Look, the game came out in 2001. Criticizing the graphics misses the point with this game
Other than that, the game looked impressive back then (doubly so because it used shitty and limited Q2 engine) and has aged unexpectedly well too.
In short: any complaint about Anox's graphics is a clear indication of complainer being a 'tard.
1999: Shenmue
2000: Jet Set Radio
2001: Silent Hill 2, Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3, Final Fantasy X
2002: Resident Evil Remake on Gamecube
Visually Anachronx cant even hold a candle to it's contemporary console games, let alone to what was cutting edge at the time. What it does in its cutscenes with the outdated engine is impressive, but to imply that it was visually impressive at the time is retarded. It does have couple of neat looking areas in it, but all in all the game is visually quite weak as there's tons of running around in boxy, gray/brown corridors. That's the thing about this game, it has funny dialogue, atmosphere, character and well directed cutscenes, but I dont think it's enough to justify all the boring combat and running around in bland looking, ugly environments. Old 3D graphics can look visually appealing and charming, as they do in games such as Thief, Unreal and Quake, so it's not an age thing, the level design in Anachronox just isn't very good (though there are some highlights, like the light fountain or what ever in the starting area)
Anachronox is what Final Fantasy would look like if it was done by Douglas Adams.
Apart from being essentially a PC-exclusive, western JRPG, this game is pure, crystallised awesome. Even the jpgish gameplay doesn't ruin it as it merely adds somewhat specific flavour to the game.
It's worth stating that even though it's often stated that this game is like a Western JRPG or that it's "the best JRPG ever", the gameplay is shit compared to all competent JRPGs. There was a huge missed opportunity in the movement system (they could've implemented alot of tactics using spells and items to create damage/immunity/boost zones etc), most of the time it's just mindless button smashing and even in the end game you're just using a couple of different spells. It wouldn't be so bad if the combat was quick, but it's so god damn slow and clunky because they had to go and make it "cinematic". And the encounter design is so insipid, you get the same pack of trash mobs over and over again and it's every fight the same deal. No wonder there are retards who claim that "turn based doesn't require strategy, you just apply the same tactic over and over again every fight hurrdurr" in the Numenera TB vs RTwP debate (not that it's very likely that those morons have played Anachronox, but this shit's a far cry from the interesting combat of good JRPGs like Nocturne, Devil Survivor, FF Tactics, Disgaea and Dark Souls)
Even the much maligned FF7 is a lot better when it comes to gameplay (encounter design, lot less slow and clunky, more depth) and party customization (the materia system is a lot better than the customizable beetle you get later in the game in Anachronox). Even if you're a complete storyfag, there are still JRPGs that are much better games than Anachronox. Games like Persona 4 and Tactics Ogre have good writing AND gameplay. Even SRPGs by NIS might qualify here as they're even more zany and humorous than Anachronox, though I guess being so Japanese and lul randum, the humor in those games doesn't appeal to many folks here.