Graphics

So graphics aren't important, huh?

Since Anachronox uses the 4-year-old Quake II engine, it probably comes as no surprise that the graphics look dated. More notably, although games like Half-Life have made significant visual improvements to texture quality and player modeling, Anachronox appears to be using the standard Quake II technology platform. Character models are made with disappointingly sparse polygon counts and at times they even look horrifying. In a first person shooter, lack of character detail isn't problem - you never see yourself and if you're looking at an enemy for more than a few seconds, you'll be dead. For an RPG with a 3rd person perspective and a healthy amount of cinematic cut scenes, graphical flaws become more prominent. Fortunately, after a few hours of play, you're more focused on the storyline and have become desensitized to the poor character models.

Looks like I left the debugging cheat on

I'd be scared too

Since the game takes place in a futuristic universe, the Quake II engine is well suited to the angular environments of space stations and post-modern metropolises. The environments are made even better through the strong visual design. Anachronox has a decadent and deteriorating feel made through heavy use of neon signs and graffiti, while the Spaceport Sender One is sterile and futuristic. The cut scenes are top-notch, not a result of any technical elements, but rather solid directing and cinematography.

You can never have too many	Lots of neon
The fountain looks much better in motion	It was a dark and stormy night

I think the above images spoke for themselves. With the exception of that fountain, the animation did not help much.