EA themselves recently stated that nearly half their software sales come through digital purchases now. For starters, UK charts only account for physical sales data, which means the aforementioned figures for Anthem (or any of the other games) do not include digital sales. There are a few things that are worth noting here, though. That would amount to roughly 40,000 units sold for Anthem during its debut week, and put it below launch week performances of Destiny 2 and Mass Effect Andromeda as well. Writing on ResetEra, industry analyst Daniel Ahmad of Niko Partners reported that in its launch week, Anthem sold only around 10 per cent as much as Destiny did when it first launched in the UK in 2014. However, as far as raw numbers are concerned, the performance of the game might be a bit worrying for EA. And it seems it might have started off strongly- in spite of mixed reviews, the game topped this week’s UK sales charts. Each of these Javelins offers a unique playstyle, giving the game a bit of replay-ability, which is something this game needs badly.EA has placed a lot of confidence in BioWare’s recently released looter shooter Anthem, which they’re expecting will have sold 5-6 million units by the end of March. In regards to the Javelin suits, you have the nimble, melee focused Interceptor the hulking Colossus that eats damage for a living and the all-around Ranger that is focused on all areas of combat. Those skills might be a new bubble shield to protect teammates or a new missile barrage that does extra damage if you’ve frozen the enemy. The skills you learn depend on the Javelin you choose. You’ll be learning new skills and looting new equipment as you play through the game, with some of that equipment adding various boosts to your stats such as damage, shields, or pickup range. Equipped with two primary weapons and three primary skills, you’ll sometimes feel like an unstoppable flying, war machine. Tied to the flying is the combat, which is equally rewarding – at first. While flying, you’ll need to maintain your Javelin’s temperature by flying near water and taking breaks, but it doesn’t take away from the unique experience of living life as a flying metal warrior. Even compared to recently released The Avengers (Square Enix, 2020), the experience of launching off the ground and firing into the air takes a while to get old. If you’ve ever dreamed of flying around an open world as Ironman, this is most likely the best version of that. Luckily, you’re in for a treat at first with the gameplay of Anthem. We’ve been here before and it’s nothing new. Once again, this harks back to the aforementioned comparison of another online-multiplayer action-RPG – Destiny. It’s a been-told tale of an evil faction that wants control of an energy source that has untold amounts of power. Their performances are quite compelling, but the story that surrounds them is unfortunately cookie-cutter. Along the way, you’ll meet charismatic characters such as the veteran freelancer Haluk or Faye. Choices are what make you invest into BioWare stories so deeply, but Anthem doesn’t go down that route. Part of this is due to the fact that there is a lack of choices that alter the course of the narrative.
For a game designed by a legendary studio known for their epic tales, Anthem will fall short of capturing your mind and heart. Now that we have a good understanding of the setting, we can dive into the story - or lack thereof. These advanced technological relics are what hold the power of the Anthem of Creation, which is this magical energy that humanity understands very little of. As you play through the story missions, you’ll learn that your main antagonists are the Dominion, an authoritarian faction that is seeking Shaper relics. You play as one of the rookie freelancers who joins a team of veteran freelancers.