Anthem is an video game developed by and published by . The game was released worldwide for , and on February 22, 2019.
Set on an unnamed planet, players assume the role of Freelancers, heroic adventurers who wear powerful to defend humanity from the threats beyond their cities' walls. The game's title refers to the Anthem of Creation, a powerful and mysterious force responsible for most of the extraordinary technology, phenomena, and threats in the world. In the main narrative, the player's Freelancer is tasked with stopping the villainous Monitor from seizing control of the Anthem.
Anthem received mixed reviews from critics, who criticized it for its and shallow gameplay, technical aspects, and story, although its combat, flight controls, and visuals received some praise. Despite some positive sales achievements, the game failed to meet commercial expectations. Although BioWare announced in February 2020 that they would be reinventing the core gameplay of Anthem as part of a long-term plan, all future development was ceased in February 2021.
Anthem combines and elements in a "contiguous " shared with up to three other players. Each player takes the role of a Freelancer donning fully customizable exosuits called Javelins.
Anthem features four unique Javelin variants which the player unlocks while progressing through the game. Each Javelin features unique attributes and abilities that encourage different styles of play and evoke . The Ranger is the Javelin players begin the game with, and is considered the "all-around master of combat"; the Colossus is the largest and slowest, but the most resilient and features a large shield to absorb attacks or hit enemies; the Interceptor is the fastest and most agile, specializing in quick close-quarters melee strikes; and the Storm is the least armored, but can remain airborne the longest, allowing it to attack from a distance with blasts of elemental energies.
Players can build relationships with various , but they cannot establish romantic relationships with them, as was common of previous BioWare games. The central meeting point of the game takes place in Fort Tarsis. It serves as a fortified settlement against the threats of the outside world and is the point where the player goes to receive new missions and freelance assignments. It is a melting pot where all the different factions of the game meet, including the Sentinels, Corvus, Cyphers, and Arcanists.
The game features both and elements in a "shared world" that can have up to four squad members per team. Teams can fight beasts and marauders while exploring lost ruins and experiencing massive, world-altering occurrences, such as "Shaper Storms"
