, whether it’s the lumbering brute Big Bull or the unlockable heroine Bayonetta (a pre-order bonus from GameStop, though she’s likely to be available as a download later on), you’ll have plenty of offensive moves.

Most of these are done through combos.  You can chain together small and heavy attacks, creating a number of devastating hits in the process.  The heavier attacks, as you might expect, take a bit more timing to execute, but are more powerful, able to deplete an enemy’s energy bar quicker than routine hits would.  But keep in mind they can be blocked or evaded, and if you try to string together too many attacks too quickly, you’re likely to be hit from behind – especially if you’re being attacked by a group (an instance that occurs quite often in matches – maybe you ought to stick closer to your friends).

One other helpful technique is grabbing, especially if you’ve got someone foolish enough to get within your grasping range.  These attacks can deliver a devastating, almost crippling, blow to enemies, but, on the flip side, they can also leave you open to a counter-attack by one of your teammates.  It’s probably best if you leave these for a one-on-one scenario, in which you know you can grab someone and finish them off rather quickly.

For that matter, you also shouldn’t be afraid to use items in the environment.  Throughout each stage, you’ll find items like exploding barrels and sign posts that you can pick up and use to your advantage.  Barrels are especially useful against groups of enemies, but you’ll want to make sure you don’t whiff the throw.  Sign posts are more specific when it comes to aiming and hurling (think of it as an urban javelin, if you will), but if you can nail an enemy in the head with it, it’ll take them out rather quickly – and who knows, it may just stick into their skull as they collapse to the ground.  Don’t be afraid to experiment with items.

Also, another side note – there are events that pop up at random throughout each match.  Some of them you can use to your advantage, like an air raid that destroys everything on a top level while you find solace in a cooler or some other room lower down, or a sandstorm that threatens to swallow some of the slower opponents whole while you find an opportunity to slip away.  Know what hazards you’re getting into with each stage, and find a way to turn the tide in your favor with them.

While the fighting action in Anarchy Reigns sounds rather basic, there are multiple match variations that you can choose from.  These include a Team Deathmatch and Team Battle modes (4 versus 4), a Tag Deathmatch mode (2 versus 2), Tag Battle (with four two-player teams), and a Survival mode, where you work with friends to fend off increasing waves of enemies (including large lizards).  Other modes are also being included, such as the all-out 16-player Battle Royale mode, where it’s every man and woman for themselves, as well as a 1-on-1 Cage Match mode, where you fight in an enclosed area until one of you is dead.  Finally, there’s Death Ball, where you guide around a spheric ball, staying out of harm’s way or risking the loss of a life.  All of these are worth messing around with, and who knows, you just might find some teammates to work with in future competitions.

For $29.99, Anarchy Reigns is looking like another gem from Platinum Games, and it’s well worth the money if you’ve got fighting fans (or MadWorld enthusiasts) that are in the mood for a bloody brawl.  Keep that chainsaw handy…

Anarchy Reigns is available now for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3.


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