Biomutant is a bit too much to chew review
Introduction
Biomutant is a game that tries to do a lot of things at once. It is an open-world action-RPG that lets you play as a furry mutant creature in a post-post-apocalyptic world where nature has reclaimed the land and animals have evolved into martial arts masters. It is also a game that lets you customize your character, your weapons, your abilities, your mounts, your vehicles, your tribe affiliation, your morality, and your destiny. It is a game that promises a rich and varied world full of secrets, surprises, challenges, and choices.
But is it a game that delivers on its promises? Or is it a game that bites off more than it can chew? In this review, we will examine the gameplay, story, and presentation of Biomutant, as well as its strengths and weaknesses. We will also give our final verdict on whether Biomutant is worth playing or not.
Here are the main pros and cons of Biomutant:
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
|
|
Gameplay
Combat
Biomutant’s combat system is one of its most appealing features. It combines melee, ranged, and mutant abilities in a fast-paced and fluid way. You can switch between different weapons on the fly, dodge, parry, counter, combo, shoot, throw, jump, glide, roll, slam, freeze, burn, shock, poison, confuse, slow down, speed up, heal, buff, debuff, summon allies, transform into different forms, unleash ultimate attacks, and more. The combat system gives you a lot of freedom and creativity to experiment with different styles and strategies.
However, the combat system also has some flaws. The controls are not very responsive or intuitive. Sometimes the game does not register your inputs, or performs the wrong actions. The camera is also problematic, as it often gets stuck behind objects, or zooms in and out randomly. The combat system also lacks challenge and balance. The game is too easy for most of the time, as you can easily overpower your enemies with your abilities and gear. The difficulty spikes are few and far between, and they are usually caused by unfair factors, such as environmental hazards, swarms of enemies, or bosses with cheap attacks.
Customization
Biomutant’s customization system is one of its most impressive features. It lets you create and modify your character and gear in a deep and flexible way. You can choose your breed, your fur color, your stats, your class, your resistance, your aura, your biohazard mutations, your psi-powers, your weapon parts, your armor pieces, your mods, your perks, and more. The customization system gives you a lot of options and variety to tailor your character and gear to your liking.
However, the customization system also has some drawbacks. The interface is not very user-friendly or intuitive. Sometimes the game does not explain the effects or functions of certain options, or displays them in a confusing way. The customization system also suffers from complexity and redundancy. The game offers too many choices that are either irrelevant or overlapping. For example, there are dozens of weapon parts that have the same stats but different looks, or dozens of perks that have the same effects but different names.
Exploration
Biomutant’s exploration system is one of its most attractive features. It presents a vast and varied open world that is full of biomes, landmarks, secrets, surprises, challenges, and choices. You can explore the world on foot, on mount, on vehicle, on boat, on glider, on balloon, on mech suit, on submarine, and more. You can encounter different factions, enemies, allies, quests, events, puzzles, mini-games, collectibles, loot, and more. The exploration system gives you a lot of incentives and opportunities to discover and interact with the world.
However, the exploration system also has some issues. The world is not very immersive or coherent. Sometimes the world feels empty or lifeless, as there are not many dynamic or emergent elements. Sometimes the world feels inconsistent or disjointed, as there are not many logical or thematic connections between different areas. The exploration system also suffers from repetition and filler content. The game relies too much on generic or recycled quests, such as capturing outposts, clearing bunkers, finding items, repairing objects, or activating devices. The game also pads out the content with unnecessary or tedious tasks, such as traveling long distances, collecting resources, crafting items, or upgrading equipment.
Story
Narrative
Biomutant’s narrative system is one of its most ambitious features. It tells a story of a post-post-apocalyptic world where nature has taken over and animals have evolved into intelligent beings. It also tells a story of a hero who must unite or destroy the tribes, save or doom the world tree, and face or join the world eaters. It also tells a story of a personal journey where you must find your origins, your purpose, and your destiny. The narrative system gives you a lot of choices and consequences that shape the story and the world.
However, the narrative system also has some problems. The story is not very engaging or coherent. Sometimes the story feels bland or clichéd, as there are not many original or memorable moments. Sometimes the story feels confusing or inconsistent, as there are not many clear or logical explanations for the events. The narrative system also suffers from lack of impact and depth. The choices and consequences are not very meaningful or satisfying, as they do not affect the gameplay or the characters much. The story also does not explore the themes and messages of the world and the hero in a profound or nuanced way.
Characters
Biomutant’s character system is one of its most quirky features. It introduces a cast of furry and colorful characters that inhabit the world and interact with the hero. It also introduces a narrator who comments on the hero’s actions and thoughts, and translates the animal language for the player. The character system gives you a lot of personality and humor that spice up the world and the hero.
However, the character system also has some annoyances. The characters are not very likable or memorable. Sometimes the characters feel shallow or stereotypical, as there are not many distinctive or complex traits. Sometimes the characters feel annoying or irritating, as there are not many meaningful or respectful interactions. The character system also suffers from lack of development and diversity. The characters do not change or grow much throughout the story, as they do not have any arcs or motivations. The characters also do not vary much in their appearance or behavior, as they share similar models or animations.
Presentation
Biomutant’s presentation system is one of its most beautiful features. It uses graphics, sound, and music to create an immersive and atmospheric world that is full of life and detail. It also uses narration and dialogue to convey a unique and humorous tone that sets it apart from other games. The presentation system gives you a lot of charm and style that enhance the world and the hero.
However, the presentation system also has some glitches. The game is not very polished or optimized. Sometimes the game suffers from technical issues or bugs that affect the graphics, sound, music, narration, dialogue, performance, stability, loading times, saving system, and more. Sometimes these issues are minor or amusing, but sometimes they are major or game-breaking. The presentation system also suffers from lack of consistency and quality. The game does not maintain a high level of quality across all aspects of its presentation, as some parts look or sound better than others.
Conclusion
Biomutant is a game that has a lot of potential but also a lot of problems. It is a game that offers a lot of features but also a lot of flaws. It is a game that tries to be a lot of things but also fails to be any of them well.
Biomutant is not a bad game, but it is not a great game either. It is a mediocre game that can be fun and enjoyable at times, but also frustrating and disappointing at others. It is a game that can be praised for its ambition and creativity, but also criticized for its execution and quality.
Biomutant is a game that deserves respect for its effort and vision, but also needs improvement and polish.
Our final verdict for Biomutant is: 6/10
We recommend Biomutant to players who are looking for an original and colorful open-world action-RPG that lets them customize their character and gear in many ways. We do not recommend Biomutant to players who are looking for an engaging and coherent story that lets them make meaningful choices and consequences in the world.
FAQs
- Q: What platforms is Biomutant available on?
- A: Biomutant is available on PC (Windows), PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 (via backward compatibility), Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S (via backward compatibility).
- Q: How long does it take to finish Biomutant?
- A: Biomutant’s main story takes about 15 to 20 hours to complete, depending on your playstyle and choices. Biomutant’s side content takes about 25 to 30 hours to complete, depending on your exploration and completion level. Biomutant’s total content takes about 40 to 50 hours to complete, depending on your overall engagement and enjoyment.
- Q: What are the differences between the tribes in Biomutant?
- A: Biomutant has six tribes that have different ideologies and alignments. The Myriad tribe is peaceful and harmonious, and wants to unite the tribes and save the world tree. The Jagni tribe is aggressive and destructive, and wants to conquer the tribes and destroy the world tree. The Lotus tribe is selfish and hedonistic, and wants to exploit the tribes and corrupt the world tree. The Ankati tribe is honorable and loyal, and wants to protect the tribes and preserve the world tree. The Pichu tribe is inventive and curious, and wants to improve the tribes and enhance the world tree. The Netra tribe is cunning and manipulative, and wants to deceive the tribes and control the world tree.
- Q: How does Biomutant’s karma system work?
- A: Biomutant’s karma system measures your morality and reputation in the world. Your morality is determined by your aura, which can be light or dark. Your aura affects your dialogue options, your psi-powers, your tribe affiliation, and your ending. Your reputation is determined by your relations, which can be friendly or hostile. Your relations affect your interactions, your allies, your enemies, and your rewards.
- Q: How does Biomutant’s class system work?
- A: Biomutant’s class system lets you choose one of five classes at the beginning of the game, which gives you a unique ability and a set of perks. The classes are: Dead-Eye, which specializes in ranged combat and critical hits; Commando, which specializes in ranged combat and damage; Saboteur, which specializes in melee combat and speed; Sentinel, which specializes in melee combat and defense; and Psi-Freak, which specializes in mutant abilities and energy. You can also unlock perks from other classes by finding class shrines in the world.