Soon after its release date was revealed, other details were also given about the development period of Biomutant. During an interview on the IGN website, Experiment 101 studio head Stefan Ljungqvist addresses the title’s gameplay and how the game is based on some pillars.
In a way, much of the gameplay structure is inspired by games like Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Far Cry, Monster Hunter, Mad Max, and even Fallout. Biomutant has many similarities with these games but ends up having unique characteristics within its universe, such as a Tribal War that happens, the world’s support by the Tree of Life, and the main character’s story.
Despite everything, Biomutant still follows some traditional paths, such as a more linear main campaign that will guide the player through the history and universe there. Despite this, the world is open, and the way you decide to interact as each story will be the player’s decision.
Ljungqvist gave some examples of how the open world will work. There are 6 tribes in the game that are at war. Several checkpoints can be claimed by the player and then given to his preferred tribe. This will open up unique rewards for each ally, such as weapons, fighting styles, and even mounts. After a tribe has weakened, it will be possible to attack its fortress and define its leader’s destiny. Ljungqvist comments that much of this ends up reminding Shades of Mordor and Shadows of War.
Choices like that of the tribes will affect the Tree of Life, which is the target object that regulates the Biomutant universe. For example, some tribes favor destroying the Tree of Life, while others will fight to protect it. Some choices will take the player on a different path, whether on the good side or not.
Still, on the Tree of Life, it has roots that will spread throughout the world and take the player to the World Devourers, powerful bosses that will allow unique battles involving vehicles and several different mechanics. These bosses’ fate can be different depending on the allied tribes and on the game’s aura (karma) system, which can lead to different resolutions on each move.
As for the main character’s story, much is still shrouded in mystery as to the origin and who the protagonist is. Discovering these secrets depends on a journey that will take the player to explore each part of the game and the map deeply.
Speaking of the map, there is a wide range of locations and how the player will interact with it. In the form of a rhombus, the game starts at the bottom of the map, giving a more tapered path while learning, which then becomes broader and with more opportunities. As an example, a part of the map called Dead Zone depends on oxygen to explore. Getting an ally with a mechanism that will help with this is critical to moving further into the Dead Zone, but that can change if the story with that ally is different, perhaps happening earlier or even later in the game.
This can still be changed according to the mutations and items found in the adventure and missions and relationships with other characters since the player is free to choose his path. An example of this is that to access certain areas; the hot air balloon has not yet been discovered; the player can improvise other means of access such as telekinesis, jumping mushrooms, levitation techniques, wingsuit.
Biomutant will be released on May 25 for PS4, Xbox One, and PC via Steam.
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