Mato Anomalies

I don't love those typical visual novels, but Mato Anomalies is a game-changer. The title is self-advertised as part of the genre that does little but tell fantasized stories with usually suggestive content that has become a complete game, adding RPG elements, gorgeous visuals, and controllable characters to interact with the game world. It's hard to believe this is a visual novel.

Quite frankly, we don't believe it either. Apart from the game's narrative focus, all the initial gameplay elements give more of a JRPG vibe, where branching dialogue, turn-based combat, and fast, flash animations reign supreme. I'm intrigued by Mato Anomalies; it looks jam-packed with exciting mechanics, visuals, and entertainment potential. All that's left is to give the game a go.

A Strange Future

The only visual novel aspect of Mato Anomalies is that a rich narrative is the game's foundation. The story is rich, full of characters, and allows players to make crucial decisions about what happens. In typical genre fashion, it isn't easy to establish what's going on in the game's first stages, only gaining clarity as you progress. But overall, the gameplay is more critical here, something that's atypical of the genre.

Mato Anomalies is set in a futuristic city. Players will take control of two investigators to discover the mysteries behind a demon invasion of the area. You'll explore a cyberpunk-inspired urban environment, tracking down rifts to enter and battle enemies, ridding them of one parallel world at a time. The game features a lot of running around, solving clues, talking to the right people, and purchasing the rift stuff.

But is overall gameplay entertaining? We can't argue with the narrative design heavily complimented by the visuals. However, the phases of Mato Anomalies feel like a total grind. Much so to the point that was there not such a compelling story, you'd be put off by the number of menial chores you must do to work towards any sense of progress.

Even in the initially exciting combat, you feel like you're going through the motions. But we can't forget that Mato Anomalies is a gem compared to most visual novels, offering a high degree of interactivity and immersion. It's definitely more of a JRPG, but even slotted into that genre; the game is well-rounded, beautiful, and worth playing.

All Hail the Anti-Hero

Players always love a game that features more of an anti-hero, where they can emulate people like themselves, becoming the respected leader of the people. Mato Anomalies does a great job of fusing that concept into a futuristic game world with its trivial issues and inconveniences. Despite the outlandish idea, a sense of realism gives even the gritty gameplay more value.

Round-Up - Pros & Cons

Pros:

• A rich game world with beautiful visuals
• Diverse gameplay between exploration and combat
• Excellent character development

Cons:

• Repetitive gameplay in phases of the game
• The story is initially tricky to understand