Anito: Defend a Land Enraged

Ok, you can stop laughing now - it's not easy to come up with game titles you know. And what's with the tittering at the 2D graphics? Visuals aren't everything. You can lay off the control interface too - years ago most games were controlled using the keyboard. If it was good enough then... OK, I'll give up. It's all but impossible to defend the dated presentation and clunky interface that are constant reminders Anito was designed and developed by a small startup development company.

Further reminders come in the form of the 'I lost my father, I must find him' leanings of the storyline, and the simplistic point and hit mechanics of the combat system. But perhaps the biggest reminder of Anito's roots in yesteryear are the constant prompts to move your character closer when talking to NPCs or picking up objects - this becomes very irritating, very quickly. There is also unforgivable slowdown when several NPCs are on screen, which should never happen given the technology on display.

But it's not all bad. Some elements of Anito show a lot of care went into the game. Many of the NPCs have a lot to say for themselves, and the history of the gameworld is brought to life through books and documents. If you're after a basic adventure game it works pretty well.

But that's as good as it gets. The minor RPG and combat elements ensure Anito will remain an interesting novelty diversion, but it's more likely that the game will serve as a reminder that action adventures used to have depth. Discerning RPG veterans are unlikely to give it a second glance with far better titles on offer.