I believed March had already reached its peak of excitement for me with the highly anticipated release of Dragon’s Dogma 2 and the unexpected delight of Vanillaware’s tactical RPG Unicorn Overlord. However, there’s now another noteworthy addition to the lineup that has significantly heightened my anticipation—the promising Metroidvania Biomorph, set to launch on March 4 for PC and Switch.
Biomorph, a 2D Metroidvania with a captivating Kirby-like twist, allows players to transform into the monsters they vanquish, utilizing their unique abilities to overcome various challenges.
Whether faced with an impenetrable wall or a hostile monster, the game provides a creative solution through this transformative gameplay mechanic.
My interest in Biomorph dates back to when developer Lucid Dreams unveiled a short demo in early 2023. After experiencing the improved demo, my excitement for this early 2024 release has only intensified.
While Biomorph draws inspiration from iconic titles like Kirby and Hollow Knight, its core concept was inspired by Super Mario Odyssey, a game Lucid Dreams CEO Maxime Grégoire happened to be engrossed in during the studio’s contemplation of their next project.
In an interview, Grégoire explained, “There are so many Metroidvanias out there that we didn’t want to release a game that was only a twist on the lore. There are many where it’s always the same mechanic but some are sci-fi, some talk about different aspects, but there’s not much new mechanically.
So we thought that by adding that biomorph mechanic, we actually added something that is quite different. It’s a player fantasy sometimes that you get to play as creatures that you killed. So this is how the idea came to be. Initially, it was really Mario Odyssey.”
This innovative mechanic adds a layer of complexity to a game centered around combat and exploration, and it seamlessly integrates into Biomorph’s new demo. I am eagerly anticipating the opportunity to explore the full world of Biomorph, which exudes a nostalgic Flash-era charm, and see firsthand how this unique gameplay mechanic enhances the overall experience.
