Biomutant Review

Biomutant Review – A Mixed Experience

Biomutant was one of the games I was most excited about since its first reveal in 2017. I had high expectations for Experiment 101 to deliver a unique experience, especially with the backing of THQ Nordic. Unfortunately, the studio both succeeded and failed, presenting a strange and confusing game.

Story

Biomutant is set in a world where humans have gone extinct, leaving behind mutated creatures. The world faces annihilation due to five monsters attacking the Tree of Life. Your goal is to stop these creatures while also seeking revenge on the being that killed the protagonist’s family. While the premise is intriguing, the story feels short, taking around 10 hours to complete if you focus only on the main plot, or up to 20 hours with side quests. This is far less than the 60 hours the developers claimed.

Open World and Exploration

Biomutant offers a large open world, but it feels overly expansive and empty. While there are beautiful areas to explore and great opportunities for photo mode, the world lacks dynamic events and meaningful NPC interactions. Exploration often boils down to searching for items in piles of junk or boxes, which gets repetitive quickly. Puzzles are simplistic, requiring little effort to solve, and they don’t affect your progress significantly.

Combat System

The game’s combat system is its strongest feature, combining hack-and-slash mechanics with shooter elements and RPG traits. You’ll find a wide variety of weapons, from melee swords and hammers to ranged guns. While combat initially feels engaging, enemy encounters quickly become repetitive. The lack of variety in enemy behavior means you can use the same strategy throughout the game, which diminishes the challenge and enjoyment.

Customization and Progression

At the start, you can customize your character’s appearance and initial abilities, such as resistance to environmental hazards. As you progress, you can upgrade your health, stamina, and combat skills. Additionally, you can unlock special abilities, like quick dashes or elemental attacks, adding some depth to gameplay.

Boss Fights and Missions

Boss fights are among the game’s highlights, offering unique challenges and rewarding experiences. However, most missions fall into repetitive fetch quests or base assaults, making the overall structure feel uninspired. The game includes a moral system where your actions determine the ending, with two distinct outcomes based on whether you lean toward good or evil.

Graphics and Sound

Biomutant uses Unreal Engine 4, delivering vibrant, cartoonish visuals similar to Fortnite. The diverse environments and unique enemy designs are visually appealing. However, textures lack detail up close, and the underground areas don’t receive the same attention as the overworld. The narrator explains everything, which becomes annoying, especially since characters speak in gibberish, removing any sense of individuality.

Performance and Localization

On Xbox Series S, the game offers two modes: 1440p at 30 FPS or 1080p at 60 FPS. The Arabic localization, covering text and menus, makes the game accessible to non-English speakers. However, sound mixing issues persist, with some effects being too loud or too quiet, impacting the overall experience.

Conclusion

Biomutant is an ambitious project from a small studio of 20 developers. While it offers creative ideas, it struggles to deliver a coherent and polished experience. The $60 price tag feels excessive for what the game offers. Despite its flaws, if you’re still curious and can overlook its shortcomings, Biomutant might be worth trying, especially if you find it at a discount.

Final Score: 6/10