ANONYMOUS;CODE Reviews
Just as the Science Adventure games posit that human perception affects reality, not every player will experience Anonymous;Code the same way. For those new to the franchise, this latest entry is an imaginative if conceptually dense sci-fi romp. For those who have played the other entries, it's something more - a gratifying culmination of thematic and narrative strands roughly 15 years in the making. Either way, Anonymous;Code has something special to say about the universe, the soul, and video games as a medium.
All in all, ANONYMOUS;CODE is a fun science fiction adventure, a compelling mystery, and even a surprisingly sweet romance. It’s just also very short, very linear, and the mouths scare me.
Even if you’ve not played the other games from the series, Anonymous;Code is a great place to start due to its standalone story. While there are a handful of references to past events, these are well-explained in the moment. If you’re looking for an exciting new visual novel, this one is well worth your time.
While Anonymous;Code is a step in the right direction with interesting ideas and a snappy pace, it still pales in comparison to the best entries in the Science Adventure series.
Anonymous;Code managed to grab my attention in a way that other SciADV games weren't able to, due to its captivating story and excellent pacing.
ANONYMOUS;CODE is a story that requires a solid time investment from you. It's a difficult story to grasp at first and things only get weirder from there. But if you do put in the time, you will experience a thrilling sci-fi adventure like no other. The concept of reloading previous saves is taken to another level and it's done well. You really feel like you stepped into a realistic future that we might experience one day. It's not a perfect story by any means and there are moments where the immersion is broken. But even with the flaws, it's a visual novel that delivers on its premise and keeps you hooked.
Anonymous;Code is a stellar addition to the Science Adventure that’s sure to please fans, but still holds enough for newcomers to jump into as well.
Overall, ANONYMOUS;CODE is by far one of the coolest Science Adventure games I've played. While the story could have been fleshed out more, and the interactivity needs a lot of improvement, it doesn't change the fact that it is one of the few visual novels that display a significant amount of effort. As such, it is one of the few games that's an easy recommendation to sci-fi visual novel fans.
A great visual novel adventure experience on PS4
A competent visual novel with an engaging story and unique artwork, ANONYMOUS; CODE delivers a solid experience, even though, at certain points, it brings well-known beats from other games in the SciADV series.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
The soundtrack is also great, composed by series regular Takeshi Abo, and it especially shines during particularly action heavy scenes. The localization is overall solid though there were a few typos here and there as well as a line or two that felt a little stilted or awkward, but again these do not occur very often. I am not sure if I would put it at the same level as its most successful predecessor (Steins;Gate), but Anonymous;Code is a very worthy addition to the Science Adventure series and a game that anybody interested in visual novels should definitely take a look at.
The Science Adventure series has always been the “AAA” of visual novels, offering production values and sheer confidence in the experience that is well beyond what almost anyone else can achieve. Anonymous;Code is, apparently, the end of its particular series, and that’s a massive pity, simply because I don’t think I could ever get sick of this kind of creativity. However, as an anthology of stories, the Science Adventure series are a masterwork within video games, and Anonymous;Code is the perfect, thought provoking, intelligent “page turner” to end things on.
"Recycling story elements is popular in the future."
Review in Finnish | Read full review
Anonymous;Code delivers a grand sci-fi tale that will keep players engaged throughout thanks to stellar writing and concepts but fumbles a little with characterization and mechanics.
Anonymous;Code does not have much gameplay; but it makes up for that with amazing visuals, sympathetic characters, and an intriguing story centered on Catholicism.
ANONYMOUS;CODE offers a visually engaging experience and strong main character development but falls short in fully realizing its genre's potential. Despite these shortcomings, it remains a valuable addition for fans of the Science Adventure series and visual novels.
ANONYMOUS;CODE is a thrilling addition to the Science Adventure Series, delivering a captivating narrative filled with mystery, suspense, and a touch of fantasy. With its inclusion of English voice acting and innovative gameplay mechanics, it’s a game that offers both long-time fans of the series and newcomers an unforgettable and immersive experience.
Anonymous;Code takes some understanding of the Science Adventure series to wholly appreciate, but its world-building is what I would regard as some of the series’ best. It acts as a culmination of ideas seen throughout numerous titles, creating an unconventional experience that is extremely rewarding. Despite a few stumbles found in the cast and the ending needing a bit more time to be fully realized, what’s here is an immaculate story with brilliant pacing that makes every scene and interaction meaningful and necessary. The fantastic English dub and presentation only serve to help matters. I have no idea where the Science Adventure series will go from here, but after seeing the sheer love and ambition poured into Anonymous;Code, I’m more confident in this series than I’ve ever been.
I didn't find in ANONYMOUS;CODE the fascinating characters and development arcs that won me over in other SciADV experiences, but this continuation of the saga mitigates this omission with an exciting sci-fi narrative, mature explorations of intriguing themes and the introduction of a save/load mechanic which gives the player an active role in events.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
ANONYMOUS;CODE is the most recent entry in a series that is already 15 years old and has six main titles but can be appreciated in a standalone form with no issues. The plural themes magnificently explored, the rich characters' cast and the metalinguistic mechanic that has the protagonist and the player interacting make a triad [of elements] that captivates and mantains the interest even for those [players] less used to visual novels that are so focused on reading.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review