Game Insider - Best of 2018 Best of 2018 | Page 30

Biomutant is an action role-playing game set
in an open world environment and played
from a third-person perspective in which the
player takes control of a raccoon-like
creature in a world filled with mutated
animals. Much like an RPG (role playing game)
the first thing for players to do is to customize
their own character. Sex, length, body shape
and thickness, fur, fangs, and many other
attributes can be tweaked and impressively all
have direct impact on the statistics of the
playable character during gameplay.
A thicker character is heavier, which makes it
slower but on the flip-side allows it to deal and
resist more damage. The combat system
combines melee attacks with long-range
shooting. The player collects parts throughout
the game and combines these parts to create a
weapon. Each part has its own effect on the
statistics of the end product. The game features
a variety of Affixes, including cryogenic and
electrical, which are effective in battles.
When a cryogenic part is put onto a weapon,
enemies will freeze when hit. The player can
combine the power of multiple weapons by
switching between different weapons during
combat. The protagonist is able to dodge to the
left, right, and backward, as well as jump.
Besides leveling up the playable character, the
player can also use level-up points to
strengthen their attributes or to unlock new
attack combinations.
Another way to learn new moves is by
interacting with specific characters in each area.
Most moves are based on weapons, which can
be crafted using the game's weapon crafting
system.
Throughout the game, players can also
change their abilities, looks by mutations and
bio-mechanical body parts such as attaching
robotic legs, wings and claws which can be used
to get various advantages against certain
enemies or at certain locations. In order to
reach specific areas, the player must change
body parts, equip gear that is suited for that
area, or obtain specific vehicles, such as an air
balloon or jet skis. This way, the player can
overcome obstacles introduced by their
surroundings, such as the limited oxygen
availability in Death Zone: by wearing a gas
mask or an oxygen container, the player is able
to venture deeper into the area and explore
new places that cannot be reached without any
precautions, while an even bigger part of the
area can be reached by obtaining a mech.
The game's world can be seamlessly
explored by the player on foot, by flying or
using an air balloon, jet ski and mech. It also
features a dynamic weather system and day-
night cycle which affects the gameplay and
enemy behavior.
The story is mission-based and mission lines
are character-based. Certain characters will
provide the player quest lines that are
emanating from their area. Interestingly, the
more the player interacts with this character, the
wider the arc of that specific area becomes.
Biomutant also features a Karma system for
non-playable characters and a companion
system for recruiting allies for fighting and
travelling alongside with the player. Depending
on the actions, interactions, and decisions made
by the player throughout the whole game, the
stances characters take can change, which has
an influence on the continuation of the story as
dialogues and quest lines will be changed. The
story is fully narrated. As playtime increases, the
narration level scales down. Players will also be
able to manually adjust the narration frequency.
As cute and cuddly as Biomutant may appear,
developer Experiment 101 is most certainly
crafting an ambitious adventure on a grand
scale.
Be sure to keep your eyes on Biomutant as
one of 2019's most anticipated games.
"The game's world can be seamlessly explored
by the player on foot, by flying or using an air
balloon, jet ski and mech."