It seems that you're using an outdated browser. Some things may not work as they should (or don't work at all).
We suggest you upgrade newer and better browser like: Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer or Opera

×
It's already Throwback Thursday! In this week's episode, we're continuing to focus on the games that recently received exclusive free goodies, including concept arts, thanks to the The Video Game History Foundation. So let's talk for a bit about a gem that never got the attention it truly deserves: Anachronox!


Because today we've got two people willing to let you know about this sci-fi RPG, set on an abandoned alien planet, and featuring a cast of odd heroes on a quest to prevent an immense threat only they believe in, let's just jump straight into it. And to experience the game with them, check out their streams of Anachronox, on Friday, 9pm CST by Kilg0re_Tr0ut, and Saturday 9pm CST by Flaose.



Recommended by Kilg0re and Flaose, Stream Team


Anachronox is truly an underrated unique classic. What other game has a planet as a character? It's part narrative driven adventure, and part JRPG. Even if the JRPG style combat is not your thing, don't let that put you off. You can just drop the game difficulty down to easy, treat it as an exploration style adventure and enjoy one of the most well written, hilarious (and sometimes moving) stories ever put in a video game. It's amazing what Tom Hall and his crew did with the Quake II engine, as it's a beautiful game graphically. It's a massive game, and one of my all time favorites.


The creative director of Commander Keen developing a game with his supergroup team at the freshly-minted Ion Storm? When I first heard of Anachronox, I was all in. It's an American take on the JRPG genre, but Tom Hall's zany sense of humour ensures that the tongue remains planted firmly in cheek throughout. Sure, you have a team of three that engages in turn-based battles, but your magic and shields are powered by Neutron-Radiated Glodents (NRG), you explore places in search of hidden TACOs (Totally Arbitrary Collectable Objects), and you fight alongside a freaking planet! It's a colorfull adventure with well-directed cutscenes and a fast-paced story that isn't afraid to change the setting or introduce new gameplay mechanics. Anachronox is a unique CRPG that too many people missed and I love that GOG gives gamers, new and old, another opportunity to experience this incredible gem.

The Throwback Thursday series is done in cooperation with The Video Games History Foundation – a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving, celebrating, and teaching the history of video games. If you want to support them, we encourage you to check their donation page. And if you'd like to see all the games in this ongoing series, go to its dedicated page.
uh-nachronox! I only ever kickstarted dreamfall chapters (and still haven't played it), but if tom hall finally wanted to finish the trilogy, I'd be on board. hell, they can even use the quake 3 engine this time.
This game needs a sequel or a remake, is was a real masterpiece
I didn't find it well written, although I only read the very beginning. Then it glitched out in a way that was mildly amusing the first time. After glitching again the next time or two I tried I gave up.
Anachronox is one of my favorites too. I played it first when it was relatively new, and I just replayed it a few months ago, which I'd been itching to do for a while. A sequel would be wonderful, and I'd love to see the continuation of the story. It could be buggy, but there are ways to work around the bugs.
avatar
GOG.com: The Throwback Thursday series is done in cooperation with The Video Games History Foundation – a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving, celebrating, and teaching the history of video games. If you want to support them, we encourage you to check their donation page. And if you'd like to see all the games in this ongoing series, go to its dedicated page.
This remains neat. weren't there some bundles here people could buy to support VGHF? Or was that for a limited time?
It's thanks to GOG that I discovered Anachronox, a few months after I joined, if I remember correctly.
To this day, it's still one of my favorite games. It has an atmosphere no other game has.
Loved this game, it is odd and funny. Only problem is that somewhere I got stuck due to a bug and could not proceed. Even though I didn't finish it the part I played was actually quite long. Highly recommended. When I played it, it was already old so the graphics were outdated though not in a way that it was terrible it is more that the 3D models are simple and probably already were on game release I assume to make it run on even older hardware at the time. The music, graphics and environment gives it a really weird atmosphere.
Anachronox is prime fodder for a remake. Sure it would take a lot of money to make it, but I think it's a much safer gamble than a new title.
I remember being moderately hyped about it before it came out. Then I never got around to buying it.

Then I got a physical copy a decade later. Wouldn't run properly, so I never played it.

It was actually my VERY FIRST purchase on gog (after being informed that gog does this thing where they make games run on modern systems). Bought it, played it for 15 or so minutes, it's been gathering dust on my virtual shelf ever since.
Indeed, great story and atmosphere and characters. But do use a guide for the collectibles, because that pixel hunting at best ruins immersion, and may become awfully frustrating.

And no point in a remake of the original game if it'll stop in the same place. It ends with a cliffhanger and was meant to continue, so what it needs is the intended sequel. Or, if there will be a remake, it should be of the whole game, and that will just add to the costs and the workload and be even harder to get right.
Anachronox deserves a direct and authentic sequel. The best space opera, in my opinion, with a really good humor.)

It is too long to remake. If they start from the beginning, it might become abrupt at some point once again.

***

Back in 2010 Tom Hall stated, that he will at least reveal the story:

If I don't do the game in the next 10 years, I'll just write up the rest of the story and put it on my website for closure, how about that?
( source )

In this case sequel could possibly be created by fan community.
Post edited January 28, 2022 by AlexTerranova
Stumbled into a lengthy piece about it. Well, sometimes about it, because it describes the entire situation and period.
I bought the game back when it came out in 2001, but every time I tried playing I would get nauseous within minutes.. so I couldn’t play it. (Had the exact same issue with SHOGO back in the day too.)

Didn’t have any issues with other 3D games though so never figured out why.
avatar
ChadMRogers: I bought the game back when it came out in 2001, but every time I tried playing I would get nauseous within minutes.. so I couldn’t play it. (Had the exact same issue with SHOGO back in the day too.)

Didn’t have any issues with other 3D games though so never figured out why.
Quick search result of a possible explanation: "There's continual stream of small cutscenes where people ride elevators, etc. that hide little level transistions, where the camera flies around, swooping, soaring, circling, rotating, showing the chatacters from under, over, behind, in front, even flipping to show them upside down; all, in a word, to dizzying effect."
Also mentioned on here.