MASTERS OF ANIMA
Otto isn’t your typical hero. Unlike the focused individuals who litter most of our virtual realms, he isn’t out to save the world. He just wants the girl, and were his beloved not captured he’d be content to let someone else deal with the evil Zahr and the army of Golems he’s unleashed upon the world of Spark. And just as Otto isn’t a traditional frontman, Masters Of Anima is far from a conventional adventure. Presented in an isometric fashion, the combat is an intriguing mix of action and strategy. Otto can summon an army of Guardians – adept warriors who do his bidding in battle. These come in five varieties, and learning how to effectively utilise each one is vital to success. Protectors are the tanks, able to attack an enemy head-on, while Sentinels rain down deadly arrows from afar, with increasingly advanced allies introduced as you go.
As you have a limited supply of troops, battles require a lot of tactical planning, such as deciding how many of each type of Guardian to have, and where to place them on the battlefield. No amount of planning will help if you’re not fast on your feet, though. Enemies frequently unleash devastating attacks, and failing to manoeuvre your soldiers out of the danger zone can see entire groups eradicated. It makes for wonderfully considered yet fast-paced battles that effectively splice the action and strategy genres.
CROWD CONTROL
The kind of intricate control needed for strategy games rarely translates well to console, but Passtech Games has done a remarkable job of making controls feel fluid when using the DualShock. You can quickly scroll through and command each class using the shoulder buttons, and easily direct them to a target with the lockon feature. Rather than just stand about on the battlefield deploying troops, you can whack enemies with your staff, dodge attacks, and instigate special abilities that, depending on your selected warrior’s class, can stun opponents, deal more damage, or even heal you. Admittedly, the speed and tactical know-how needed make this a baptism of fire, but once you’ve got to grips with the controls and gain an understanding for the flow of battle, it’s a delightful and deeply engrossing affair.
No matter how superlative your strategy, success can sometimes be all but impossible without retracing your steps through earlier levels to gain the experience to unlock new abilities and buff up your band of minions. Revisiting areas also allows you to search for missing items that increase your stats, and complete optional objectives. While players who don’t often dabble in strategy may be put off by the game’s hefty difficulty, those with an affinity for clever, challenging combat, and speedy decision-making will feel right at home in the painterly lands of Spark.
VERDICT
“BATTLES ARE WONDERFULLY CONSIDERED, YET ALSO FASTPACED AND FRANTIC.”
Beneath this modest exterior lies an absorbing adventure. Its endearing narrative will draw you in and its superb fusion of action and tactics will keep you hooked. Anne-Marie Coyle