NetEase has finally revealed the extended gameplay of its much-anticipated open-world anime RPG, now officially called Ananta (previously known as Project Mugen). The showcase gave fans a better look at its mechanics, world design, and combat, and many could not help but notice its similarities with Rockstar Games’ legendary GTA 5.
While the game has its own identity, it clearly borrows ideas from several popular titles. Let’s break down how GTA 5 and other iconic games have inspired Ananta.
GTA 5’s Influence on Ananta
Whenever players hear that a game is “inspired by GTA,” the first things that come to mind are open cities, fast cars, and high-action chaos. Ananta seems to embrace much of this spirit.
Just like GTA 5, Ananta allows you to switch between multiple playable characters in the open world. To do this, you pull out an in-game mobile phone, choose the character you want, and then the screen zooms out into a bird’s-eye view before locking into the perspective of your selected hero. This transition feels almost identical to how GTA 5 switched between its three protagonists.
The resemblance doesn’t stop there. The game’s urban setting is full of activities from gyms and nightclubs to combat that involves both melee and ranged weapons. Players can also drive a variety of vehicles, including cars, bikes, boats, and even helicopters. These elements strongly mirror Rockstar’s open-world formula.
Another major GTA-inspired feature is customization and monetization. Ananta will offer a system similar to GTA Online, where players can purchase new outfits, vehicles, and cosmetic upgrades. This points toward NetEase’s plan to keep the game engaging long-term with fresh content.
Inspirations Beyond GTA
Although GTA 5 serves as the backbone for Ananta’s open-world design, NetEase has also drawn ideas from other popular games.
Marvel’s Spider-Man
Combat and mobility appear heavily influenced by Insomniac’s Spider-Man series. The protagonist can swing across skyscrapers with web-like abilities and use them in combat for crowd control, much like Peter Parker’s iconic moves. This gives Ananta a fast-paced, acrobatic style that sets it apart from traditional RPG brawlers.
Sleeping Dogs and Yakuza
The beat-em-up combat style resembles games like Sleeping Dogs and Yakuza. One of the lead characters, Richie, who serves as the captain of the ACD task force, can slam enemies into environmental objects just like Wei Shen did in Sleeping Dogs. The game also highlights law-enforcement-style missions, where characters can arrest criminals, another nod to the Hong Kong classic.
Watch Dogs
Adding a tech-savvy twist, Ananta introduces Seymour, a hacker character who can shut down lights, disable electronics, and manipulate digital systems across an entire city block. This gameplay mechanic feels straight out of Ubisoft’s Watch Dogs, giving the game more variety in how players approach missions.
Ananta’s Unique Identity
Even though it borrows heavily from well-known games, Ananta doesn’t feel like a simple copy. Its anime-inspired art style, fantasy-driven combat powers, and character-driven storytelling make it unique. The ability to mix open-world exploration with superhuman abilities creates a fresh experience for fans of both RPGs and sandbox games.
The world itself is also visually distinct, combining bright city skylines with underground districts and rural areas. This gives players more variety in exploration compared to typical urban-only settings.
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