Not so long ago, Prime Matter introduced a very interesting game idea, but at first glance it does not look like what it really is. When I saw the first information about the game Mato Anomalies and then got the chance to try the game, I remembered the old classic message from the TV series Twin Peaks and that “Owls are not what they seem.” That’s how this mysterious turn-based RPG, which I mistakenly thought was “just” a visual novel mixed with city exploration, works for me.
- Platform: PC (Tested), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch
- Publication date: Q1 2023
- Developer: Arrows
- Publisher: Prima Matter
- Genre: turn-based mystery RPG
- Czech localization: Not
- Multiplayer: Not
- Price: not yet defined
The demo of the game was not very long, but it gave a feel for all the components of the genre menu that Mato Anomalies will offer. The beginning of the story, the fight and the gameplay itself. Your playable alter ego is private detective Doe, with whom you unwittingly take on the investigation of anomalies in the city. In addition, it turns out that through these anomalies you are taken to an alternate dimension of the Liars, which is used to smuggle goods, mostly a substance called Handout. Unfortunately, here you will encounter Bane Tide creatures, monsters that feed on human emotions.
Since the urban model is an older version of Shanghai, we move in a very distinctive environment full of color, life, street vendors, as well as luxurious buildings and nightclubs. The street is still busy, but since we’re not really in Shanghai, but in the neo-futuristic Mate, it feels like jumping into a Chinese version of Cyberpunk 2077 or a Ghost in the Shell movie (the only real one from 1995). ).
The neo-futuristic rug makes you feel like you’ve jumped into the Chinese version of Cyberpunk 2077.
Mato anomalies can be divided into several sequences. You will spend a lot of time reading the dialogue in the form of classic visual novels, not all of which are dubbed. Only the bare minimum is spoken language, so you have quite a lot of reading to do.
The next part is reconnaissance, or rather running around the city. The city itself is very nicely crafted and with most of the NPCs you can exchange a few words or at least listen to their mutual dialogues. Unfortunately, the individual locations are not very large, and especially when we are moving in a 3D environment, the camera is fixed, but in the wrong sense of the word. So if you’re turning a corner, you have to turn it with the right mouse button.
Passing through the rift, you enter the next part of the game, which is an alternate dimension of the Liars, where you scout as Doe but aren’t very good at fighting, so the mysterious swordsman Graham has your back. Battles with monsters are classically turn-based. You can easily see whose turn it is, and, in addition to basic attacks, you will soon learn how to use special abilities, their use is not limited by footage, as in similar games, and after using them you need to wait a certain amount of time. time before it is restored for you again. And the stronger, unfortunately, have to wait longer.
Monster fights are classically turn-based and you can easily see whose turn it is.
The final “mini-game” is a card-style mind hack. Gam’s android gives Doe a special SkyEye gauntlet that allows him to hack people’s minds by choosing cards. The goal is to lower mental strength and defeat opponents. When you reduce this mental power to zero, you will be able to crack their head open.
Mato Anomalies combines many interesting elements that together create an interesting whole. Unfortunately, it is difficult to attribute it to any particular genre. You have a mixture of investigation, little old school JRPG, card battles and visual novel. On the one hand, this means a lot of positive promises, but they must be well balanced in order to work all the promised 40 hours. Personally, I can’t wait to play some more because Mato Anomalies are definitely worth it.
Mato Anomálie is due out next year for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, and via Steam for PC.
Source : Zing
