Excited for Ananta? It’s not what you expect.

It’s been a fantastic week for those keeping an eye on the upcoming free-to-play open-world anime action RPG Ananta. NetEase has released two substantial gameplay videos this week alone. While we hadn’t seen much of the game previously, the glimpses we had were enough to spark comparisons to titles like GTA, particularly concerning the cars, gangs, and overall vibe. These comparisons are valid, but after viewing the latest video, I’m starting to see Ananta as a spiritual successor to the Saints Row franchise – a series known for its over-the-top silliness that I sorely miss.

The Saints Row franchise holds a special place in my heart, especially the entries before… well, you know which one. While I appreciate a well-crafted, serious story, Saints Row excelled at being purely fun. It wasn’t afraid to be ridiculous, even in Saints Row 2, which was arguably the most grounded of the series. Remember Johnny Gat’s trial scene? That pretty much set the tone.

Ultimately, Saints Row provided a fun and cathartic escape. Whether it involved a pink-headed madman running murder games or the player character becoming president and gaining superpowers in a simulation, it was all part of the experience.

Watching the Ananta gameplay, I get a similar vibe, albeit a slightly more subdued one. In the latest video, the protagonist gets into a conflict with a gang over concert venue rights – because apparently, renting a venue is too mainstream. And what does the protagonist have to do with concert management anyway? Then there are the Venom/Spider-Man-esque superpowers at play.

According to the game’s website and video descriptions, building a social media presence is a significant part of Ananta, which seems a bit unusual for a character who appears to be involved in law enforcement. Still, it echoes the Saints Row vibe of the Third Street Saints building their own media empire.

Of course, this is just a minor observation. Grand Theft Auto and Saints Row share core similarities, but Saints Row intentionally embraced a more outlandish and less realistic narrative over time.

Ananta also shares another trait with the later Saints Row games. As one commenter pointed out on the first Ananta trailer, “The devs really just passionately strung together their favorite bits of every game they’ve ever played.” Saints Row did the same, but with various media types. We had Jane Austen narrating parts of Saints Row IV, and Gat Out of Hell featured a Disney princess-esque storyline with Satan’s daughter and Shakespeare running a section of Hell. It was delightfully ridiculous. Ananta might not be quite that bizarre yet, but it feels like the developers were drawing inspiration from all sorts of unexpected places.

Based on the comments, the developers seem to have shifted the main character’s tone from serious to more chill and humorous. This makes sense, given the social media focus. And frankly, how seriously can you take conflicts with musical gangs fighting over concert venues?

So far, I’m thoroughly enjoying what I see. I was initially drawn to the open-world urban setting, similar to why Neverness to Everness caught my eye. But the quirky elements are making me even more excited. I’ve missed Saints Row, and Ananta appears to be a worthy successor.

On a side note, I’m also relieved that the game’s monetization doesn’t involve a gacha system. While I play gacha games, I much prefer simply buying outfits and customization items. A gacha system would feel out of place in this type of game anyway.