Biomorph Review (PlayStation 5)

Rating: 7.4
Author: Jim Smale

by Jim Smale · December 18, 2024

Biomorph Review, In BIOMORPH, players must use their skills to explore a vast, varied world. Solve puzzles and platforming challenges, fight deadly monsters and take their shapes to use their powers. But beware – every conquered creature can come back with new and even more threatening powers. Players will level up their character as they fight through the vast areas around the city, collecting new abilities, mementos, and chips. The journey will reveal surprising and alarming truths about our hero’s own origins.

Biomorph Review Pros:

Beautiful cartoon graphics.
4.59GB Download size.
Platinum trophy.
Accessibility options – keep money on death, attack bonus, and defense bonus.
You can remap the controls.
3 save slots.
Animated cartoon-like cutscenes and in-game interactions.
2D game World with 3D animated backgrounds.
You can skip the cutscenes.
Opening tutorial section with ongoing pop-ups.
Hack and slash combat.
Fast-paced gameplay.
Biomorph is the act of taking a dead enemy’s shape and abilities.
Collect biomorph data from taking their info and use it to get stronger and fill in the book.
The health bar system uses vials to heal and replenish vials by collecting enemy vial segment drops.
Puzzle elements as you have to work out what is required to be in order to clear rooms.
The game world is split up into screens.
S.A.F.E are checkpoints you activate to heal and use as a respawn point. When there you can also equip any chips you have for new abilities.
Chips can be found and equipped that generally give new abilities or attacks.
Mementos are like chips but they offer more passive abilities and are seperate slots.
The status screen shows your stats for vital energy, vital containers, healing efficiency, and base attack.
Cutscenes are usually straight integrations during gameplay.
Big boss encounters.
Every boss and enemy shows their health bar.
Damage numbers pop up as you deal and take damage.
The map uncovers as you explore, you can place custom pins, and once you find all secrets within an area the border turns golden.
A mini-map is available and can be turned on and off.
You can move the camera around a little bit to help with platforming.
Basic attacks are four directional and you can slide.
Find music discs to play them in Jukeboxs you find in the world.
Fantastic-looking locations.
Memorable cast of characters to meet.
Different weather types help set the scene.
Many Breakable objects.
Once you have morphed into a creature enough times you get to have them assigned to slots for fast morphing and not needing the enemy corpse.
The game has main story missions and optional side missions.
Slar Kertars Market lets you buy items like Mementos and chips.
Currency drips from enemies and is sometimes found within the world.
Choosing and selecting missions you have on your list is easily done with the right stick.
The map fills in mission markers.
Wave-based combat rooms with a chest reward are scattered around the game world.
You can get into quite a flow with combat.
Once the game opens up and gives you some truly fun morphs the game can get very fun.

Biomorph Review Cons:

No voice work at all even in the cutscenes and it really does the cutscenes and interactions dirty by making them feel flat.
Slow starter as you take in the mechanics.
The game world has so much in the back and foreground that it can be hard to make out what can be broken or what can be used as platforms.
Before you know it you have loads of missions on the go and it can feel overwhelming or so all over the place that you don’t know which one to do.
Traversing the world is not always clear, especially with small sliding openings or finding the right platform.
Despite the game’s best efforts with mission markers on the map, still knowing where to go is not clear and kind of frustrating.

Biomorph:

Official website.

Developer: Lucid Dreams Studio

Publisher: Lucid Dreams Studio

Store Links –

PlayStation

8/10

Graphics - 8/10
7/10

Sound - 7/10
7/10

Accessibility - 7/10
8/10

Length - 8/10
7/10

Fun Factor - 7/10

7.4/10

Summary

The game boasts beautiful cartoon graphics and a manageable download size of 4.59GB. It offers a platinum trophy and various accessibility options, such as keeping money on death, attack bonuses, and defense bonuses. Players can remap the controls and have three save slots. The game features animated cartoon-like cutscenes and in-game interactions, set in a 2D game world with 3D animated backgrounds. Cutscenes can be skipped, and the opening tutorial section includes ongoing pop-ups to guide players. The hack-and-slash combat is fast-paced, and the unique biomorph mechanic allows players to take on the shape and abilities of defeated enemies. Collecting biomorph data strengthens the player and fills in the game’s book.

The health bar system uses vials for healing, which can be replenished by collecting enemy vial segment drops. Puzzle elements require players to figure out what is needed to clear rooms, and the game world is divided into screens. S.A.F.E checkpoints serve as healing and respawn points, where players can also equip chips for new abilities. Chips, which can be found and equipped, generally provide new abilities or attacks, while mementos offer more passive abilities and have separate slots. The status screen displays stats for vital energy, vital containers, healing efficiency, and base attack. Cutscenes are usually integrated directly into gameplay, and there are big boss encounters with visible health bars for all enemies. Damage numbers appear as players deal and take damage.

The map uncovers as players explore, allowing them to place custom pins, and once all secrets within an area are found, the border turns golden. A mini-map is available and can be toggled on and off. Players can move the camera slightly to assist with platforming. Basic attacks are four-directional, and players can slide. Music discs can be found and played in jukeboxes scattered throughout the game world. The game features fantastic-looking locations and a memorable cast of characters, with different weather types setting the scene. Many objects in the game world are breakable. Once players have morphed into a creature enough times, they can assign it to slots for fast morphing without needing the enemy corpse.

The game includes main story missions and optional side missions. Slar Kertars Market allows players to buy items like mementos and chips. Currency drops from enemies and can sometimes be found in the world. Selecting and managing missions is easily done with the right stick, and the map fills in mission markers. Wave-based combat rooms with chest rewards are scattered around the game world, allowing players to get into a flow with combat. Once the game opens up and provides some truly fun morphs, it becomes very enjoyable.

However, the game has no voice work, even in the cutscenes, which makes them feel flat. It starts slowly as players learn the mechanics, and the game world can be visually overwhelming, making it hard to distinguish breakable objects or platforms. The abundance of missions can feel overwhelming, and traversing the world is not always clear, especially with small sliding openings or finding the right platform. Despite the game’s efforts with mission markers on the map, knowing where to go can still be unclear and frustrating.

In summary, the game offers a visually appealing and engaging experience with its unique biomorph mechanic, fast-paced combat, and memorable characters. However, it suffers from a lack of voice work, a slow start, and some navigational challenges. Overall, it provides a fun and immersive experience once players get past the initial learning curve and start exploring the game’s rich world.