Welcome to EXPlay, (Explain & Play) the review series where we care not for scores but tell it how it is when it comes to every game we get our hands on, whilst also taking the time to include some lengthy gameplay, to give you the reader, the chance to shape your own impressions and views whilst watching and reading.
In this explanatory review, we’re covering Biomutant by original developer, Experiment 101 and Switch port developer, Saber Interactive:
Biomutant (The Explanation)
When a bunch of ex-Avalanche Studios developers banded together, wishing to “create a game that is fun in a good way” by revisiting the basics of video game development, the result was an open-world adventure called Biomutant. Having first released in 2021 and then releasing on other platforms in 2022, at long last the Switch port of Biomutant is finally here, thanks to Saber Interactive!
So, with Experiment 101 in the driving seat and THQ Nordic publishing, Biomutant is a third-person, action-role-playing title that features a post-apocalyptic open world, inhabited by mutanted creatures. As for who is running the show, our main hero and playable protagonist is a wandering mammalian bi-ped that resembles Rocket Raccoon from the Guardians of the Galaxy films.
Our hero has no given name, other than occasionally being referred to as Kidling when they were younger and “The One-Eyed Ronin” so from henceforth will simply be referred to as “the Character.” The Character’s role in the world of Biomutant is one of cause and effect, choice and consequence. Due to pollution caused by oil in the soil, the self-explanatory titled “Tree of Life,” is dying for its roots have been poisoned and in its weakened state, five monstrous beasts known as “Worldeaters,” are now gnawing at the decaying roots and it falls to the Character to save the day.
Of course, the Character has more work cut out for them than just saving a tree, for the world of Biomutant is at war with itself for matters are complicated further, thanks to six tribes and their differing beliefs. Each one is headed by a Sifu, who was once a student of the Character’s Mooma, in the art of Wung-Fu. While some of the tribes wish to restore the Tree of Life, there are others, who share the belief that the end of the world is a good thing for it will weed out the weak and leave only the strong to inherit the earth and expand their territories in the process.
The Character and the player controlling them can choose which tribe they wish to align themselves with and seek to end the disputes and unite the tribes where possible, but it is worth pointing out that this is not an utterly crucial aspect of the game as the Character can save the Tree of Life without siding with a single tribe, but should you chose to do so, as a game all about cause and effect and with a karma system at play, who you choose to side with and the actions you take, will have an effect on story direction and dialogue between characters.
Regardless of what path you wish to explore, one thing that always remains the same is being accompanied by the Narrator, whose voice is heard throughout the entirety of Biomutant, ready to drive the story forward, provide voiced dialogue for every NPC and walk you through new features and combat methods. But don’t worry, not only can you reduce the number of times you hear from the Narrator in the game’s settings, but the longer you play Biomutant, you’ll hear from the likes of David Shaw-Parker less frequently, in the English version of Biomutant.
Something else that you can tweak and adjust in Biomutant is the customisation of the Character when starting a new playthrough. With six different breeds to choose from (Primal, Dumdon, Rex, Hyla, Fip and Murgel), and the option to tweak the Character’s main and secondary fur colouring, players are free to alter the Character’s entire look something they’ll find aesthetically pleasing. Just remember, when it comes to mutating their character in the form of making them bigger and bulkier, while the modified size has the benefits of allowing the character to deal and resist more damage, it can reduce other stats in the form of agility.
You can also edit the Character’s resistances and choose a class for them out of the seven presented options. (Mercenary, Dead-Eye, Commando, Psi-Freak, Saboteur and Sentinel.) Each class brings something unique to the table. For instance, Saboteur allows the Character to wield two one-handed melee weapons and has a reduced dodge cost of 20%, whereas Dead-Eye allows for ranged weapons to be reloaded instantly and sees your next magazine deal +20% damage. It is worth just mentioning that because we said there are seven classes, this is because the Switch release of Biomutant comes with the Mercenary loadout DLC already supported, allowing players to pick Mercenary from the get-go.
Now, while Biomutant is itself a gorgeous game to look at, with an interesting world to explore, with a story and lore that deepens through every interaction you have with NPCs, enriched further by an RPG level-up system and ability unlocks, where the game shines is in its combat mechanics.
While the development team struggled with trying to make Biomutant’s gameplay a reality, there can be no denying how well they pulled off the mixed martial arts style that is a combination of hand-to-hand combat, utilisation of mutant abilities and old-fashioned gun-slinging. Watching the Character dodge, dive and roll away from enemies and unleash a volley of bullets is visually pleasing, especially when executed at the perfect time to avoid a devastating blow that could otherwise deplete the rest of your health should it land.
Additionally, it’s not just the Character’s abilities and attributes you can level up in Biomutant as you can gather resources, which can be used to modify existing weapons and armour, but also be used to manufacture new weapons. This crafting mechanic opens up a wide range of possibilities, especially when weapons can be crafted with items that deal electrical and even cryogenic damage. By changing weapons on the fly, and making the most of elemental attacks, damage dealt can be modified to make even the toughest of foes, putty in your hands.
What’s more, for the players that want to traverse the world of Biomutant in more ways than just on foot, other methods are available in the form of air balloons, mechs and even personal water crafts resembling Jet-skis. [Editor’s Note: Jet-ski is a brand name owned by Kawasaki for an aquatic vehicle, much like BMW is a brand of car.]
Lastly, for anyone curious as to what else Biomutant on Switch offers, we can confirm that the gyroscope controls are fully utlised and that whilse in handheld mode, Biomutant runs at 30 FPS with a 720p resolution + dynamic resolution. In docked, however, resolution is bumped up to 1080p. There are also a couple of known issues in terms of bugs but they are known to the developer with a day one fix in the works.
Having had to wait longer to play Biomutant on the Nintendo Switch than on other consoles, aside from some long loading times when it comes to loading screens, the Switch release of Biomutant is everything you could want it to be. Some of the side quests can seem a bit tedious at times, much like some of the repeated puzzles it will ask you to solve, but Biomutant is still a fantastic adventure, where your character can forge a path of darkness or light, becoming a villain or a hero. It might look a little plain when compared to the likes of Nintendo’s own The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, but on its own two feet, Biomutant is a worthwhile adventure nonetheless.
Biomutant (The Gameplay)
Game Specifications:
Developer: Experiment 101, Saber Interactive
Publisher: THQ Nordic
Platform: Nintendo Switch (eShop)
Category: Action, Role-Playing
No. of Players: 1 (Single System)
Release Date: May 14, 2024
Price: $39.99
File Size: 4.8 GB
Nintendo.com Listing
Share this:
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.