Biomorph Review [Second Opinion]
2D Metroidvania Biomorph features stunning animation and unique transformation gameplay mechanics.
Biomorph. Credit: Lucid Dreams Studio
This has been a great year for Metroidvanias, and Biomorph is among the best. This 2D, sidescrolling Metroidvania from Lucid Dreams Studio in Montreal features a cool spin on the usual item-based progression we’ve come to expect from the genre. The game’s hand-drawn art is stunning, and the smooth, seamless animation helps make the gameplay feel excellent. This is top-tier Metroidvania.
Biomorph takes place in a vast, dark world ruined by mysterious alien invaders. Harlo, the hero, loses his memory while on a mission to defeat them. Now, you must help Harlo regain his memories and acquire enough new abilities to face the enemy head-on. Harlo meets many colorful characters on his journey and helps rebuild their destroyed town. The game’s story is fine, at best. I didn’t mind because it simply serves its purpose of providing a framework for the action, and that action is compelling on its own.
Biomorph. Credit: Lucid Dreams Studio
The game is a 2D platformer with a focus on close-quarters combat. Traversal feels smooth and snappy, with a satisfying dodging mechanic that transitions into a run. The only flaw is that Harlo loses momentum if you jump while running—you slow down to normal walk speed while in the air. The abilities you earn to reach new areas are inventive and are a pleasant change of pace from the usual movement tropes of the genre. For example, you can eventually zip through power lines or travel along walls or ceilings coated in liquid metal. I should also mention that Biomorph features a downward strike bouncing mechanic that feels great; I love it when a game pulls this off well.
Biomorph features an innovative transformation mechanic that creates a lot of varied gameplay and traversal puzzles. Harlo can transform into any enemy he kills by standing over its remains, completely changing your movement and combat abilities. Kill enough of an enemy, and you can morph into them at will. All the forms feel unique, though some are more useful than others. The morphing ability makes encountering new enemies exciting; it completely overshadows the weapons you can otherwise equip. This is the true core of the game.
Biomorph. Credit: Lucid Dreams Studio
Biomorph is challenging; enemies and bosses hit hard, and it’s easy to die if you’re not careful. However, every boss follows a fairly predictable pattern and, with patience, can be bested. Death sends you back to the last save point, and much like in a soulslike, you must get back to your grave to pick up the currency you dropped or risk losing it. There’s an option to turn this off, for a more stress-free experience.
The platforming element of the game isn’t tough, but never boring; exploration is always rewarding. Like in the best Metroidvanias, the environments are richly varied, and secrets are hidden everywhere. The game’s map will helpfully highlight rooms where you’ve found everything, and like a couple of other recent games, you can attach screenshots to pins on the map to help you remember areas to check again later.
Biomorph. Credit: Lucid Dreams Studio
Lucid Dreams Studio has produced impressive animation for this game. Every character and enemy is fully animated in 2D. Harlo’s movement is fluid and elastic, adding a lot to the game’s feel as you play. Character and creature designs in the game are stylish and creative—especially the bosses—but they wouldn’t be nearly as cool if they weren’t animated so well. The world where these all live is also hand-drawn, though it often feels stiff compared to the sprites. I wish the environment had a little more life to complement its rich, lived-in look.
Biomorph is a must-play for Metroidvania fans and one of the best games in the genre this year. I hope it gets the attention it deserves for its level of quality and unique design. Comparing their previous title to this one, my expectations for whatever Lucid Dreams Studio does next are high.
Biomorph is available now on PC (Steam/Epic) and PlayStation 5.
Overall Score: 8/10
Played on: PS5
