Biomutant is a fantastic new game, an open world, postapocalyptic; adventure starring a furry hero. This game is different from others of its ilk due to a rather intense character creation tool and a surprisingly deep connection to its character and how the world feels about them. In Biomutant, every choice matters, so the player should be strong; and follow their heart.
Biomutant starts with a stylish opening cutscene that shows off how quick combat can be. After that, players play the cutscene after they craft their character. The character creation tool is one of the most unique character creation tools I’ve seen in a game. This tool is unlike any other because it relies on sliding around a circle. The circle holds all of the possible forms the character can take, and there are tons of different looks.
Players start first by choosing a base design from a small selection. They could be primal, for instance, or a Hyla. The starting choice for the character is Primal, but players should not feel obligated to choose this. After selecting the base form, creation begins. Players must create their character with a pretty impressive slider. This slider is a game-changer, and it changes character creation for the better.
As an anthropomorphic character, the slider works wonders. Players can bounce between the different traits: and find their perfect design. The heads change, and the bodies grow and shrink depending on the traits chosen. For instance, if the highest stat is charisma, the character will look nicer. A higher intelligence character will have a larger head, and a stronger character will have a bigger body. The tool works well, especially because the character is furry. If this tool was used in other games it could be quite cool.
After choosing the character’s design, players then select its resistances. These resistances aren’t important initially. But, as the player progresses through the game they become more important. There are different zones. These pop up around the world and are either hot, cold, radioactive, or biohazardous. Player’s can max these resistances out as they play, so don’t worry too much initially.
The second to last step in the design process is choosing colors. The primary and secondary colors seem to have been swapped, so make the secondary color the player likes the most. Choose the colors and shapes on the faces, and the creature is almost complete. Character creation is an important part of this game, and it’s a good idea to make the character as cool as possible.
The last step is to choose a class for the character. There are several choices, and each of them plays differently. The Psi Freak is a powered character that unleashes powerful attacks. The Saboteur is all about stealth and taking out enemies on the fly, while the sentinel is the tank, the commando is close range, and the deadeye shoots from afar.
The game begins in earnest here, and the player must choose a tribe to align. The tribe system is interesting because players choose to be good or evil. They can change tribes at any time, but they have to then in turn take down the other tribes. Though once the player leaves a tribe they will never be able to side with that tribe again.
Players work to either destroy the tree of life or keep it alive. The tree of life sits in the center of the map and is being attacked by four colossal monsters. The game is governed by a karma system. It’s kept in order by the idea of an angel and demon of sorts. The angel and demon both react to the player’s choices. The Player’s choices sadly don’t affect the end of the story all that much but for role-playing, it does help. Plus, the choice comes with humor, as the winning side knocks the other away.
The player will work to take down the four monsters terrorizing the tree. They will pick up four vehicles, which each work in different ways. The first is a speed boat of sorts that helps traverse the watery areas of the game. There are several mounts to find too, so it’s easy to find one the player likes. The player can call the mounts from just about anywhere, so the player never has to feel like they need to run through the world.
They will also gain a few types of skill points throughout the game. Players will earn radiated skill points to increase their immunity to the environment and help their hero survive. They will skill points through karma to learn magic. Fair warning, this game does not let players change their minds so be sure of the choices made.
They will pick up a variety of weapons, and like many games, the weapons are rated. Players might find legendary weapons too, which of course do more damage or have more effects. Players will have a lot to scrounge for and buy, so always be on the lookout. The world is vast, and having a nice cache of weapons will always help.
The side quests are spread out throughout the world. Players can take them from characters or simply find them. They might open vaults and find rare loot, give the player a new mount, or help them see the bigger picture. Everything comes full circle in Biomutant, and it is kill or be killed out in the wastes.
The narrator is a divisive part of the game, while some might hate him, I enjoyed every line he spoke. He helps tell the story and speaks for the characters who have written lines but speak in some strange language. He will also comment on combat, and with his English accent, he sometimes says humorous things. He speaks so crisply, but when he gets excited it adds to the fun.
The moral message of the game does run a bit thin, however. Every character the player interacts with talks about the same thing. They each have their own identity but repeat the same idea about working together to save the world. It’s repetitive and one of the downsides to an otherwise fantastic game.
The game does have a new game plus mode too. After completing the game, players can continue from the great tree, ready to jump into a new adventure. Players can choose whichever tribe to align with, and choose a different karmic alignment. They will keep all their weapons, level, and stats, but will make the enemies stronger. If the player enjoys the first adventure they might enjoy a more challenging run.
Biomutant is a fantastic game and is worth picking up. It’s similar to other open-world games, but the combat is exciting, and personally, the narrator is a riot. I enjoyed running through the world taking out foes with a gun and sword in hand, showing the world who’s boss. The world is ending, and a furry creature is at the center; how will the player guide them; to creation or ruin?
Disclaimer: A review key was provided